Help bring an old farmhouse and rural gardens back to life in Nagano, Japan

Details

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  Description

  I’m originally from Tokyo. After many years working in the corporate world, I’m now beginning a new chapter in rural Japan — one that feels slower, simpler, and closer to nature.
  
  My main project is caring for and gradually restoring a traditional Edo-period kominka, an old Japanese farmhouse, in a rural part of southern Nagano Prefecture. The village is officially recognised as one of Japan’s “Most Beautiful Villages”.
  
  This is a private home and garden project, not a business. I have only recently started looking after the house and its immediate surroundings, and my focus is on caring for my own living space, maintaining the garden, and learning how to live more simply and respectfully in the countryside.
  
  The house has cultural and historical value, and I hope to care for it slowly and thoughtfully in a way that respects local traditions and the character of the village. I’m also interested in traditional rural life, natural gardening, seasonal food, and the relationship between old houses, nature, and local culture in Japan.
  
  Another important part of this project is supporting the local community. Many people living in this area are elderly and sometimes find it difficult to maintain their private gardens, vegetable plots, and surrounding land by themselves. Whenever possible, I try to help local residents with tasks such as gardening, tending vegetable plots, mowing grass, clearing overgrown areas, and other light outdoor maintenance.
  
  I hope that Workaway helpers will also be willing to join me in offering this kind of practical support to elderly neighbours. The exact activities will depend on the season, the weather, and what help is needed at the time.
  
  For me, this project is not just about caring for an old house. It is about preserving a way of life, respecting local culture and traditions, supporting the surrounding community, and slowly learning how to live well in an old rural home.
  
  This Workaway exchange is simply about sharing everyday rural life around my private home and garden, while occasionally joining me in non-commercial community activities to support elderly neighbours. All help requested is for personal or community-based, non-commercial purposes.

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Charity Work

  Art Projects

  Language practice

  Help with Eco Projects

  Elderly Companionship

  Teaching

  Light gardening

  Creative DIY projects

  Animal Care

  Farmstay help

  Creating/ Cooking family meals

  Help around the house

  Light maintenance

  House & pet sitting
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  Interests

  

  Sustainability

  

  Vegetarian or vegan

  

  LGBTQ

  

  Farming

  

  Gardening

  

  Architecture

  

  Cooking & food

  

  Yoga / Wellness

  

  Mountain

  

  Nature
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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 is a great chance to experience and learn more about:
  
  • Everyday rural life in Japan — the slower pace, the seasons, and local customs
  • Japanese culture and history, especially traditional architecture through the care of a kominka
  • The process of looking after an old private farmhouse and its private garden
  • Simple gardening, small-scale growing, and plant-based meals using seasonal ingredients
  • What it is really like to find, care for, and slowly improve an akiya, or vacant house, in Japan
  • Local traditions, rural landscapes, and the challenges faced by countryside communities today
  • Teamwork, practical problem-solving, and everyday rural living
  • Useful Japanese language tips, local etiquette, and everyday life in Japan, from a Tokyo local’s perspective
  
  If you are thinking about living in Japan longer term, especially outside the big cities, I’d be very happy to share what I’ve learned and help point you in the right direction.

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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

  As the project is still in its early stages, the help is quite varied, practical, and hands-on. All help is limited to my private home, private garden, and personal living space.
  
  I would especially appreciate someone who is practical, flexible, and happy to take initiative when needed. This is an old house and a rural home, so the work is not always clean or glamorous. Some days may involve simple outdoor tasks, clearing, sorting, carrying things, or doing muddy tasks.
  
  ◼️ Typical tasks may include:
  
  • Helping in the private garden
  • Weeding, mowing, and clearing overgrown areas around the private home
  • Cutting back small plants or bamboo in the private garden
  • Preparing small vegetable areas for personal use
  • Sowing seeds, planting seedlings, and harvesting for our own meals
  • Trying simple natural gardening methods
  • Simple DIY tasks around the private home
  • Light carpentry or minor repairs for personal use
  • Sorting, organising, and tidying areas around the old house
  • Cooking together and sharing simple plant-based meals
  • Cultural exchange and language exchange
  
  You should know that this is an old house and private garden that I have only recently started looking after, so the project is still in a very early stage. Some tasks may involve clearing overgrown areas, sorting things out, picking up rubbish, and doing rather muddy, unglamorous work.
  
  I’m looking for someone who can enjoy that process too — someone who doesn’t mind getting their hands dirty and can find joy in helping care for an old rural home.
  
  This is a volunteer cultural exchange only. There is no paid position, and no help with any business, guesthouse preparation, or spaces for paying guests is requested.
  
  
  ◼️ This stay may be a good fit for someone who:
  • Is respectful, honest, open-minded, and easy to communicate with
  • Has at least basic Japanese ability, or is learning Japanese and happy to make an effort to communicate with local people
  • Is happy to help independently at times and take initiative when needed
  • Is tidy, considerate, and comfortable sharing a home
  • Enjoys a calm, quiet rural lifestyle
  • Has some experience living independently
  • Has a genuine interest in Japanese culture, traditions, old houses, and rural life
  • Is interested in cultural exchange, not only free accommodation
  • Prefers a peaceful stay, as this is not a party-style place
  • Enjoys meaningful connections and would be open to staying in touch after the exchange
  
  This stay may be especially suitable for someone with a little more life experience, or someone who is already comfortable helping independently.

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  Languages

  Languages spoken
  English: Fluent
  Japanese: Fluent

  This host offers a language exchange
  I’m interested in learning any languages, but especially German and French. I lived in Germany for a while and used to study German, so I’d love to practise it again. I’ve also tried learning French before. I’d be happy to share Japanese through everyday conversation and daily life here in rural Japan.
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  Accommodation

  ◼️ Plant-based / vegan-friendly home
  Vegans, vegetarians, and people who are happy with a mostly plant-based lifestyle are very welcome!!
  
  You’ll be staying in the kominka itself — a traditional Japanese farmhouse full of history and character. As the project is still in its early stages and some parts of the house may at times feel a little rough around the edges or be mid-improvement. I’ll do my best to make your stay as comfortable as possible, and I hope you’ll be able to enjoy that slightly imperfect, in-progress side of the experience too.
  
  You’ll have your own private room.
  
  ◼️ Facilities (current setup):
  • A temporary kitchen (I’m planning to install a new kitchen area in May)
  • One shared bathroom, used by up to two other people (I’m hoping to add a second bathroom later this year)
  
  ◼️ Meals:
  As I’m vegan and live a plant-based lifestyle, the food and basic ingredients provided in the house will be plant-based. You’re welcome to cook for yourself, and we can also cook together now and then if you’d like.
  
  If you would like to eat anything that is not plant-based, please prepare it yourself. However, I kindly ask that no meat or fish be cooked on the premises.
  
  ◼️ House rules:
  We’re a non-smoking household. Cleanliness and tidiness are greatly appreciated, especially as we’ll be sharing the space while the project is still evolving.
  
  I also try to live in a mindful and environmentally conscious way, so I’d really appreciate your cooperation with saving water, electricity, and other resources during your stay.

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  What else ...

  During your time off, you’ll have the chance to explore a beautiful part of rural Japan. The village itself is calm, peaceful, and inspiring — ideal for creativity, reflection, and reconnecting with nature.
  
  ◼️ Nearby highlights include:
  • The Ina Valley and Southern Shinshu (Nagano) — wide-open countryside, small towns, farm landscapes, and beautiful views of the Central and Southern Alps
  • The scenic Kiso Valley, including stretches of the old Nakasendō trail, the historic post town of Narai-juku, and Kiso Town (around a one-hour drive away)
  • Local onsen (hot springs), forest walks, and mountain hikes
  • Peaceful rivers, traditional temples and shrines, and classic Japanese countryside scenery
  • Matsumoto City (around a 1 hour 20 minute drive away)
  
  ◼️ Getting around / transport:
  Public transport is limited here, so having access to a car is by far the easiest way to explore the area. For groceries and basic errands, we’ll usually go together by car. If you’d like to take day trips on your days off, I may sometimes be able to give you a lift to a nearby station or drop you off at a convenient point. The nearest JR station is about a 35-minute walk away.
  
  Important:
  Please read the full description before applying.
  To make sure we’re a good match, please start your message with “I read everything.”

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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

  This host can provide space for campervans.

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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  Two

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  My animals / pets

  

  Charlie

  5 year old tibetan terrier
  

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