Artists welcome to join creative art projects in Hagi, Japan

Details

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  Description

  🏡 Hi, Nice to Meet You!
  I'm TORU, an artist creating paintings and sculptures.
  I used to live in Shanghai, but after returning to Japan, my family and I moved to Hagi in 2021.
  I typically work remotely while pursuing my artistic endeavors.
  I have ADHD traits, which make it difficult for me to maintain close contact with many people. By opening this place, I’m experimenting with approaches that allow people to drop in and out in a flexible, fluid manner, without strict formality. I sincerely hope that living together with you all will become an opportunity for cooperation and learning.
  I purchased this house and gradually repaired it until it became livable.
  
  
  Japan currently faces various challenges, including population decline, increasing vacant homes, and finding ways to coexist with foreigners. I want to use this place to learn through practical experiences with everyone.
  My hope is that it becomes a place where we can share experiences and ideas.
  In my past art activities, I’ve undertaken projects that utilized local resources and focused on regional history and culture.
  I believe that sharing from different perspectives can be a catalyst for discovering a region’s charm and challenges.
  This itself is not a finished product, but an ongoing process — I want to value the dialogue and the process of building it together.
  
  Our property consists of two adjacent houses:
  ・ One is my home, which I share with Workaway guests.
  
  ・ The other is a guesthouse, though I won’t ask you to assist with my business.
  When there are no reservations, you can use it as your private stay.
  
  Additionally, I plan to clean a nearby studio to use as a shared studio or gallery, and for studio exchanges with artist friends. I may stay there occasionally.
  
  🎨 Volunteer Activities and Communal Living
  There are no fixed volunteer hours, but to make communal life smoother, I ask everyone to try the following:
  
  ・ Help prepare daily meals around lunchtime (12–2 PM) and dinner (6–7 PM).
  
  ・ Clean up after yourself. Keep the living space tidy.
  
  ・ Join projects at your own pace and use your strengths.
  
  Other activities may include:
  
  ・ DIY, painting, gardening, up-cycling, local research, and more.
  
  ・ Exchange of ideas and skills — while I share my knowledge, I also want to learn from your experiences and perspectives.
  
  🛏️ Stay Conditions
  To encourage more guests to visit, I’ve set the following conditions:
  
  ⚪︎ Please take care of your own needs (meals, cleaning, etc.).
  
  ⚪︎ Meals are vegetarian, vegetable-based dishes. I provide basics like potatoes, carrots, and onions.
  
  ⚪︎ We’ll share the cost of ingredients and enjoy meals together.
  
  ⚪︎ You can contribute by buying groceries to share or adding to the donation box.
  
  ⚪︎ There are no strict rules, but I hope everyone finds their own way to balance giving and receiving.
  
  ⚪︎ Self-sufficient individuals are welcome. I work during the day and cannot provide personal care or transportation.
  
  ⚪︎ I cannot exchange cash.
  
  ⚪︎ Cooperation and mutual help are encouraged. The house is not large, so sharing space and caring for each other is important.
  
  🚌 Access to Hagi
  
  -By Shinkansen
  Get off at Shin-Yamaguchi Station and transfer to a bus or JR train.
  
  -By Bus
  Take the Bōchō Bus bound for Hagi Bus Center from Shin Yamaguchi Station
  Last bus departs at 17:50!
  
  Long-distance buses also run from Tokyo and Fukuoka.
  
  -By Train
  Take the JR San’in Main Line bound for Higashi-Hagi Station.
  
  -By Car
  One parking space is available.
  
  🚌 Bōchō Bus Timetable (Hagi Bus Center ⇄ Danchi Mae)
  From Hagi Bus Center to Danchi Mae (15 min)
  
  ・Departures: 7:25, 9:20, 11:35, 13:30, 15:05, 17:15
  
  From Danchi Mae to Hagi Bus Center (approx. 15 min)
  
  ・Departures: 8:25 *, 10:07, 12:35 * ,14:17, 16:13 *, 18:25*
  
  * Services marked with an asterisk stop at Higashi-Hagi Station (JR).
  
  ※ Schedules may be delayed or changed due to traffic conditions.
  Inquiries: Bōchō Kōtsū Hagi Office ☎ 0838-22-3811
  
  I look forward to meeting you!٩(^‿^)
  
  Toru

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Charity Work

  Art Projects

  Language practice

  Help with Eco Projects

  Teaching

  Gardening

  DIY and building projects

  Babysitting and creative play

  Creating/ Cooking family meals

  Help around the house

  General Maintenance

  Help with Computers/ Internet

  House and 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
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  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  Guests can learn and experience the local lifestyle of Japan, as well as the history of Hagi City.

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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

  🎨 Volunteer Activities and Communal Living
  
  There are no set hours for volunteering here, but ask for the following:
  
  ・Please help prepare daily meals yourself (lunch 12-1 PM, dinner 6-7 PM) and clean the living space.
  
  ・Work at your own pace, utilize your strengths.
  
  Activities: DIY, ART, painting, gardening, upcycling, etc.
  
  Exchange of ideas and skills: I want to learn from your experiences and perspectives.

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  Languages

  Languages spoken
  Japanese: Fluent
  English: Intermediate
  Chinese (Mandarin): Intermediate

  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

  ・Accommodation: You'll have a private Tatami room and bed (Japanese style)
  ・Facilities: air conditioning, a heater, an electric kitchen, a flush toilet, and a shower room.
  ・Food(vegetarian): We'll share all food costs equally but workawayer can get their own food if prefer so.
  I'd like to learn about each other's food cultures through delicious meals.
  Supermarkets are also conveniently located within walking or biking distance.

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  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.

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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

  Have a car parking space.

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  Can possibly accept pets

  Yes, if not a Big animal.

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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  One

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  My animals / pets

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