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Our business is cabinet making and weaving in the rural mountains of Western Japan.
We renovated an old primary school into workshops and residential space.
During April - November we often run one day crafts workshops and offer residential courses too.
From Dec to early March we close for the visitor.
We have a small natural farm which we use permaculture and natural farming methods for.
The village we live in is in a very rural quiet area with lots of beautiful surrounding nature.
We are about 3 hours from Osaka and 1.5 hours from Okayama or Kurashiki city.
We like to accept volunteers from a minimum of one month stay and prefer those who have a keen interest in Japanese culture, working outside and have creative interests.
We have also have cats and chickens.
Gardening
DIY and building projects
General Maintenance
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Help with Eco Projects
Help around the house
Animal Care
Help with Computers/ Internet
Please read the feed back what the previous volunteers say.
We like to accept volunteers from a minimum of one month stay and prefer those who have a keen interest in Japanese culture, working outside and have creative interests.
Volunteer help includes gardening, farming, maintenance, animal care and cleaning.
If you enjoy cooking you can also help with meals.
If you have a special skill as graphic design or carpenter, or Yoga teacher extra,,,
please let us know.
We have a large garden and plot of farm land which needs much attention.
We therefore want people who enjoy doing this type of outdoor work and have an appreciation for nature.
If you have good experience with gardening we'd love to ask you to stay!
There is no Workaway work required for woodwork or weaving but you may be asked to do some small jobs to help with preparation.
You can participate if we have workshops running whilst you are here for a small cost.
We have Yoga space.
English: Fluent
Japanese: Fluent
Private or shared room at an renovated nursery building next to the main building.
Washing and kitchen facilities available.
There is free wifi in both buildings.
We are very rural, isolated with no public transport or shops around here.
Please read carefully about the information about the access below ! Please don't ask these question by mail!
The nearest JR station( Mimasaka-Oiwake) is 10 minutes by car, where we can pick you up and drop you off.
JR
Kamenoko station is 30 min by car.
Mimasaka-Oiwake rail station is 10 min by car.
+Access to us
Our closest highway bus terminal is Tsuyama , not Okayama. if you are coming from Kyoto or Osaka (~3 hour trip, ¥3,090- ¥2,750) * JR bus or Shinki Bus
If you will come from Tokyo, there is a night bus to Tsuyama.
If coming by highway bus you can catch a connecting train from Tsuyama to Mimasaka-Oiwake where we can pick you up.
There is another highway bus from Osaka ( Umeda) to Chugoku- Oiwake station which is the nearest bus stop to us.( 10 min by car)
If you come by JR Shinkansen to Okayama station. You can take tsuyama line to Kamenoko station where we can pick you up. It takes 30 min by car.
Okayama airport is 50 min by car.
+ Days Off
On volunteers' days off they like to visit Okayama City, Kurashiki , Katsusyama or Tsuyama city. There are also lots of beautiful places to walk and see around here.
We can drop you to nearest JR station.
* Weather
It is very cold here during the autumn and winter up to March.
* Wear and Boots
We can provide you with boots and gloves for outside work.
There is a free box for the working wears for you to borrow.
There is a big second hand cloth shop near here where you can get very cheap and nice clothes.
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Two
5 hours a day, 5 days a week
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