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Help us to renovate traditional Japanese house and experience Satoyama life in Shizuoka, Japan

  • Last activity : 30 Apr 2025

Availability

  2025 

 Min stay requested: at least a week

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Details

  • Description

    Description

    We (Tatú and Sho) inherited 1ha(2.5 acres) of mountain field and an old traditional Japanese house in Shizuoka 4 years ago, where we live with our daughter Mon(age 5), a black cat and a black dog. We are restoring the field and orchard in an organic way to grow vegetables and to renovate 3 houses. The first one is finished and is used as a guest house (BIO Lodge).
    The second is the main project now and will be a kitchen.
    The third one is an old traditional Japanese house and will be a community place, we are using natural materials/traditional way for renovation.


    We finished a big honeymoon (2015~2017 around the world) and came back to Japan.
    During 2years honeymoon, we did Workaway / WWOOFing in Japan, U.S, Spain, Germany, Brazil and Morocco.
    we met variety of people and shared stories with them.
    We saw how people live, what people believe.
    And this time, we would like to share the experience in our place.

    ・About schedule
    We usually ask for help from 8:30 to 12:00 and from 13:00 to 15:30. (plus housework sometimes)
    But it's flexible. It's depends on the project/ depends on your situation.

    ・About accommodation
    We live a small house now and can offer you private room but shared kitchen/bathroom.


    ・About meals
    We normally cook and eat together. (can be separate sometimes)
    We prepare ingredients.


    ・belongings
     ーClothing to engage in activities at our place
     ーWater bottle
     ーSoap, shampoo and toothpaste ←Important
    We ask to bring soap, shampoo and toothpaste that does not ruin the environment(surfactants/chemicals are not acceptable)as the sewage treatment facilities on the mountain side are not perfect and we are trying to live sustainably.
    These are for example, シャボン玉(shabondama), Pax Naturon, which you can get at AEON supermarket or any drugstore.
    If you don't want to buy them, you can use/share ours for 500yen.




    There are several ways satoyama can be defined, but basically, satoyama are villages that live sustainably with their nearby forest and mountains. These villages have found a balance in living with the forest by maintaining it and keeping it healthy, while benefiting from its gifts like food and protection from natural disasters.

  • Types of help and learning opportunities

    Types of help and learning opportunities

    Help with Eco Projects
    Gardening
    DIY and building projects
    Animal Care
    Farmstay help
    Babysitting and creative play
    Creating/ Cooking family meals
    Help around the house
  • Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

    Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

    We can share the experience of learning how Japanese traditional house was built; like restore earth walls and Doma(kitchen floor). Also we can share the information and ideas about nature-friendly way for farming, clothing, heating and electricity and so on.
    You may get a chance to learn how to make Japanese traditional food like Miso, Umeboshi...

  • Help

    Help

    Building projects: renovating a Japanese traditional house for community space and a cottage for guest house.
    Garden project: weeding and seeding in kitchen garden and field, weeding and maintaining a small orchard, making a compost.

  • Languages

    Languages spoken
    Japanese: Fluent
    English: Intermediate
    Spanish: Beginner

    This host offers a language exchange
    This host has indicated that they are interested in sharing their own language or learning a new language.
    You can contact them directly for more information.

  • Accommodation

    Accommodation

    private room

  • A little more information

    A little more information

    • Internet access

    • Limited internet access

      Limited internet access

    • We have pets

    • We are smokers

    • Can host families

  • Can host digital nomads

    Can host digital nomads

    This host has indicated that they love having digital nomads stay.

  • Space for parking camper vans

    Space for parking camper vans

    This host can provide space for campervans.

  • How many Workawayers can stay?

    How many Workawayers can stay?

    Two

Host ref number: 194144864347

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