Shintoku

CODE: NICE-26L-ST19

Work:

Volunteers will, together with the community members, mainly do 1) Agricultural work (planting, weeding, cultivating and harvesting of the organic vegetables, taking care of animals, cleaning the animal houses, etc.), 2) House work (cooking and cleanings) and possibly 3) Assisting the cheese production, running the cafeteria, handcrafts and textiles. Be ready to do what will be needed!

Accomodation and food

Share the rooms in the facility which the community members live in. Cooking with the members by turn (Vegetarian is possible if it's prepared by volunteer self). Wifi is available.

Location and leisure

Shintoku town is an agricultural country side with big scale of nature and farms, at the foot of "Mt. Milk" and located in the center of Hokkaido island, near Obihiro and 120 km east of Sapporo. -20 degree in winter and 20 in summer. Other activities - Monthly birthday parties. Sightseeing (hot springs, famous places in this area).

Project hosted by

This project is actively working for SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) and SDGs 10 (Reduced Inequalities), organized together with Kyodo Gakusha (since 1998 here), a cooperative community where people with various backgrounds such as mentally disadvantaged, people who are tired of city life, who want to learn farming, who want to live in the nature, etc. They have 5 communities in Japan incl. Shintoku and grow animals and vegetables in an ecological, organic way.
At Shintoku farm in Hokkaido, they grow cows, pigs, vegetables with utilizing bacterium and produce various types of milk products as well as running the cafe (soft cream and cakes are so yummy!) which is a popular spot for the local people and tourists. Their cheese got the best prize in the World contest for the mountain cheese! The project has been revived this year since 2019.
*Outcome of this project: So many vols. have joined this community and greatly contributed both physically and mentally. There is even a case to marry one of the community members:) Please see the long term goal of this project as "Local SDGs" at https://www.slideshare.net/nice-workcamp/n0-68540773 (only Japanese for the moment, but you can at least enjoy the pictures!)

Directions to meeting point

Additional comments

Study theme - Learn about organic farming, taking care of animals such as cows, chickens. Learn a group work with various types of people. Participation fee - 36,000 JPY (200 EUR by the rate on 2025 Nov. 3rd) for MTV (30-182 days participation) and 72,000 JPY (400 EUR by the rate on 2025 Nov. 3rd) for LTV (over 182 days participation) of "NICE Volunteers" fee need to be paid in advance either by Card or PayPal. This is used for the project preparation and 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. Other - The first and last 2 days are On Arrival and Evaluation Seminars in Yokohama. Shintoku Farm website=https://www.kyodogakusha.org/ (only in Japanese)