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Host rating
100 %
Last replied
21 Apr 2026
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100.0 %
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Details
Description
Natural farming is not just agriculture — it is a way of life.
Live simply, grow rice for self-sufficiency, and experience sustainable rural life in Japan.
Hi everyone! Thank you very much for taking the time to visit our page!
⭐︎____________________
【What we are looking for】
We are looking for a positive, cheerful couple (aged 25+) who are physically fit and genuinely enjoy being active outdoors.
Please note that the Japanese summer is characterized by high humidity and warm temperatures. This experience is particularly well-suited for those who have lived or worked in warmer climates, or those who find joy in sweating and "detoxing" through honest, hands-on labor in nature.
【The Work】
We are looking for volunteers to help with manual weeding in our natural farming rice field. Using a sickle, you will carefully cut the grass growing between the rows of rice and lay it down on the spot to serve as natural mulch.
The field covers 1.5 tan (approx. 1,500 square meters). The task involves bending low and working mindfully through the rows. It is a simple, meditative process, but requires significant physical strength, patience, and concentration to endure the summer heat.
• Period: About one month, from early July to late July.
• Other tasks: In late May to June, we plant seedlings by hand. In November, we harvest with sickles and sun-dry the rice. In winter (Jan-Mar), we prepare irrigation channels and level the ground.
While the work is physically demanding, the feeling of connecting your body directly with the land and the seasons is incredibly revitalizing. It is a perfect opportunity for a "digital detox" and to experience the true essence of natural farming.
【Skills we value】
We hope to meet people who can contribute through their own skills:
• Carpentry or woodworking skills
• Experienced gardeners or those with farming backgrounds
• Cooking or recipe ideas using our natural vegetables and rice
• Photography or video editing
• Artistic skills (drawing, design, or composing music)
• Digital skills (social media, website creation, or SEO)
【Life with us】
Our lifestyle is very simple: “Wake up, eat, work, bathe, eat, and sleep.”
We live in a nature-rich countryside with shrines, birdsong, and the sound of rivers. On clear days, you can see Mt. Fuji from nearby hiking trails. We enjoy sharing meals and cultural exchanges, welcoming you as part of our family.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Charity Work
Art Projects
Language practice
Help with Eco Projects
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Farmstay help
Babysitting and creative play
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Help around the house
General Maintenance
Help with Computers/ Internet
House & pet sitting
Interests
Farming
Plant care
Music
Drawing & painting
Art & design
Nature
UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
Hand planting rice, which takes place from the end of May through June, is a traditional Japanese method that very few farmers practice today. This makes it a truly valuable and rare experience.
In July, we also weed the rice fields using only sickles. It is physically demanding work, but again a very special experience.
The rice field is 1,500 square meters (1.5 tan) in size, so during this period we are looking for people who are confident in their physical strength.
Through all of the work, you will learn how we grow rice and vegetables using natural farming methods. In the evenings, over dinner and conversation, we enjoy cultural exchange while sharing delicious naturally grown rice and vegetables, and you can also practice learning Japanese. We also enjoy exchanging music and art.
We are a friendly, home-like family and very open to intercultural exchange. We believe you will have the opportunity here to experience many aspects of Japanese culture and customs
Projects involving children
This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.
Help
You can learn how to plant rice (by hand) and grow vegetables using farming methods that are in keeping with Japanese nature.
Languages
Languages spoken
English: BeginnerThis host offers a language exchange
I can only speak a little English, but I want to learn English
Accommodation
Our house is a modern home built three years ago. We have a wood-burning stove, so it stays warm in winter.
Your room is a semi-private loft on the second floor, which you access using a ladder. There are two windows with views of the mountains and the fields.
There is no wall between the loft and the living room on the first floor, so you can look down into the living area from the loft. However, we use bamboo blinds for privacy, and the loft cannot be seen from the first floor.
What else ...
・About a 25-minute bike ride from the house takes you to Rengejiike Park. From there, if you follow one of the hiking trails a little further, you can enjoy a view of Mount Fuji on a clear day.
・A 30-minute walk from the house brings you to a small waterfall, and if you go over one mountain (there are some slopes – about an hour and a half on foot), you’ll reach Setoya Onsen Yuraku.
・About a 10-minute walk from the house, there’s a small traditional Japanese sweets shop and a local shrine that protects the village.
・There is a hot spring 17 minutes away by car, about 30 minutes by bicycle (over the mountain), and around an hour and a half on foot.
・The nearest supermarket is about a 20-minute bike ride away.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can host digital nomads
This host has indicated that they love having digital nomads stay.
Space for parking camper vans
This host can provide space for campervans.
How many Workawayers can stay?
Two
My animals / pets
Chat with Workawayers who've visited this host
Feedback (7)
From the first day Julie and I felt so welcome.
It was an absolute joy working in the fields with Kouichi-san. We worked hard and laughed harder. Haruka-san the love and pride you take in your home and family is so clear. Thank you for sharing your stories, warmth and incredible cooking with us. Both of your… read more
you two are truly unique, fun, and dedicated — you were wonderful volunteers.
Cydnee, I could really feel how much you love working in the fields, and it was such a joy to work alongside you.
Julie, your uniqueness and warm spirit brought so much laughter and created a beautiful atmosphere in the fields.
I hope your journey… read more
you are about to gain so much from these two and spend a truly wonderful time together.
They respected all of our house rules and moved with such ease, making our shared family life light and enjoyable.
Both of them have a remarkably mature personality — far beyond what you would… read more
Photos
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Cultural exchange:
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Communication:
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From the first day Julie and I felt so welcome.
It was an absolute joy working in the fields with Kouichi-san. We worked hard and laughed harder. Haruka-san the love and pride you take in your home and family is so clear. Thank you for sharing your stories, warmth and incredible cooking with us. Both of your… read more
you two are truly unique, fun, and dedicated — you were wonderful volunteers.
Cydnee, I could really feel how much you love working in the fields, and it was such a joy to work alongside you.
Julie, your uniqueness and warm spirit brought so much laughter and created a beautiful atmosphere in the fields.
I hope your journey… read more
you are about to gain so much from these two and spend a truly wonderful time together.
They respected all of our house rules and moved with such ease, making our shared family life light and enjoyable.
Both of them have a remarkably mature personality — far beyond what you would… read more
My main volunteering responsibility was to hang out with their 6 year old Kotaro who welcomed me immediately into his Sylvanian family tribe and he was honestly a delight to be around.
Haruka is an amazing cook and can whip up a delicious meal with whatever is in the fridge… read more
The work, which was mostly
weeding in the rice fields, was genuinely so enjoyable for me, almost like a meditation. I also really enjoyed helping Aochan with his other farming tasks and weed whacking.
Joining Haruka in her… read more
主に頼んでいた田んぼの草刈り作業では、持ち前の体力を発揮してくれて夏の日本の暑い中でも朝5時から黙々と作業をしてくれました。
日本語もとても上手で勉強熱心であり新しい言葉はすぐにノートにメモし、日本食もとても好きで梅干しや納豆などもおいしく食べてくれて嬉しかったです。
これからも日本を愛してください。
そして、すてきな人生という旅を続けてください‼︎ありがとう‼︎
She stayed at our home for about three and a half weeks while volunteering with us.
For the main task we asked of… read more
Even under the harsh conditions of the rainy season’s clear skies, working in nearly 30°C heat every day, they approached the task with devotion, often mixing in laughter to lighten the… read more
This small family was so loving and kind to us that we left with tears in our eyes, feeling like we were saying goodbye to our own family.
Koichi is a fun man, very curious about our culture, and always happy to share his own culture… read more
They balanced the hard volunteer work so well together. Sometimes dancing in the rice fields, laughing as we shared music and cultural differences — they turned the rice planting into a joyful experience. Other times, they worked slowly and carefully, as if to show us, “This… read more
