1) Cutting down trees in the forest and carry them out so that SATOYAMA forest receives enough amount of sun light and will be kept in the healthy condition for biodiversity.
2) Supporting Satoyama Kids weekend camp .
3)Volunteers may take care of free-range raised chickens. Volunteers sometimes work with mentally/physically challenged people who work at the same place.
3)Harvesting mushrooms
Accomodation and food
Volunteers will stay in a regular Japanese house. Meals will be cooked by volunteers by turns. Sleeping bag is NO need. The bath is a traditional style where we heat the water ourselves using firewood.
Location and leisure
Workcamp is held in Kami-mitani area, Nabari city, Mie prefecture, about 60 km from Osaka. There are famous falls nearby that many hikers visit. Other activities - Hiking, Visiting Nara prefecture on free day etc.
Project hosted by
This project is actively working for SDG 4 (Quality Education) and SDGs 15 (Life on Land), organized together with "Akame no SATOYAMA wo Sodateru kai", a local environmental organization for conservation of SATOYAMA forest working in Nabari city since 1999. Because this area is relatively close to the big cities between Osaka and Nagoya, there were plans to build a golf field and a disposal center. However, the local people stopped those plans by collecting donations and buying the land. SATOYAMA needs to be maintained by humans for its biodiversity and water adjustment function. Our ancestors had protected and utilized the forest in an ecological and sustainable way, which has been neglected by modernization at many places in Japan.
Directions to meeting point
Additional comments
Study theme - Volunteers will acquire the knowledge of conservation work in SATOYAMA forest. Participation fee - 18,000 JPY (100 EUR by the rate on 2025 Nov. 3rd) of "NICE Volunteers" fee need to be paid in advance either by Card or PayPal. This is used for the project preparation/ coordination such as the transportation of the staff/ camp leaders, visa invitation cost, publications, etc. while the meals and the accommodation are provided by the local host by free (so, your fee is not used for those things!). Other - None