Living immersion in rural life and help with restoring farm house in Nagatoro, Japan

Informationen

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  Beschreibung

  We are an couple in our fifties who have spent our careers as international journalists - Bahag (Philippines) & Yuka (Japanese) and we have 3 daughters.
  
  We have always been drawn to places that carry a story. This farmhouse is one of them.
  
  This is a large traditional Japanese farmhouse in rural Japan, over around 130 years old. It was once owned by a remarkable man - a scientist, photographer, silk producer, and collector who spent his life cultivating silkworms, travelling, and amassing an extraordinary archive of books, photographs, documents, ceramics, scientific instruments, and historical objects. Much of that collection remains inside the house today. We are still discovering what is here.
  
  Our project is the full restoration of this farmhouse - structurally, practically, and historically. That for now means carpentry, painting, and repair tasks. It is a large, long-term undertaking and we are looking for people who want to become a genuine part of it rather than simply pass through.
  
  We split our time between the farmhouse and our family home. We are usually present - sometimes both of us, sometimes one - and we take the relationships we build here seriously. We want helpers to feel trusted, involved, and at home.
  
  If you are someone who works hard, stays curious, and finds meaning in doing things properly - we would love to hear from you. The location is about 2 hours away from Tokyo. Immersed in nature but easy for you to go out on trips and exploration.
  
  Our station name is NOGAMI station, it's about 30minutes walk to our home.

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  Arten von Hilfe und Lernmöglichkeiten

  Kunstprojekte

  Hilfe bei Ökoprojekten

  Leichte Gartenarbeit

  Kreative Heimwerkerprojekte

  Mithilfe auf einem Bauernhof

  Zubereiten / Kochen von Mahlzeiten für die Familie

  Hausarbeiten

  Leichte Instandhaltungsarbeiten
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  Interessengebiete

  

  Kultur

  

  Videoaufnahmen

  

  Film & Fernsehen

  

  Farmarbeit

  

  Karitative Arbeiten

  

  Darstellende Künste

  

  Schreiben

  

  Zeichnen & Malen

  

  Tischlerarbeiten

  

  Tiere

  

  Architektur

  

  Kochen & Backen

  

  Gartenarbeiten

  

  Fotografie

  

  Gärtnern

  

  Musik

  

  Geschichte

  

  Heimwerken & DIY

  

  Bücher

  

  Kunst & Design

  

  Yoga / Wellness

  

  Mannschaftssportarten

  

  Natur

  

  Camping

  

  Gebirge

  

  Strand

  

  Outdoor-Aktivitäten

  

  Wandern

  

  Radfahren

  

  Erlebnissportarten
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  UNO-Ziele für nachhaltige Entwicklung, die dieser Gastgeber verfolgt

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  Was ist das?
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  Kultureller Austausch und Lernmöglichkeiten

  This place offers something that is genuinely rare - a living immersion in rural Japanese life, history, and craft rather than a curated tourist version of it.
  
  The farmhouse itself is a cultural artifact. Over 130 years old, it was built and lived in the traditional way - hand-cut beams, tatami rooms, sliding screens, a mulberry farm.
  
  We have spent decades exploring and telling stories, both personally and professionally. Conversation here tends to go somewhere interesting. We are genuinely curious about the people who come, and we enjoy sharing what we know about Japanese rural life, local history, food, and the story of this particular place.
  
  Day to day, cultural exchange happens naturally - cooking meals together, visiting local markets, understanding the rhythms of a Japanese village, learning about sericulture and traditional craftsmanship, and slowly uncovering the history embedded in the house room by room.
  
  The village itself is part of the exchange. It is a real, working community - not a tourist destination. Helpers who stay long enough tend to become a quiet part of it.
  For the right people, this is less a cultural exchange programme and more a way of briefly living inside a piece of Japanese history.
  
  
  
  Help Restore a 130-Year-Old Japanese Farmhouse and Discover Its Hidden History
  Welcome to a unique restoration project in rural Japan!
  
  Our home is a traditional Japanese farmhouse, approximately 130 years old, with a fascinating history.
  
  The farmhouse still contains a remarkable collection of books, photographs, documents, ceramics, scientific instruments, vintage equipment, and many historical objects. We are still discovering and learning about what is hidden inside this fascinating house.
  
  Our goal is to restore the farmhouse and bring it back to life—not only structurally, but also by preserving its history and creating a productive future. Depending on your interests and skills, you may help with traditional carpentry, painting, repairs, restoring old equipment, organizing and cataloging historical objects, gardening, and developing a vegetable garden.
  
  This is a special opportunity for people who enjoy hands-on work, Japanese culture, history, old houses, nature, gardening, science, and discovering stories from the past. You will not simply be helping with a renovation—you will become part of the process of uncovering and preserving a unique piece of rural Japanese history.
  
  
  🌏✨ Welcome to Our Volunteer Family! ✨🌏
  
  Welcome, and thank you for choosing to be part of our project. No matter where you come from, we are united by a shared passion for learning, contributing, and creating meaningful experiences together.
  
  Meet Our Team
  
  Bahag & Yuka – Founders/Owners
  Bahag is an experienced video journalist with a passion for storytelling, Japanese culture, and traditional craftsmanship. He also has experience working with a Japanese gardening company and enjoys exploring creativity through motorcycles and travel.
  
  Yuka is an experienced Japanese journalist, coordinator, and international relations specialist with a strong background in communication, cultural exchange, and tourism. She is passionate about connecting people and creating meaningful cross-cultural experiences.
  
  Shogo – Architectural Consultant
  Shogo is an experienced architect who has contributed to major commercial projects, including work with UNIQLO. He brings valuable expertise in architecture, design, and creating functional, inspiring spaces.
  
  If you need help or have any questions during your stay, our team is always happy to support you.
  
  This project is more than restoring a place—it's about building friendships, sharing skills, learning from different cultures, and creating unforgettable memories together.
  
  We encourage everyone to be kind, respectful, open-minded, and supportive. Every volunteer brings unique talents and experiences that make our community stronger.
  
  Most importantly, your safety and well-being are our top priorities. Take care of yourself and one another so we can all enjoy a safe, rewarding, and unforgettable experience.
  
  Thank you for joining us—we're excited to share this journey with you.
  
  Welcome to the family! 🌱🤝🌍

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  Projekte mit Kindern

  Dieses Projekt schließt möglicherweise den Umgang mit Kindern ein. Mehr Informationen findest du in unseren Verhaltensregeln und Tipps hier.

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  Arbeit

  Seeking Carpenters — Restoring a 130-Year-Old Japanese Farmhouse
  
  We are restoring a 130-year-old traditional Japanese farmhouse from the ground up, and the scope of the tasks are genuinely broad. We're looking for people who want to contribute meaningfully to a long-term project rather than tick tasks off a list.
  
  Current priority project (minimum stay 7–20 days)
  
  Our priority right now is building the front cafe, which means renovating one building specifically. We're looking for volunteers with carpentry skills — this is the trade we need most, and it's the focus of our current call.
  
  If you have carpentry experience — framing, finish work, joinery, general woodworking, or hands-on renovation carpentry — and want to put it toward a real, long-term restoration project, we'd love to hear from you.
  
  Alongside the carpentry tasks
  
  We're also handling ongoing organization and upkeep around the property (roughly 5 days, extendable if needed). These aren't the focus of this call, but they're part of daily life here and every volunteer pitches in as needed:
  
  -Separating and cutting wood, organizing it into proper storage (for recycling/burning)
  -Cleaning the herb garden — removing grasses and planning what to plant
  -Clearing the front structure to prepare it for new construction
  -Cutting grass at the back of the house to create a new pathway up the mountain for hiking
  -Cataloging and organizing old books into a proper library
  -Cleaning inside the house — wiping ceilings, removing dust, cleaning old antiques
  -Continuing to reorganize and clean the previous owner's collection of antiques, books, photographs, documents, ceramics, and scientific instruments
  
  We don't expect any one person to cover all of this. Our ideal is a small team of 3–4 people with complementary strengths — but for this call specifically, we're prioritizing carpenters.
  
  What matters to us
  
  Reliability, genuine motivation, and the ability to work with initiative. Every volunteer is expected to:
  - Help cleaning - including the bathroom and toilet
  - Clean the kitchen and table after use
  - Leave everything clean and tidy before bed
  - Learn how to separate and recycle trash properly
  
  
  How to apply
  Please tell us specifically why this project interests you — that tells us far more than a list of skills ever could. Please also include:
  
  Your carpentry experience/background
  Your planned arrival date
  Your planned departure date

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  Sprachen

  Gesprochene Sprachen
  Englisch: Fließend
  Japanisch: Fließend

  Dieser Gastgeber bietet Sprachaustausch an
  Dieser Gastgeber gibt an, dass er dir gern seine Muttersprache beibringt oder selbst eine Sprache lernen möchte.
  Bitte wende dich direkt an ihn, um weitere Auskünfte zu erhalten.
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  Unterkunft

  Helpers stay in shared traditional Japanese room (2 person in one room) within the farmhouse - tatami floor, sliding screens, natural light. The rooms are the real thing, part of the original house, and living in them is part of the experience.
  
  The house is fully equipped for comfortable daily life:
  
  - Hot shower
  - Washing machine
  - Full kitchen with all facilities
  - Common living areas with space to relax, read, and unwind
  - Internet access
  - Guitars and other instruments available
  - Plenty of quiet corners and outdoor space
  
  Food is provided.
  For breakfast we encourage everyone to wake up on their own and eat according to your pace, we always have bread and coffee, for lunch we have rice and simple meat cook with vegetable and for dinner, we encourage you to cook and use whatever available in our refrigerator.
  
  Meals can be prepared together as a group or independently - we are relaxed about this and happy to find a rhythm that works for whoever is here.
  
  The house comfortably hosts 3-4 helpers at a time. We hope people will enjoy each other's company - cooking together, exploring the area on days off, and building a small sense of community among themselves.
  
  Bicycles are available for getting around. A scooter may also be available for responsible riders. The village has a supermarket and everyday amenities close by. A beautiful river within easy reach is perfect for swimming in the warmer months.
  
  The surrounding area is quiet, green, and genuinely rural - not a tourist destination, but a real Japanese village with its own rhythm and character. For people who want that, it is exactly the right kind of place to be.

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  Etwas mehr Information

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    Internet Zugang

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    Eingeschränkter Internet Zugang

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    Wir besitzen Tiere

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    Wir sind Raucher

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    Familien möglich

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  Kann Digital Nomads unterbringen

  Dieser Gastgeber nimmt gern Digital Nomads bei sich auf.

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  Platz zum Abstellen von Camper Vans

  3 Full size camper van can accommodate

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  Hier sind Haustiere in der Regel willkommen

  Dogs or cat

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  Kapazität - wie viele Workawayer maximal

  mehr als zwei

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