Help us care for a mountain land & home in rural Nara, Japan

Infos

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  Description

  We are potters, land stewards, and builders. We moved to this mountain village six years ago and have been slowly restoring a 300-year-old Japanese house and building our studios by hand, while caring for the surrounding forest, garden, and community. We enjoy hosting people who are kind, grounded, curious, and content in their own rhythm.
  
  This is not a tourist or retreat setting—it’s a place for people who enjoy simple living in a natural environment.
  
  I am from Japan (originally near Himeji), long term tea ceremony practitioner, and instructor for Ikebana, and Yoga & meditation. Mu husband is from the U.S. and a classically trained artist. He teaches pottery with a deep interest in Japanese aesthetics, and makes things with land-based philosophy.
  We both love sharing ideas, traditions, and reflections. At the same time, we like to move at a careful pace. While we enjoy cultural exchange, we also value quiet evenings and rest. If a moment arises naturally, we’re always glad to share stories, ideas, or experiences around the table.

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  Types d'aide et opportunités d'apprendre

  Jardinage

  Entretien général
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  Centres d’intérêt

  

  Dev. durable

  

  Dev. personnel

  

  Culture

  

  Soin des plantes

  

  Photographie

  

  Langues

  

  Histoire

  

  Jardinage

  

  Bricolage / artisanat

  

  Cuisine et alimentation

  

  Menuiserie

  

  Art et design

  

  Nature

  

  Montagne

  

  Randonnée
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  Echange culturel et opportunités d'apprendre

  We live in a quiet area and are not event-based hosts. We live a handmade life—restoring our house ourselves, building our studios, and making things from scratch, mostly with Japanese tradition or aesthetics. If you're observant and engaged, you’ll experience a deep kind of cultural exchange through shared meals, local routines, and conversation with local volunteers. This is a window into rural Japanese life and seasonal rhythms.
  
  Our backyard opens into forest trails, crystal clear rivers to jump in, and beautiful waterfalls are in walking distance. A local onsen is just a five-minute walk, and there's a friendly brewery taproom two minutes from our home. We have a wonderful extended community of neighbors and friends who may stop by to join the work or say hello. If you show up with good energy and initiative, you’ll find yourself welcomed.

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  Projets impliquant des enfants

  Ce projet peut impliquer des enfants. Pour en savoir plus, consultez nos directives et conseils ici.

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  Aide

  Every summer from late June through early October, our mountain land grows wild and fast. We need help cutting back the overgrowth and maintaining trails and edges. This is some of the hardest, most honest work of the year—and also some of the most rewarding.
  
  We are seeking 1–2 energetic, kind, and physically strong people to join us for short-term volunteer stays. In exchange for your help, we offer good food, meaningful days, and a quiet home in the mountains of Nara, Japan.
  
  The main task is weed cutting and land clearing. This is outdoor work—sometimes muddy, hot, or buggy—but satisfying if you enjoy using your body and working with care.
  Morning hours are for work (usually 6:00–11:00, with short water brakes), when it’s cooler
  After lunch, you are free to rest, explore, or simply enjoy the surroundings
  We cook with extra care, and we ask the volunteers help clean the kitchen after meals

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  Langues

  Langues parlées
  Anglais: Courant
  Japonais: Courant

  Cet hôte propose un échange linguistique
  I used to teach Japanese language and culture at a college in the US. Language and culture study is part of our life. When we have time, we can share our cultural study projects. It would be great if we have a chance learning new culture in person.
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  Hébergement

  You’ll stay in a private room in our traditional house, with a bed, tatami floor, and peaceful mountain air.
  We provide:
  A private room with bed or futon on tatami mat.
  All meals (self-serve breakfast; lunch and dinner cooked by us).
  Wi-Fi throughout the house and the gardens.
  Shared bathrooms and access to a nearby onsen (5-minute walk).
  The house is rustic but clean and well-cared-for. We take pride in our meals and our shared spaces.

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  Autres infos...

  You enjoy working outdoors. You don’t mind getting dirty. You’re strong, cheerful, and self-directed. You can handle early mornings and you understand what it means to give your full presence to physical tasks.
  This is a good fit for:
  Nature lovers,
  Trail workers,
  Gardeners,
  Builders and landscape-minded artists,
  People who find joy in effort,
  Guests who are independent, observant, and don’t need constant interaction.
  
  This kind of help is essential to our life here. It supports not just our land, but our spirit. We cook with extra care for volunteers. We share our time and place with joy, even if only in short moments.
  If you are someone who thrives in honest labor, enjoys your own company, and brings curiosity and calm with you, we are already thankful for your presence.

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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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  Combien de volontaires pouvez-vous accueillir ?

  Deux

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