Experience authentic rural life with our family in a traditional home in Hida Gifu, Japan

Details

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  Description

  Welcome to our family home in the beautiful countryside of Hida Takayama, Japan.
  
  We are a family living in a traditional Japanese house that we are slowly maintaining while enjoying a simple, rural lifestyle. Alongside everyday family life, we grow vegetables, care for a small rice field, spend time outdoors, and continue learning about self-sufficient living.
  
  This is our personal home, not a commercial business. Workawayers join us as part of a cultural exchange and help only with everyday household and homestead activities. They are never involved in any business-related or income-generating work.
  
  Life here is relaxed and hands-on. Depending on the season, we may spend time gardening, harvesting vegetables, painting around the house, caring for outdoor spaces, cooking together, or enjoying other everyday activities that naturally come with living in the countryside. Everything is done together, and there is always time to ask questions, learn new skills, and share experiences.
  
  If you enjoy nature, meaningful conversations, simple living, and experiencing everyday life in rural Japan, we'd love to welcome you into our home.

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Light gardening

  Creative DIY projects

  Babysitting and creative play

  Help around the house
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  Interests

  

  Team sports

  

  Videography

  

  Farming

  

  Sustainability

  

  Hiking

  

  Music

  

  Languages

  

  Gardening

  

  DIY & crafts

  

  Drawing & painting

  

  Cooking & food

  

  Carpentry

  

  Art & design

  

  Architecture
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  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  Volunteers are welcomed into our family home in the peaceful countryside of Hida Takayama, where they can experience everyday life surrounded by mountains, forests, rivers, rice fields, and traditional Japanese culture.
  
  Life here is centered around sharing experiences rather than simply completing tasks. We cook together, share meals, explore the local area, and help side by side while maintaining our home, vegetable garden, and outdoor spaces. These everyday activities naturally create opportunities to learn about rural Japanese life, self-sufficiency, gardening, traditional houses, and seasonal living.
  
  Having lived in Korea, Spain, the Netherlands, and Japan, I enjoy meeting people from different cultures and learning about their traditions, languages, recipes, and perspectives. Communication is possible in English, Japanese, and Korean, and I hope every guest leaves having learned something new while teaching us something as well.
  
  Depending on the season, we may visit local festivals, relax in nearby hot springs, go hiking, fishing or camping, or simply enjoy the peaceful countryside together. Sharing meals, conversations, and everyday life is an important part of the experience.
  
  Our goal is to create meaningful friendships and cultural exchange where everyone learns from one another while experiencing a slower, more intentional way of life.

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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

  Volunteers join me in everyday activities around our family home and garden. All activities are carried out together, and guidance is always provided. No previous experience is necessary, curiosity, a positive attitude, and a willingness to learn are much more important.
  
  Depending on the season, activities may include gardening, weeding, harvesting vegetables, painting, organizing spaces, caring for outdoor areas, simple household maintenance, cooking together, and other seasonal homestead tasks. These are everyday activities that help us maintain our own home and lifestyle.
  
  Sometimes there are simple DIY projects around the house that visitors can join if they are interested, but participation is always alongside me as a learning experience rather than skilled work.
  
  For people interested in photography, videography, writing, or storytelling, there are also opportunities to document rural life, seasonal activities, and everyday experiences if they enjoy being creative.
  
  I enjoy explaining what we're doing and why, sharing practical knowledge about countryside living, while also learning from the experiences, cultures, and ideas that every visitor brings.
  
  If you enjoy nature, cultural exchange, outdoor activities, and experiencing authentic rural life in Japan, you'll probably feel at home here.

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  Languages

  Languages spoken
  English: Fluent
  Japanese: Fluent
  Korean: 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

  Volunteers stay in a traditional Japanese house in rural Hida Takayama, surrounded by mountains, rice fields, and nature.
  
  From August onward, the first floor of the house will be under renovation. Volunteers will stay in rooms on the second floor. While the indoor facilities are being renovated, an outdoor kitchen, bathroom, and toilet are available and fully usable.
  
  Meals are prepared together as a group. Ingredients and basic groceries are provided, and volunteers take turns cooking and helping with meal preparation. Sharing meals and cooking responsibilities is an important part of the community experience.
  
  This experience is best suited to people who are flexible, enjoy community living, and are interested in experiencing authentic countryside life while contributing to ongoing renovation and farming projects.

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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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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  More than two

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  My animals / pets

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