Saki

Japan
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Profile information

Travel information
I am currently
Travelling
My next destination:
New Zealand - from May 2024 until May 2025
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Description
Hi, I'm Saki, 29yo, from Japan!
I have been staying in New Zealand on a working holiday visa since May 2024.

I'm currently staying in the Thames, south of the Coromandel. I am planning to move to the Queenstown area on the South Island from February 2025.

I would like to learn about farming, gardening, and Maori culture and crafts in New Zealand.
I'm particularly interested in natural farming methods such as regenerative farming, permaculture, and syntropic farming.

My parents are tomato farmers in rural Japan who also own their own rice fields and vegetable gardens. For this reason, I have been familiar with living in nature and farming since I was young.

I studied pedagogy at a Japanese university and obtained a teaching license in early childhood education and special needs education. From 2019, I studied abroad at an educational institution called Folke Højskole in Denmark for half a year and learned the basics of permaculture. I then went on to do several small farm stays in Denmark, Finland and Portugal.

After returning to Japan in 2020, I worked at an organic herb farm for two years while helping out with my parents' farm.

When I return to Japan in 2025, I would like to return to my hometown and start my own farm project. Therefore, in New Zealand, I would like to experience various farms and gardens, gather diverse ideas, and get lots of inspiration. This will be my last long trip.

I look forward to meeting many wonderful people, places, and experiences throughout this journey.
Interests
Plant care
Sustainability
Pets
Nature
Music
Movies & TV
Gardening
Farming
DIY & crafts
Culture
Cooking & food
Books
Art & design
Architecture
Animals
Languages
Languages spoken
Japanese: Fluent
English: Intermediate
More details about my language interests
This workawayer has indicated that they would be interested in sharing their language(s) or learning a new language. You can contact them directly to discuss this.
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Skills and knowledge I'd like to share or learn
I'm interested in:
DIY and building projects
Animal Care
Some knowledge of:
Gardening
Babysitting and creative play
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Life at a Farmstay
Eco Projects
Helping around the house
More details about your skills
I have been working on a farm for a long time. I love working on farms and gardens, and am also eager to learn new things related to agriculture and nature.
I have also worked in education, so I love spending time with children.
Age
30
What else ...
My English is still not so good, but I like to talk with people, so I'm gonna try my best! I'm looking forward to seeing and talking with you!
Some more information
- Smoker
- Driver's licence
- Allergies
  no
- Special dietary requirements
  no

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28 Mar 2025

Left by host (Help me around a small ...) for Workawayer ()

I can wholeheartedly recommend Saki to any future hosts. She was incredibly helpful, hardworking, and kind, always approaching tasks with enthusiasm and a great attitude.
Her willingness to learn, reliability, and positive energy made her a pleasure to have around. She adapted quickly to the daily farm routines and was both thoughtful and… read more

(Excellent )

26 Mar 2025

Left by Workawayer () for host (Help me around a small ...)

I spent 10 days at Pia's place. Pia's place is very unique and beautiful, and is full of ideas for creative self-sufficient living. I stayed in a red bus in the orchard, which was very cute and I enjoyed it very comfortably. Pia is an organic farmer and also knows a lot about herbs and medicinal plants, and while working together, she generously… read more

(Excellent )

25 Feb 2025

Left by Workawayer () for host (Learn about sustainable ...)

While staying at Themes from August 2024 to February 2025, I visited their new location in Paeroa several times and helped them with their new veggie garden. They shared with me many plans and ideas for their farm. There are already many native plants and fruit trees planted on their land, and I am very excited to see them grow. I worked mainly… read more

(Excellent )

25 Feb 2025

Left by Workawayer () for host (Help in my garden and learn ...)

I stayed at Themes from August 2024 to February 2025 and visited Naomi's place in Coromandel Town several times to help maintain her garden, harvest and make tinctures. I loved working with her and was really inspired by her wealth of knowledge and passion for plants. It was a really special experience to be able to see her beautiful garden change… read more

(Excellent )

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28 Mar 2025

Left by host (Help me around a small ...) for Workawayer ()

(Excellent)

26 Mar 2025

Left by Workawayer () for host (Help me around a small ...)

(Excellent)

25 Feb 2025

Left by Workawayer () for host (Learn about sustainable ...)

(Excellent)

25 Feb 2025

Left by Workawayer () for host (Help in my garden and learn ...)

(Excellent)

16 Aug 2024

Left by Workawayer () for host (Outdoor experience learning ...)

I spent a wonderful week at Dale and John's place. They were very kind and fun people, and we talked and laughed a lot. They also told me a lot of recommended places in NZ, which made me very excited.
I mainly planted Native Plants with Dale. Dale is a professional landscape designer and taught me a lot of gardening knowledge. After work, I walked… read more

(Excellent)

29 Jun 2020

Left by host (Whole health, peace and ...) for Workawayer ()

Thank you Saki Yamada!
We loved our time with you and wished that you could have stayed a bit longer.
In her 2 week visit she spent many hours attending to the garden. From preparing more beds for the sweet potatoes - hard, grunt work....
to delicately managing the growth of the tomatoes...
and planting, harvesting, weedeing, composting and… read more

(Excellent)

14 Jun 2020

Left by Workawayer () for host (Whole health, peace and ...)

I've been in their beautiful place for 2 weeks. It was unforgettable experience for me, I enjoyed working in the garden, going for walk to the dam to swim, cycling to the cliff where I can see the beautiful view, and playing with Zoe( she is a playful friendly dog ), sweet cats, pretty goats! And of course I loved to spend nice time with Martin,… read more

(Excellent)

14 Jun 2020

Left by host for Workawayer ()

Thank you so much Saki for sharing your time and working with us picking berries, getting our garden ready and denailing boards in 2019. Saki is strong, motivated and a great worker. We all fell in love with Saki while she was here and she is welcome back any time. Lots of love to Saki not Aki! From Mick, Marja, Leo and Luna.

(Excellent)

29 Nov 2019

Left by Workawayer () for host (New project on old log house, ...)

It was amazing for me to live and work with Mick, Marja and lovely Leo & Luna! I usually helped Marja to built new garden beds, pick mushrooms and berries, also I went to the organic farm of Marja's father. I loved working in the Finish beautiful nature, it was so nice!!
Also I was inspired by their lifestyle ( to make by ownselves, to eat local… read more

(Excellent)

4 Jun 2020

Left by Workawayer () for host (Veggie garden and animals in ...)

I had spent amazing time in Quinta for 3 months! I was sooo lucky to be able to stay there in that difficult covid-19 situation and really appreciate to Ugo and Maryann a looot.

Usually I had worked with Ugo in the vege garden and the new forest garden and learned many things about gardening stuff and permaculture method, like how to make hot… read more

(Excellent)

31 May 2020

Left by host (Veggie garden and animals in ...) for Workawayer ()

It was an absolute pleasure to have Saki with us, she came for 3 weeks and then with the Covid situation she stayed with us for 3 months, and we couldn't have asked for a better person to pass these 3 lockdown months with.
She is super hard working out in the gardens and outside work, great in the kitchen, lovely recipes and always willing to give… read more

(Excellent)

24 Feb 2020

Left by Workawayer () for host (Enjoy a nice time at our home ...)

I'm very grateful to Bártolo, Annelie, Tilda and Ivo! I could have various experiences there, like feeding animals, seeding, preparing the garden and fruit trees, and also cooking and eating Portuguese food ( Annelie and Bartolo are really nice chef!! ) ! Their place is so beautiful, quite big and historic house, the garden with orange and lemon… read more

(Excellent)

10 Jul 2019

Left by host for Workawayer ()

Saki came back for a few weeks, which I love, she is so wonderful, easy going and a real pleasure to host!
I certainly can recommend her to everyone.
If you want a dedicated easy going person, she is the one to host!
Thank you so much Saki for coming back and as you know you are always welcome to come back anytime you wish!
Enjoy your other… read more

(Excellent)

8 Jul 2019

Left by Workawayer () for host (Finnish life in the heart of ...)

I had stayed sofia's place from November to January and June. So I could experience Finish winter and mid summer. Sofia always taught us many Finish cultural things about lifestyle, food, nature... many things! Thanks of that, I enjoyed Finish life a lot, and I love Finland more. I already miss a lot of things of Sofia and Sofia's place!

I… read more

(Excellent)

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