📝 Detailed information
🏢 About the local organisation
NICE have been organized together with "Shizentaiken Ozuchi Mura" since 2013, founded by local people to keep the Japanese original landscape. There were 140 inhabitants with 20 houses in 1916, but now only 2 people live there! Still 10 houses are remained and the area was designated as Nation's Preservation District for Groups of Historic Buildings. This group try to improve this depopulation situation by young voluntary power. Volunteers have been tried to (1) agriculture, (2) maintain the forest, (3) organize the event of culture exchange for local people and (4) exchange of ideas for improvement regional development though workcamps.
💼 What the programme involves
Volunteer will do various work to activate Ozuchi village and preserve their culture and nature. Main work is maintaining vegetables’ fields and rice fields for sustainable life. And do some other work for the community.
🏠 Accommodation on site
Renovated house (Japanese traditional house!). Simple shower room. Clean toilet. You don't need to bring your sleeping bag. Volunteers prepare the meals by themselves. Wi-Fi are not connected basically. There is a cat in this village.
📍 About the location
The southwest part of Ishikawa prefecture. Ozuchi village is surrounded by mountains, so very isolated, but you can enjoy mountain life in the very beautiful/traditional place. Charcoal making was main industry.
⚠️ Requirements
Language is basically Japanese, but sometimes English. Strong motivation to work with the host, respect to the local custom and life, open mind and flexibility.
ℹ️ Additional information
*Other activities : Participation in the local events, many opportunities to learn the local wisdom, etc. Sightseeing, short trip (hot springs, temples and shrines).
*Participation fee : 12,000 yen per one month (6,000 yen from the 4th month) to be paid on their arrivals. There is no fee for vols. from the NGOs charging no fee in their LMTV projects to NICE vols.