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20 Sep 2024
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hi, we are generally looking for help from couples . experienced / slightly older [?] OK. but If your profile and schedule fits ... single person[ female best suited..]
we are looking for help with looking after kids, occasional housework, ,lots of gardening, plenty of weeding, some digging etc... and can be left alone and Reliable .
WHEN I`m here [Mark] I`ll often need help with construction jobs or projects and maintanance..
I [Mark] often have to go away with my work for at least a couple of weeks at a time.. Means someone reliable and we can trust..
about us;
My wife and I, plus 3 children live just 350m from Japan`s biggest lake [Lake Biwa]. it`s an amazing spot, great for swimming in the summer thru Autumn, beautiful mountains and skiing nearby in the winter with lots of countryside around but only 30 minutes by train to the centre of Kyoto! please check us out on a map.. between Horai and Shiga station.
*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️
conditions;
hours: 4.5 hours a day for 4 days a week in exchange for accommodation and small staple food package every week, plus lots of tea and coffee.
the schedule may vary little by little each week .. but the total hours the same.
BTW: you must be able to handle the heat as the daytimes are hot from July ~ Sept,, expect 35 degrees C in the sun and high humidty NOTE : we do not use AC / cooler.. BUT we have the lake just 2 minutes bicycle away to cool off ,,
you have your own accom,, with fridge freezer, microwave, toaster, cooker, fan , No AC / cooler but heater in winter , 140cm wide bed and TV , so you can learn Japanese!
Water shower in the summer and Share shower room in cooler months.
we also have bicycles and Kayaks for your use..
about 10 minutes from local ski resort [Biwako Valley], some ski wear and skis available for your use in winter and Kayak in other months,,
we are located between Shiga station and Horai station, 10 minutes on foot. [KOSEI LINE from Kyoto station], 15 minutes from the nearest town [by train] and just 30 minutes from historical, cultural Kyoto, [1 direct train] so you can easily enjoy all the sights and lights of Kyoto.
Re Shopping / groceries::
the nearest supemarket and drug storet is 1.1klm away 5mins by bicycle. and there are a couple of convenience stores about 10~15 minutes bicycle ride away. [2 kms]
In the Katata town there are many "regular" shops / 2 shopping malls /supermarkets / drug stores / fast food chains and restaurants.
MUST BE non-smokers and clean.
how long?: 2 weeks+ ideal..
Sorry, we Cannot accept digital nomads due to limited wifi.
we look forward to hearing from you and will be delighted to answer further questions.
BTW: I dont usually reply if you cant be bothered to put up a profile photo... Finally in this area. we consider more / accept more help from people with good reviews. this is due to some experiences.
best wishes..
AND Finally, you`ll see that we read and Give reviews But if you find someone that has stayed here and NOT had a review from us ,, There IS a Reason ...
Types of help and learning opportunities
Art Projects
Animal Care
Babysitting and creative play
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
a great chance to enjoy the life near to Japan`s biggest lake , see the area and learn about Japan.
good skiing in winter , great swimming in summer. good hiking nearly all year ..
and of course >> easy access to Kyoto city and beyond,,
Projects involving children
This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.
Help
firsly please read our profile as more details are in that part..
Why do we need you?
Well,, we bought our house [still renovating!!] have some land out the rear where we are trying our hand at gardening AND KIDS..
in the winter time: expect to shovel quote a bit of snow by the way..
Type of Person; Most important CLEAN, KEEN and a NON Smoker..
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Japanese: Fluent
Accommodation
Your accommodation; you have your own mini "cabin/ bungalow" own toilet , with basic facilities, double bed, breakfast counter, fridge, microwave, cooking stove, rice cooker, etc..
What else ...
a great chance to enjoy the life next to Japan`s biggest lake , see the area and learn...
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Space for parking camper vans
This host can provide space for campervans.
How many Workawayers can stay?
Two
Hours expected
Maximum 4 ~ 4.5 hours a day, 4 days a week
Feedback (22)
We helped out with… read more
they helped out in Various projects, most garden and we had no problems leaving them to get along with things by themselves,,(very Ofter) , no problems with 3 kids which is helpful
our gardens are looking a LOT better thanks to theses guys..
and the cabin was left in great / clean condition
we can… read more
they were reliable, very kid friendly and altogether a great attitude to all.
friendly from the start to finish, good at doing what was asked and showed good common sense which is important.
and the left the accommodation nice and clean.
most… read more
Photos
Feedback
These are extra optional ratings when members leave feedback. The average rating left for each option is displayed.
Accuracy of profile:
(5.0)
Cultural exchange:
(4.8)
Communication:
(5.0)
We helped out with… read more
they helped out in Various projects, most garden and we had no problems leaving them to get along with things by themselves,,(very Ofter) , no problems with 3 kids which is helpful
our gardens are looking a LOT better thanks to theses guys..
and the cabin was left in great / clean condition
we can… read more
they were reliable, very kid friendly and altogether a great attitude to all.
friendly from the start to finish, good at doing what was asked and showed good common sense which is important.
and the left the accommodation nice and clean.
most… read more
they helped out in Various projects and we had no problems leaving them to get along with things by themselves,,
also very friendly with the kids..
our gardens are looking a LOT better thanks to theses guys..
and the cabin was left in great / clean condition
we can recommend them to… read more
they helped out in Various projects for about a month and we had no problems leaving them to get along with things,,
also very,very friendly with the kids, they even still talk about them , and remember them from 3 months ago..
[BTW:: I`m very sorry its taken me far… read more
The small, fully equipped shed is comfortable and offers privacy and autonomy.
We did gardening and DIY work. Mark always takes the time to fully explain what he expects from us and is always ready to teach us things.
The nearby Lake… read more
they turned out to be great ! a fun couple , great with the kids too!
these guys were a great help, did their tasks well, were punctual, always polite and really keen even during our hot summer.
including help in construction and renovation, also finally trying to find our veggie plot in the grass and weeds!
we can… read more
She came at last minute and turned out to be great !
friendly and talkative, punctual, always polite and really keen even during our hot summer season .
including help with the kids also keeping our veggie plot nice and clean..
we can recommend her to all further hosts.
thanks again and good luck with your travels… read more
He came at last minute and turned out to be great !
a great help, postitive minded , punctual, always polite and really keen even during our hot summer and rainy season .
including help in construction and renovation, also keeping our veggie plot nice and clean..
we can recommend him to all further hosts.… read more
Mark, Kana and the kids really were a nice family giving a welcoming feeling as soon as I arrived.
From the moment they replied to my request I was informed that another Workawayer would arrive in a few days so they asked if it's okay to improvise a… read more
friendly from the start to finish, good at doing what was asked and showed good common sense which is important.
and the left the accommodation nice and clean.
most welcome back anytime ..
thanks again guys.
Mark, Kana and Kids.
a great couple ! from the start to finish, good at doing what was asked and showed good common sense which is important.
and the left the accommodation nice and clean.
I can recommend these guys , no worries. and you are welcome back.
thanks again guys.
Mark, Kana and Kids.
There was a good variety in working tasks in which Mark had a lot of knowledge... and snacks to offer. It was enjoyable work and we were able to have a laugh,
They went out of their way to help us with all of gaijin matters which we had, and handed us loads of useful information.
Shiga is a… read more
On my way to meet Mark and Kana, I walked from the train station following the instructions i recieved from Mark. It took me to a path alongside the lake, and the scenery on the way was beautiful.
I ended up staying there for 5 months. It was a great experience.… read more
they helped out in Various projects for 1 month and we had no problems leaving them to get along with things,,
also very friendly with the kids..
our gardens are looking a LOT better thanks to theses guys..
we can recommend Lachie and Katherine to any other hosts.
thanks again and good… read more
Together Mark, Kana and the kids made us feel like we were part of their family. We appreciated all the generous offerings of food, rides to the supermarket and on the occasion into Kyoto. And we loved playing with Naomi and Leo!
The work was enjoyable, often doing odd jobs,… read more
VERY friendly, the kids loved them, on time everyday and KEEN to get started... even AWESOME! :)
they helped with various tasks, gardening, renovation, house cleaning +++
I could leave them alone to do things asked no worries..
WE HOPE TO SEE YOU BOTH AGAIN IN THE FUTURE!
I… read more
We had our very first workaway experience with Kana, Mark and their three children and it was amazing! We stayed with them for three weeks in march. Kana and Mark are super friendly, helpful and they really make you feel welcome (e.g. with a small food survival kid because we arrived without groceries late in the… read more
they helped with various tasks, gardening, renovation, house cleaning +++ and no problems to be left alone to do things asked..
WE HOPE TO SEE YOU BOTH AGAIN IN THE FUTURE!
I CAN recommend Patti and Rob to other hosts. from Mark and Kana , Lake Biwa, Japan ,,… read more
From looking after of the kids, help taking care of the chickens, help with construction and renovation and Even Yoga lessons they were great!!!
THANK YOU for ALL YOUR HELP. You are welcome back ANYTIME.
Best regards, Mark , Kana, Naomi, Leo and Louis.
This was our first workaway and I have to say I'm so glad it was this one.
We had a great first experience here.
Mark and Kana are kind, considarate and helpful hosts.
About the work:
Mark is very organised with the work side of things,… read more
Mark is very organised and knew the work he wanted so we had a clear schedule right off meaning we could plan our trips in advance.
The work itself and the hours were very fair and we enjoyed working with Mark and Kana both outdoors and in the rental… read more
they helped out with various tasks, always polite, on time AND fun to be with.
Dont worry If you think they are a little older> I can tell you, it means more experienced and more common sense.
thanks again for all your help good luck… read more
They are very well prepared for workawayers (welcome folder with lots of information, everything is labeled and mark explains the daily tasks every morning- no misunderstandings). the… read more
polite , punctual and very friendly...
Tabea and Sinah helped with housework [BTW: excellent job , Kana is now comapring everone after you and saying they are not as good as you, Sinah] , they also helped with the kids and me on construction .. Tabea showed good construction / labour… read more
polite , punctual and very friendly...
Tabea and Sinah helped with housework [BTW: excellent job , Kana is now comapring everone after you and saying they are not as good as you, Sinah] , they also helped with the kids and me on construction .. Tabea showed good construction / labour… read more
they helped on various projects with renovation / construction as well as house work.. all done without any problems.
excellent help and we can honestly recommend this couple to other hosts.
Thanks again for your kind help and we all wish you happy travels.
Regards, Mark, Kana and the kids.
Marilyn stayed with us for a couple of weeks and was a great help.
very friendly, always keen to get on with the tasks and no problems at all..
also great with the kids..
we can highly recommend her to any other hosts.
Good luck to you wherever you may be.
thanks again, Mark and Kana.
We had an amazing time there and the work was easy enough and even fun. The kids were great fun to be with and even helped a little with our Japanese (which is still terrible). The location is beautiful and the lake was great fun we even… read more
They stayed with us for about 6 weeks continuously helping without any problems.
They fulfilled their tasks and even more than what was asked. Also they both showed great common sense which is important
Personality; they were clean, friendly and a good laugh to be with.
You are… read more
I really enjoyed my time at this Workaway and would definitely recommend to others. You have your own room with cooking… read more
great help,, very friendly and easy to get along with ..
he knows his way around tools and the work site and most importantly Common Sense.
Liam, thanks again for your help. feel free to come back again . we`ll always make room for you..
best wishes, Mark, Kana, Naomi and Leo.
although they were only here for a week it felt like longer! [in VERY POSITIVE WAY:) ]
as soon as they arrived they offered help..
skilled help from Miquel and good house help from Ianire they fitted in with no problem..
I can recommend this family to other hosts without any worry.
thanks again to you all and… read more
no problems at all and we can recommend her to any other host..
Mark and Kana.
thank you Margaux, your help was appreciated.
I had my own cabin with a big bed, a desk to do some work, fully equipped kitchen and a toilet/shower combo.
I was fortunate to be there during sweet potato season, they where delicious. A supermarket is only a short… read more
He was always keen when helping-out and helpful. did an excellent job and showed good common sense.
He was always polite , clean and punctual and no problems at all.. We can recommend hi.
Andreas> thanks for your help> we wish you good luck with your travels and not too much rain!!… read more
Mark and Kana made me feel welcome at all times, and the children just made my stay so much fun. We play togheter, laugh, talks, share meals.
I helped with the children, and helped Mark with some chores.
The surroindings of the house are very nice. I could see the sunrise over the lake from my… read more
It was only a week but felt like longer ,, in a good way ;) ..
Naomi still talks about you!!
thanks again and happy travels..
Regards, Mark and Kana.
