Living immersion in rural life and help with restoring farm house in Nagatoro, Japan

Infos

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  Description

  We are a couple in our fifties who have spent our careers as international journalists -
  
  We have always been drawn to places that carry a story. This farmhouse is one of them.
  
  This is a large traditional Japanese farmhouse in rural Japan, over around 130 years old. It was once owned by a remarkable man - a scientist, photographer, silk producer, and collector who spent his life cultivating silkworms, travelling, and amassing an extraordinary archive of books, photographs, documents, ceramics, scientific instruments, and historical objects. Much of that collection remains inside the house today. We are still discovering what is here.
  
  Our project is the full restoration of this farmhouse - structurally, practically, and historically. That means carpentry, painting, and repair tasks, but also cataloging antiques, restoring vintage equipment, building a productive vegetable garden, and reviving the small mulberry farm on the property. It is a large, long-term undertaking and we are looking for people who want to become a genuine part of it rather than simply pass through.
  
  We split our time between the farmhouse and our family home. We are usually present - sometimes both of us, sometimes one - and we take the relationships we build here seriously. We want helpers to feel trusted, involved, and at home.
  
  If you are someone who works hard, stays curious, and finds meaning in doing things properly - we would love to hear from you. The location is about 2 hours away from Tokyo. Immersed in nature but easy for you to go out on trips and exploration.
  
  Our station name is NOGAMI station, it's about 30minutes walk to our home.

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  Types d'aide et opportunités d'apprendre

  Projets artistiques

  Aide avec des éco-projets

  Jardinage d'entretien

  Projets DIY créatifs

  Aide dans une ferme

  Cuisine/repas pour la famille

  Aide à la maison

  Petits travaux d'entretien
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  Centres d’intérêt

  

  Culture

  

  Vidéographie

  

  Films et télé

  

  Ferme

  

  Bénévolat

  

  Arts du spectacle

  

  Écriture

  

  Dessin et peinture

  

  Menuiserie

  

  Animaux

  

  Architecture

  

  Cuisine et alimentation

  

  Jardinage

  

  Photographie

  

  Soin des plantes

  

  Musique

  

  Histoire

  

  Bricolage / artisanat

  

  Livres

  

  Art et design

  

  Yoga / bien-être

  

  Sports d'équipe

  

  Nature

  

  Camping

  

  Montagne

  

  Plage

  

  Activités en plein air

  

  Randonnée

  

  Cyclisme

  

  Sports d'aventure
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  Objectifs de développement durable de l’ONU que cet hôte essaie d'atteindre

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  Qu'est-ce que c'est ?
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  Echange culturel et opportunités d'apprendre

  This place offers something that is genuinely rare - a living immersion in rural Japanese life, history, and craft rather than a curated tourist version of it.
  
  The farmhouse itself is a cultural artifact. Over 130 years old, it was built and lived in the traditional way - hand-cut beams, tatami rooms, sliding screens, a mulberry farm.
  
  We have spent decades exploring and telling stories, both personally and professionally. Conversation here tends to go somewhere interesting. We are genuinely curious about the people who come, and we enjoy sharing what we know about Japanese rural life, local history, food, and the story of this particular place.
  
  Day to day, cultural exchange happens naturally - cooking meals together, visiting local markets, understanding the rhythms of a Japanese village, learning about sericulture and traditional craftsmanship, and slowly uncovering the history embedded in the house room by room.
  
  The village itself is part of the exchange. It is a real, working community - not a tourist destination. Helpers who stay long enough tend to become a quiet part of it.
  For the right people, this is less a cultural exchange programme and more a way of briefly living inside a piece of Japanese history.

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  Aide

  We are restoring a 130-year-old traditional Japanese farmhouse from the ground up, and the scope of tasks is genuinely broad. We are looking for people who want to contribute meaningfully to a long-term project rather than tick tasks off a list.
  
  The tasks falls into a few areas:
  
  **Hands-on restoration** - carpentry, woodworking, painting, surface preparation, repairing rooms and structures throughout the house. Experience with traditional buildings or natural materials is a bonus, but a good eye, patience, and willingness to learn matter just as much.
  
  **Historical cataloging and conservation** - sorting, documenting, cleaning, and caring for a significant collection of antiques, books, photographs, documents, ceramics, and scientific instruments left by the previous owner. This suits people who are detail-oriented, careful, and genuinely curious about history.
  
  **Garden and farm tasks** - building and maintaining a productive vegetable garden, tending the small mulberry farm, landscaping, and outdoor projects. Interest in organic growing, permaculture, or simply working outside is very welcome.
  
  **General maintenance and housekeeping** - keeping the house running well as restoration progresses, which is unglamorous but essential.
  
  We don't expect any one person to cover all of this. Our ideal is a small team of 3-4 people with different strengths who complement each other well.
  
  What matters most to us is reliability, genuine motivation, and the ability to do tasks with initiative. We prefer longer stays - several weeks at minimum - because this project rewards people who take the time to understand the place.
  
  When you apply, please tell us specifically why this project interests you. That tells us more than a list of skills ever could.

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  Langues

  Langues parlées
  Anglais: Courant
  Japonais: Courant

  Cet hôte propose un échange linguistique
  Cet hôte a indiqué qu’il souhaitait faire partager sa propre langue ou en apprendre une nouvelle.
  Contactez-le pour en savoir plus.
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  Hébergement

  Helpers stay in their own private traditional Japanese room within the farmhouse - tatami floor, sliding screens, natural light. The rooms are the real thing, part of the original house, and living in them is part of the experience.
  
  The house is fully equipped for comfortable daily life:
  
  - Hot shower
  - Washing machine
  - Full kitchen with all facilities
  - Common living areas with space to relax, read, and unwind
  - Internet access
  - Guitars and other instruments available
  - Plenty of quiet corners and outdoor space
  
  Food is provided. Meals can be prepared together as a group or independently - we are relaxed about this and happy to find a rhythm that works for whoever is here.
  
  The house comfortably hosts 3-4 helpers at a time. We hope people will enjoy each other's company - cooking together, exploring the area on days off, and building a small sense of community among themselves.
  
  Bicycles are available for getting around. A scooter may also be available for responsible riders. The village has a supermarket and everyday amenities close by. A beautiful river within easy reach is perfect for swimming in the warmer months.
  
  The surrounding area is quiet, green, and genuinely rural - not a tourist destination, but a real Japanese village with its own rhythm and character. For people who want that, it is exactly the right kind of place to be.

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  Informations complémentaires

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    Accès Internet

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    Accès Internet limité

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    Nous avons des animaux

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    Nous sommes fumeurs

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    Familles bienvenues

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  Possibilité d’accueillir les digital nomads

  Cet hôte a indiqué qu’il aimait accueillir les digital nomads.

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  Espace pour garer des vans

  Cet hôte a de la place pour les vans.

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  Possibilité d'accueillir les animaux

  Cet hôte a dit qu’il acceptait les personnes voyageant avec un animal.

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  Combien de volontaires pouvez-vous accueillir ?

  Plus de 2

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  Mes animaux

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