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Host rating
100 %
Last replied
1 Feb 2026
Reply rate
85.5 %
Usually responds within 3 days
Feedback
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Details
Description
Just to the south of Tokyo lies the large Boso peninsula with its many bays and beaches. Much of the forested interior remains largely undeveloped. Unknown even. But hidden away in the hills and forests are bamboo covered terraces made in the wartime years when Japan badly needed food and the sides of the hills were terraced to grow sweet potatoes. When the war ended, the farmers went back to the valleys below to grow the more profitable rice and the hills were allowed to fall into bamboo-covered disuse.
But by a geographic anomaly (which we will be happy to explain) the hilltops are fertile volcanic loam waiting to be cultivated.
At our base at Oihama, near Ohara, we are just over one hour away on the direct Keiyo train line from Tokyo Station . Facing surf beaches on the Pacific ocean side of the peninsula we have over the years cleared the jungle from some of the terraces and created lawns and vegetable gardens.
Close to my house we have also built two fully-equipped Workaway huts with paths between terraces, one going down to the semi-secret beach below. Nearby we also have a house for Workaways with a small truck for transport and kiwi plants for company.
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Our gardens are organic, in the sense that jungle waste is mulched and returned to the soil. We do not claim to be aiming for sustainable development but we certainly like you to feed yourself as much as possible from what we grow.
No produce is for commercial sale. While we do not offer payment for work we do offer a weekly food allowance for days worked.
We like people to stay for at least a month so they can familiarise themselves with both the area and the work. We offer standard Workaway conditions - 25 hours of work per week, accommodation plus an allowance which should cover all reasonable costs for food . We also like to invite Workawayers to join us for meals at local Japanese restaurants.
Who am I? Brought up in UK and Australia, and after spending many years first as a diplomat and then as an educator in Japan I have am retired to enjoy my Australian liking for developing difficult land.
Two sons, Dan and Ron, help out when not in Tokyo. Wife Carolina from Peru also helps. Ron is a former squash champion who can give you a game at our Squash court on our nearby Kuwata site
Gregory
Types of help and learning opportunities
Art Projects
Language practice
Elderly Companionship
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Farmstay help
Help around the house
General Maintenance
Help with Computers/ Internet
Interests
Sustainability
Politics / Social justice
Farming
Writing
Plant care
Languages
Gardening
Books
Water sports
Nature
Fitness
UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
Copy and paste the link below. Use this to explore the area and get to see some of the many temples and shrines.
The Isumi district area hosts numerous events and festivals, including the Japan-famous Hadaka (Naked) Matsuri in September.
The nearby Ohara fishing port holds weekly fish markets and local fishermen organise deep-sea fishing trips.
We can also recommend a visit to the colorful Onjuku beach resort (one hour by bike, much less by car or train), and to the world famous Sea World at Kamogawa (40 minutes by train).
Help
Help to develop and maintain Oihama site.
A strong interest in plants, both domestic and wild, is helpful. Computer skills also very welcome.
Driving skills wanted (ideally for gear-stick).
At the Oihama site help is mainly weeding, mowing and maintaining vegetable gardens.
Languages
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Spanish: Fluent
Japanese: Fluent
Russian: Fluent
Chinese (Mandarin): FluentThis host offers a language exchange
Language is the food of life
Accommodation
Accommodation at the Oihama base consists mainly of two independent two-room cabins , complete with shower room, kitchen, simple toilet, tatami two-person bedroom , all facing a large lawn with a jade table for six and spectacular ocean views, surrounded by a national forest. Oihama Heights residents, both Japanese and non-Japanese, will be your neighbors.
The large, full-range supermarket, Aoiki, is only a five bike ride away. While we hope you will get to grow much of what you eat, we will of course cover reasonable food and grocery costs. We also hope to invite you occasionally to join us at local eateries.
You are free to use any of our bicycles to explore the area and run errands. A small runaround truck may also be available, but please make sure you have a valid national driving license or international license.
Nearby we have a house with kiwi fruits to take overflow
What else ...
We speak several languages and would be happy to help you in your language efforts..
Biking trips into the hills of the deep Boso Peninsula nearby will take you a Japan which few ever see.
The nearby very large Kiyomizu Kannon is a regular pilgrimage site in the Kanto Area. The Yoro Gorge about 30 minutes drive is famous of its hot springs. The entire coast line from Oihama down to the popular Kamogawa surf beaches is studded with small fishing ports and beaches - the Riviera of Japan it has been called.
The Kamogawa Sea World with its trained sea animals is rated as one of the best in the world.
Sunset Breeze resort on the other side of the peninsular and with which we have a close connection has three championship squash courts. We can also provide access to our own squash court and omni tennis court, both available free of charge.
To the north about 30 minutes is the famous Kujukuri (99 mile) beach with wind surfing facilities.
We provide a small two seater, run-around vehicle for trips to nearby cultural sights (there are many), surf beaches and to Ohara station just 70 minutes by express to central Tokyo. International licences are needed.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Space for parking camper vans
No limit to lawn space available
Can possibly accept pets
Cats only.
How many Workawayers can stay?
More than two
My animals / pets
Chat with Workawayers who've visited this host
Feedback (31)
Taking 2h and a half to arrive here from Tokyo, you will have a rural and quiet life in this place, being able to practice surf in your free time.
Apart from that, the work consists in 5h of working between the garden and fields next to the main house and taking care of the kiwi farm 20 min… read more
You may also be tasked with driving Greg to… 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:
(4.5)
Cultural exchange:
(4.5)
Communication:
(4.3)
Taking 2h and a half to arrive here from Tokyo, you will have a rural and quiet life in this place, being able to practice surf in your free time.
Apart from that, the work consists in 5h of working between the garden and fields next to the main house and taking care of the kiwi farm 20 min… read more
You may also be tasked with driving Greg to… read more
We have learned a lot working with Greg these past few months. We have done all kinds of jobs: mowing the lawn, starting a vegetable garden from scratch, cutting bamboo, repairing stairs, tending to the kiwi… read more
We really enjoyed our time at Greg and… read more
Shion's Japanese was a big help.
The work was different and varied but not more than five hours five days a week. Sometimes you can work on your own… read more
There is… read more
On working days, at 9 a.m. the Workawayers came out of their comfortable, private, beautiful huts to meet with Gregory. He told us then what tasks were pending. The work is not too much and not too difficult.
When I was there, we mainly… read more
We gain good muscle, learn how to plant small trees, digging holes, planting potatoes, cutting bambu, making fences, making stair steps and we even went to a 🌲 auction, it was great, all new for us.
We have only work in the city and this was all the opposite, just what we where looking for.… read more
In general the… read more
Sin duda no creo que podamos encontrar un huésped mejor en todo Japón. Desde aquí, Gregory, Inés y yo te agradecemos el habernos… read more
About the workaway experience:
All the positive comments written below, left by the other workawayers describes pretty much how great this place is, in more ways than you can imagine. If you plan to travel to Japan, you must come to… read more
The location is truly mesmerizing. Greg has devoted the past few decades to a small slice of heaven next to the beach… read more
Gregory.
It was living the good live for 3 weeks straight. To start with the beautiful house, surounder by nature. The legend himself, Gregory, who has an very interesting and unique life behind him. Pick his brain and you will learn some interesting things! The work is ofcourse part weeding, but the rest are all satisfying… read more
So their legacy will be with me forever.
They were also very good cooks.
Tamara's English is excellent. She seems to… read more
It was an incredibly peaceful place, I will never forget sitting at the Jade table after a days work and watching both the ocean and the sun setting.
I was staying in the cabin and the decking was THE perfect spot for yoga with an amazing… read more
The lady really has talent, as well as a nice… read more
She did not stay long enough to give a proper rating, but for the meantime we will say very good..
From the day we arrived, it was evident that Greg was deeply passionate about the work he has undertaken to restore this beautiful part of Japan to the beauty that it could be. The work that… read more
We enjoyed their company greatly. We hope they will come back sometime.
The most important thing is the accommodation: the house for volunteers is the… read more
I should add that both of… read more
The accommodation he provided us was nothing less than excellent; people around became friends to us. He formed a… read more
