Profile information
Host rating
100 %
Last replied
14 Jan 2026
Reply rate
88.9 %
Usually responds within 3 days
Feedback
19
Email verified
Badges (3)
Details
Description
We're a Japanese-American family living in rural Tambasasayama, Hyogo Prefecture, doing permaculture and growing an organic veggie garden and orchard, plus keeping a few sheep. We're also homeschooling our 4 kids and run a small alternative school 3 days a week. Our house is on a really big property nestled in the mountains so we've got some lovely hiking trails nearby, and beautiful view of the countryside.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Art Projects
Help with Eco Projects
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Animal Care
Babysitting and creative play
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Help around the house
General Maintenance
Interests
Politics / Social justice
LGBTQ
Events & social
Sustainability
Pets
Culture
Self development
Farming
Charity work
Music
Books
DIY & crafts
Art & design
Languages
Gardening
Cooking & food
Writing
Drawing & painting
Carpentry
Animals
Yoga / Wellness
Team sports
Nature
Fitness
Camping
Beach
Mountain
Outdoor activities
Hiking
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
We love playing music together (I have an addiction to instruments— currently passions are Irish bouzouki, Okinawan sanshin, guda drum, and kirtan singing with harmonium), doing pottery (we have a small kiln to fire pieces), and doing woodworking. I'm also doing spinning and felting using the wool from our sheep. Currently I’m in the process of trying to develop a line of products and accessories using the wool, so lots of experimentation lately! We are interested in anything DIY, so if you have any skills or interests you can share with us we would love to learn about them! Also, we have a long-term Japanese volunteer staying with us who is an excellent cook and makes marvelous sourdough bread and also grows willow to weave baskets. We like to eat seasonally and enjoy making traditional pickles and fermented foods. We can also support anyone learning Japanese. Nearby we also have opportunities to experience tea ceremony, zen meditation, and yoga, to name a few. Also my husband is really into wheelchair basketball lately and for anyone who loves sports and would like to try it out, a practice partner is always appreciated!
Projects involving children
This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.
Help
Volunteers who enjoy working outside, playing with kids, cooking, handcrafts and especially music would be a good fit for our place. Volunteers can expect to help out on home projects like gardening, property maintenance, caring for animals, permaculture, house renovation, tidying, and cooking together. Our schedule is 3 hours of working on projects in the morning, with afternoons and weekends free.
Languages
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Japanese: Fluent
Korean: Fluent
Spanish: Beginner
French: BeginnerThis host offers a language exchange
We can help teach Japanese or English. I’m fluent in Japanese but my reading and writing skills aren’t great, so I’d enjoy having a kanji study partner. My daughter is fluent in Korean, and is attending an alternative school in Korea. When she’s here, she can teach Korean.
Accommodation
Volunteers stay in a dormitory style room in our house. We provide all meals, but ask for a 1500 yen/day fee to help us cover food costs. We normally cook meals together.
What else ...
On days off, volunteers can enjoy hiking or riding their bike to the town center, about 45 minutes ride away, where there are some interesting shops, temples, and castle ruins. We welcome volunteers to join us on excursions to the river, hot springs, restaurants or to local festivals. We like to think of volunteers as part of our family while they stay with us. Also, my brother-in-law and mother-in-law are also workaway hosts nearby, so volunteers often get together and hang out.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Space for parking camper vans
We have a parking lot where you can park your camper.
How many Workawayers can stay?
Two
My animals / pets
Help me give them names
A family of Silkie chickens. Mom and Dad are named Denise and David. Unfortunately there are too many roosters so we may be having chicken soup soon.
Tam
Jaga and Momiji
Two beautiful black and grey stripey brothers who are maybe the most chill cats I’ve ever seen in my life.
Sheep
Two lovely girls named Toppogi and Meimei. Very friendly and conversational.
Chat with Workawayers who've visited this host
Feedback (9)
She’s very physically strong and has a great work… read more
From the moment I arrived, I felt transported into a colourful world. The room was filled with music, crafts, and warm energy, and there was never a dull moment with wonderful… read more
Also, she’s traveling with a violin… 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:
(5.0)
Cultural exchange:
(5.0)
Communication:
(5.0)
She’s very physically strong and has a great work… read more
From the moment I arrived, I felt transported into a colourful world. The room was filled with music, crafts, and warm energy, and there was never a dull moment with wonderful… read more
Also, she’s traveling with a violin… read more
Everyone is very welcoming and warm, and I felt comfortable staying in their home. They care about you and your wellbeing. The kids are lovely, I had a great time playing with them. This family is perfect for creative people of any sort, especially… read more
They involved me in a lot of activities, like a tea ceremony, kirtan… read more
The house is very big and in the middle of nature and animals including two sheep, chickens with chicks, cats and a dog. The working hours were four to five a day from Monday to Friday, and the rest of the time we were free. We took turns cooking dinner and one evening we even managed to… read more
The house is full of life and laughters, full of music instruments and good mood !
That's a real pleasure to participate in any task when one can feel such a real sense of community.
I m… read more
They are genuine and kind people who made us feel so comfortable and at home from day one. We really loved sharing dinners with the whole family and all the amazing food that they made. The kids are so sweet and there’s such a nice feeling in the house.
The work was often… read more
Anna and I connected, shared humor and it was always a joy to talk to her and watch her be with the… read more
