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

Details

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  Description

  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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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Art Projects

  Help with Eco Projects

  Light gardening

  Creative DIY projects

  Farmstay help

  Creating/ Cooking family meals

  Help around the house

  Light maintenance
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  Interests

  

  Culture

  

  Videography

  

  Movies & TV

  

  Farming

  

  Charity work

  

  Performing arts

  

  Writing

  

  Drawing & painting

  

  Carpentry

  

  Animals

  

  Architecture

  

  Cooking & food

  

  Gardening

  

  Photography

  

  Plant care

  

  Music

  

  History

  

  DIY & crafts

  

  Books

  

  Art & design

  

  Yoga / Wellness

  

  Team sports

  

  Nature

  

  Camping

  

  Mountain

  

  Beach

  

  Outdoor activities

  

  Hiking

  

  Cycling

  

  Adventure sports
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  UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve

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  What's this?
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  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  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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  Projects involving children

  This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.

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  Help

  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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  Languages

  Languages spoken
  English: Fluent
  Japanese: Fluent

  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.
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  Accommodation

  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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  A little more information

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    Internet access

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    Limited internet access

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    We have pets

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    We are smokers

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    Can host families

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  Can host digital nomads

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

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  Space for parking camper vans

  3 Full size camper van can accommodate

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  Can possibly accept pets

  Dogs or cat

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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  More than two

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