Profile information
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Host rating
100 %
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Last replied
30 May 2026
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Reply rate
96.6 %
Usually responds within 8 days
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Feedback
15
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ID verified
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Email verified
Badges (5)
Min stay requested: 1 week or less
Details
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Description
🏡 Art, Life, and Co-creation Project
🌟 Vision: Building Together, One Step at a Time
Welcome to the house in the historic town of Hagi, Yamaguchi Prefecture. I'm TORU, an artist.
After living abroad for over 10 years, I returned to Japan to transform a vacant house into a space for cross-cultural exchange — tackling social issues like depopulation and empty homes through art and human connection. This is not a finished guesthouse. It's an ongoing project, and I'm looking for people who enjoy building something together, step by step.
The house is also a prototype — the first node of a wider network of vacant home communities across Japan.
🙋 About Me
I'm neurodivergent — when I'm focused on one thing, switching to another becomes difficult. Responding to messages or calls can be a challenge, and when tasks pile up, I can get overwhelmed. I'm navigating this openly, and part of what the place is about is figuring out how to manage a space, connect with people, and explore possibilities within those realities.
My schedule is flexible and sometimes spontaneous. Clear, on-the-go communication will be key. That said, I'll always treat you with respect and do my best to give you privacy and space.
The house is still a work in progress. I can only host one person or group at a time.
✅ Who I'm Looking For
- Self-motivated and independent — you find your own rhythm without being managed
- Comfortable with both physical work and everyday life tasks
- An early riser — this project is not suited to a "sleeping until noon" lifestyle
- Able to cook a proper meal independently
- Flexible and easy-going about shared daily life
🛠️ July Mission
In July, we're planning hands-on work including painting, gardening, and concrete block projects.
We're looking for someone who enjoys active, physical work and isn't afraid to get their hands dirty.
📅 Availability
We are most active from March to July and from September to November.
August, December, and January–February are quiet months — I am usually traveling and not hosting during these periods.
📍 Access
Hagi, Yamaguchi Prefecture.
- From Fukuoka: Shinkansen to Shin-Yamaguchi → bus to Hagi (first 10:15 am, last 5:50 pm, ~1hr)
- From Tokyo: Shinkansen or night bus to Yamaguchi → bus to Hagi
Please check your transport options and schedule before getting in touch. -
Types of help and learning opportunities
Charity Work
Art Projects
Language practice
Help with Eco Projects
Teaching
Light gardening
Creative DIY projects
Babysitting and creative play
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Help around the house
Light maintenance
Help with Computers/ Internet
House & pet sitting
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Interests
Vegetarian or vegan
Water sports
Music
Gardening
Events & social
Culture
Carpentry
Languages
Drawing & painting
DIY & crafts
Art & design
Nature
Yoga / Wellness
Hiking
Outdoor activities
Sailing / Boating
Camping
Adventure sports -
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
🏯Cultural Exchange & What You Can Experience.🔨
Living here is an immersive experience in everyday Japanese life — not a tourist version of it.
Local life & community:
Hagi is a small historic town with a tight-knit community.
You'll have the chance to connect with local people, experience Japanese daily rhythms, and get a real sense of what rural life in Japan looks and feels like.
Nature & outdoor activities:
Mountains, rivers, and the sea surround Hagi. Depending on the season, you can enjoy hiking, fishing, cycling, and simply being in nature at a pace that's hard to find in cities.
Hands-on skills:
Depending on the season and your interests, you can get involved in gardening and vegetable growing, DIY and building work, upcycling and creative construction — practical skills learned through doing, not watching.
Creative space:
Studio Nomad, the shared workspace, is available for your own projects. Whether you work in art, design, writing, music, or anything else, you'll have space and time to create.
Cultural exchange:
Living alongside a Japanese artist gives you a window into a creative practice rooted in local culture. Language exchange is also welcome ☺︎
The experience:
More than any single activity, what you take away is the experience of living simply, contributing meaningfully, and connecting across cultures in a place that's still finding its own shape. -
Projects involving children
This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.
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Help
🛠️ What You'll Be Doing and What You Will Experience.
Work is flexible and shaped around your skills.
Note: The house is active from March to July and September to November.
August, January, and February are rest periods —
It's too hot and too cold here..
so I'm traveling during these months.
Physical & Outdoor
- Gardening and weeding
- Exterior wall and studio painting
- DIY and basic construction using reclaimed materials
- Vegetable patch management
(currently building one from scratch — soil knowledge welcome)
- Garden paving — laying blocks to create a clean outdoor space around the house
- Terrace building — using reclaimed wood and piping to build a terrace between the two buildings
- Studio Nomad preparation — clearing and organizing the shared studio (~1km away) so it can be used for creative work, cooking, and community gatherings
Creative & Operational
- Project planning, documentation, and communication
- Design work (flyers, signage, social media)
- Event planning and community outreach
Year-round
- Cooking and daily life support — if physical work isn't your strength, helping in the kitchen is a great way to contribute
- Systems & AI design — building workflows and communication tools to scale this model; input welcome
- Electrical work & mechanics — practical skills are always useful
＊Waste sorting:
Please separate food scraps (compost), non-burnables, and plastics. Details are in the house guide.
A Google document with all house details will be shared when you arrive — please read it.
Ongoing projects & plans
- An old kiln at Studio Nomad is waiting to be restored and converted into a pizza oven — brickwork and kiln knowledge welcome
- The studio grounds are being developed into a vegetable and herb garden — soil is being brought in now, and the goal is to be growing food as soon as possible
- The studio space itself is being cleared to become a place where people can work, cook, and gather
🔨Materials and tools are provided as needed.👷 -
Languages
Languages spoken
Japanese: Fluent
English: Intermediate
Chinese (Mandarin): IntermediateThis 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
🍳 Food & Daily Life
Living together here is simple and honest — the hope is that it becomes a good memory for both of us.
[Shared meals}
When I'm home, we cook and eat together. My kitchen is always stocked with the basics — noodles, udon, soba, pasta, potatoes, carrots, and onions. From these, I make simple Japanese home cooking: stir-fries, soups, noodle dishes, and everyday one-pot meals. Nothing elaborate, nothing expensive — just honest food.
I eat everything and genuinely love food from other cultures. Breakfast is usually peanut butter toast and a banana.
If you'd like to cook something from your own country or culture, you're very welcome to — just bring your own ingredients. I only stock what I use in my daily cooking, but I'm always happy to share what's here.
**How it works:**
The basic exchange is 3 hours/day, 15 hours/week — your stay is free. Meals are part of our shared daily life here.
If cooking is your strength and you'd like to take charge of the kitchen, that's very welcome too.
I'm flexible. We work things out together as we go — open communication is what matters most. -
What else ...
Hagi is a town where history and nature blend beautifully, perfect for exploring during your vacation.
A large river flows in front of the houses, with shrines and fields nearby.
Activities abound to enjoy the beautiful natural surroundings, such as strolling along the coast or through the mountains.
You can deeply immerse yourself in Hagi's rich history by visiting UNESCO World Heritage sites, strolling through remarkably well-preserved samurai residences and merchant districts, exploring traditional temples, and discovering local museums. Visiting Hagi-yaki pottery workshops and browsing local craft shops is also highly recommended.
For transportation, many attractions are easily accessible on foot or by bicycle, allowing you to soak up the local atmosphere while touring. -
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
Have a car parking space.
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How many Workawayers can stay?
One
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My animals / pets
Chat with Workawayers who've visited this host
Feedback (6)
From the start, she jumped in without being asked — helping clean the house and paint the studio. We meditated together for an hour by the river in front of the house … read more
Painting, hauling soil from the fields in a truck, digging with a shovel—and even when he was asked to help out with local projects, and we worked together. ガンバっちょる！
It was all a wonderful experience. Writing this down brings back so many memories and fun moments. We went … read more
Photos
Chat with Workawayers who've visited this host
Feedback
These are extra optional ratings when members leave feedback. The average rating left for each option is displayed.
Accuracy of profile:
(4.7)
Cultural exchange:
(5.0)
Communication:
(4.8)
From the start, she jumped in without being asked — helping clean the house and paint the studio. We meditated together for an hour by the river in front of the house … read more
Painting, hauling soil from the fields in a truck, digging with a shovel—and even when he was asked to help out with local projects, and we worked together. ガンバっちょる！
It was all a wonderful experience. Writing this down brings back so many memories and fun moments. We went … read more
During her residency, I could away traveling, but she responsibly took care of tasks such as cleaning the house and maintaining the garden and wall painting at studio. And she actively created … read more
Toru himself was a very inspiring person for me. During our shared meals we had many conversations about life motivations, … read more
Toru is genuinely … read more
the place have all the facilities you need.
we had culture exchange, making meals and eating together.
and there were another workaway so we shared some space and I enjoyed it very much.
the work was not hard, you communicated about the hours and it pretty chill.
thank you for the hospitality it was amazing!
Toru is a great host, who always did everything he could to make things (and tasks) clear, comfortable and fair. He was open to feedback, flexible, and … read more
They helped with house cleaning, weeding,a nd cooked delicious veggie meals. Also left notes for future guests!
They enjoyed local activities like cycling to the shops and hot springs, bringing a fresh vibe to life in Hagi. I'm so appreciated. Thank you so much! Toru
