Gokayama

Name: Gokayama
Start: 2026-04-04
End: 2026-12-13
Location: Toyama, Japan

Code: 20251107-75af-4815-a261-a8979b78119a Copied

Japan Farming Farming Fixed dates

About the project

Gokayama

📝 Detailed information

🏢 About the local organisation

This project is actively working for SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) and SDGs 15 (Life on Land), organized together with a local group Transition Village Gokayama from 2025.Houbikiso, a former lodging facility near the World Heritage site Suganuma Gassho-style Village, has been repurposed as a place to learn and practice living in harmony with the Gokayama climate, living using the wisdom of the past in a Gassho-style building, and living in which people, animals, and plants coexist and circulate. The hosts are making small changes to the place and building the community. Together with volunteers from Japan and around the world, they hope to pass on the local cultural traditions to future generations. Currently, due to the aging population, there are few people who can take care of the thatched roofs with their history (which are grown on the slopes of the mountain) or grow traditional vegetables.

💼 What the programme involves

The main tasks of the volunteers are 1. Cutting/Maintaining thatched grass (mountain areas) for repairing traditional roofs, 2. Farming some traditional vegetables and 3. Doing work for community

🏠 Accommodation on site

Volunteers share rooms or have your own rooms. Volunteers cook most of their own meals. Mobile phone signals may be weak. Compost toilets, kitchens, and shower rooms are available. Please bring your own sleeping bag. Please be prepared for very simple mountain life.

📍 About the location

Gokayama and Suganuma village in the Hokuriku region of Japan is a World Heritage Site, a village of Gassho-style houses, and a special place where beautiful scenery changes with the seasons and traditional culture lives on. (https://maps.app.goo.gl/a7SWiKQgTDoWxBf17) Other activities - Partying with locals, hiking, hot springs, etc.

⚠️ Requirements

Must be interested in nature, farm work, and the traditional life of the area. Must be adaptable and enjoy a simple lifestyle. Must be highly motivated to work. Volunteers are expected to be able to speak some Japanese (daily conversation level).

ℹ️ Additional information

Study theme - Volunteers will acquire knowledge and skills related to Gokayama's traditional architecture and thatching, as well as basic Japanese language and local culture. 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. Follow the Instagram(@houbikisou) to see the volunteers' daily activities.

Interested in this project? Create your account and apply online.

📷 Project photos

Gokayama

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📅 Available sessions

NICE-26L-GK01

04/04/2026 → 28/06/2026

Closed

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NICE-26L-GK02

04/04/2026 → 20/09/2026

Closed

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NICE-26L-GK03

04/04/2026 → 13/12/2026

Closed

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NICE-26L-GK04

27/06/2026 at 00:00 → 20/09/2026 at 00:00

Open

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NICE-26L-GK05

27/06/2026 at 00:00 → 13/12/2026 at 00:00

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NICE-26L-GK06

19/09/2026 at 00:00 → 13/12/2026 at 00:00

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ℹ️ Key information

Age required

18–99 years old

Solidarity donation

35999.00 JPY ≈ 203 EUR

French tax residents may be eligible for a tax reduction of up to 66% of their costs (membership, plane tickets, solidarity donation).

📍 Location

Toyama, Japan

Japan

🌍 Location info

Local currency

Japan Yen (JPY / ¥)

Exchange rate

1 JPY = 0.005641 EUR

Rate as of 31/05/2026

Timezone

Japan Standard Time

Local time: 21:18 (12/11/2026)

🛡️ Before you leave

Security information

📞 Contact us

[email protected]

+32 2 888 67 13

Contact form

✅ Features

🏠 Accommodation

Collective

🗣️ Languages spoken

English Japanese