WWOOFer Stories
"I have a feeling I'll be back here one day" - I remember this being my last thought as I stepped on the JR platform waiting for the train out of S town.
The two weeks I spent here are among some of my fondest memories. From the first night H-san and S-san welcomed me with warm open arms, and every day that followed were filled with interesting conversations about culture, politics and everything in between.
There was AMAZING food everyday! S-san is a wonderwoman, farmer and world class chef.
In the quiet of the morning or evening, the house cat M-chan will come to you for snuggles, which was a great comfort on chilly days
I'm really glad I came during busy harvest season and feel I have gained so much farming wisdom, and patience from this experience
Beautiful setting + beautiful people
= Best wwoofing experience anyone could ask for!
The two weeks I spent here are among some of my fondest memories. From the first night H-san and S-san welcomed me with warm open arms, and every day that followed were filled with interesting conversations about culture, politics and everything in between.
There was AMAZING food everyday! S-san is a wonderwoman, farmer and world class chef.
In the quiet of the morning or evening, the house cat M-chan will come to you for snuggles, which was a great comfort on chilly days
I'm really glad I came during busy harvest season and feel I have gained so much farming wisdom, and patience from this experience
Beautiful setting + beautiful people
= Best wwoofing experience anyone could ask for!
(Canadian WWOOFer in her 20s)
"kai yang thung pho kai yang thung pho......."
This is a song that my amazing host always try to learn my Thai song and dance follow my Thai style. I went to Japan first time of wwoofing with 2 friends and got many inspiration from my host.
T family is also my first host. T san is diligent, caring for others, kind, funny ,and eat very well. He always share his experiences, ask me about different thing between my hometown and Japan, and also give many answer for my question.
H san is a master chef of house who can create many delicious meal for us and try to play many funny posture with us. Thank you for cooking many food for my big stomach.
And M chan, my angel, she is a genius kid. She always observe everything by herself, invent a toy , love to rad book, and stay funny with wwoofer. I miss her so much. She is a model for my hair style.
Thank you so much. I want to wwoof with you again. I love you.
This is a song that my amazing host always try to learn my Thai song and dance follow my Thai style. I went to Japan first time of wwoofing with 2 friends and got many inspiration from my host.
T family is also my first host. T san is diligent, caring for others, kind, funny ,and eat very well. He always share his experiences, ask me about different thing between my hometown and Japan, and also give many answer for my question.
H san is a master chef of house who can create many delicious meal for us and try to play many funny posture with us. Thank you for cooking many food for my big stomach.
And M chan, my angel, she is a genius kid. She always observe everything by herself, invent a toy , love to rad book, and stay funny with wwoofer. I miss her so much. She is a model for my hair style.
Thank you so much. I want to wwoof with you again. I love you.
(Thai WWOOFer in her 20s)
It was my first WWOOFing experience, and it was extraordinary.
My main aim was to meet Japanese people and speak Japanese language.
After one week, I was much more confident talking to people in Japanese.
The host was so well organized. It was a great joy for me being part of the host’s everyday life. I felt so much compassion and patience underlying in every moment I was there. Nobody is perfect. But this place shows how perfect a group of people can be when they are united with love. I learned a lot that I could never learn from a book or film. Living together with them gave me an opportunity to make observations from inside.
Every day I was doing different things to help. So I was learning new words and knowing new people and getting different instructions.
Kansha 感謝, ありがとうございます。
(Turkish WWOOFer in his 40s)
Un séjour merveilleux, durant lequel j'ai pu découvrir à la fois
-le japon traditionnel et culturel (Y chante de merveilleuses chansons du japon, connaît la cérémonie du thé, A connaît l'histoire du japon et sera content d'en parler, ils m'ont fait découvrir le festival du lycée, les concerts donnés par les étudiants de l'école, la cuisine japonaise, et tant d'autres choses...)
-le japon agricole (culture de patates douces et récolte du riz, potager, poules, pêche, marché organisé par JA, ...).
-cette région du sud du kansai tout simplement sublime, entre mer et montagne.
Mais là bas j'ai surtout pu apprécié la générosité des Y et A, leur humour et leur sens de l'accueil. Nous avons beaucoup appris la langue. Je me suis sentie comme à la maison, avec tout ce que ça apporte de réconfort pendant un long voyage! J'ai aussi beaucoup appris sur la régulation de la consommation en énergie dans un foyer!
Merci merci merci
(French WWOOFer in her 20s)
-le japon traditionnel et culturel (Y chante de merveilleuses chansons du japon, connaît la cérémonie du thé, A connaît l'histoire du japon et sera content d'en parler, ils m'ont fait découvrir le festival du lycée, les concerts donnés par les étudiants de l'école, la cuisine japonaise, et tant d'autres choses...)
-le japon agricole (culture de patates douces et récolte du riz, potager, poules, pêche, marché organisé par JA, ...).
-cette région du sud du kansai tout simplement sublime, entre mer et montagne.
Mais là bas j'ai surtout pu apprécié la générosité des Y et A, leur humour et leur sens de l'accueil. Nous avons beaucoup appris la langue. Je me suis sentie comme à la maison, avec tout ce que ça apporte de réconfort pendant un long voyage! J'ai aussi beaucoup appris sur la régulation de la consommation en énergie dans un foyer!
Merci merci merci
(French WWOOFer in her 20s)
Okaasan and Otousan (you will call them this no matter how old you are!) were very kind and welcoming, and really made us feel part of the family. They cared for us extremely well, and allowed us to experience many aspects of Japanese culture. They always made sure we were comfortable and happy. We usually all worked together and never felt like they asked us to do something they were unwilling to do themselves. We had all meals and breaks together, and both the company and Okasan’s cooking were fantastic. Their house is very comfortable, and the farm is in beautiful surroundings. We had an incredible time, and are so pleased to have stayed with them. They were quick to reply to our messages which made organising our visit very easy.
It might also be helpful to have some idea of what we did. Every day we woke up at 7 to have breakfast at 7.30. We would do the washing up, then have free time until we started work at 9. We would then work until 11 when there would be a tea break of about 30 min, with coffee, tea, and biscuits. Then we would work until lunch at about 12.30. We would then work from about 2 to 2. when we had another tea break. We would return to work until about 4.30. We would then have free time until dinner at about 6, and free time in the evening after that. We had three cooked meals a day, all prepared by Okasan. She is an excellent cook, and prepared a wide variety of Japanese styles which we really enjoyed. She also served us very generous portions which we appreciated after a day on the farm!
On our first day we prepared vegetables for the market (cleaning, weighing and packaging vegetables), then helped Okaasan at the market (mostly smiling, and taking change because we didn’t speak much Japanese). We were then taken to an udon restaurant for lunch by the hosts, before being given free time to explore T town. In the evening we had an ocarina performance from Okaasan and her friends, and they let us have a go ourselves.
On the second day we were picking off bean pods from a heap of azuki bean plants ready for drying. Another WWOOFer who had stayed with the host family before joined us for two nights. We were then taken to their grandchild’s shichigosan ceremony. We picked more azuki when we got back and finished work at about 4.30.
On the third day we started with picking azuki beans, then brought over some more plants ready for picking later. Then we prepared daizu plants for drying. Then we threshed aburai. After lunch we were joined by another two WWOOFers who had also stayed with this host family before. We all dug gobo roots and taro together. After that we hung up the daizu to dry, and finished early because it had been a hard day’s work. We had a very special meal all together.
On the fourth day we had a day off, so could explore T town some more. We were still given breakfast and dinner if we wanted them.
On the fifth day we picked the last of the tomatoes in the morning, then started clearing the peppers and tomato plants from the polytunnels.
On the sixth day it was very cold in the morning, so we started inside picking out bad azuki beans from those which had been dried already. Once it warmed up, we spent the rest of the day clearing out the tomato plants from the poly tunnels, and spreading them over their rice paddy.
On our seventh and final day it was very cold in the morning again so we sorted some more azuki beans. When it warmed up we planted out one of the poly tunnels we had cleared previously with lettuce/cabbage. After that we cleaned more vegetables for the market, and ended with picking some more azuki beans. We had a very special farewell meal. We truly had a wonderful time.
It might also be helpful to have some idea of what we did. Every day we woke up at 7 to have breakfast at 7.30. We would do the washing up, then have free time until we started work at 9. We would then work until 11 when there would be a tea break of about 30 min, with coffee, tea, and biscuits. Then we would work until lunch at about 12.30. We would then work from about 2 to 2. when we had another tea break. We would return to work until about 4.30. We would then have free time until dinner at about 6, and free time in the evening after that. We had three cooked meals a day, all prepared by Okasan. She is an excellent cook, and prepared a wide variety of Japanese styles which we really enjoyed. She also served us very generous portions which we appreciated after a day on the farm!
On our first day we prepared vegetables for the market (cleaning, weighing and packaging vegetables), then helped Okaasan at the market (mostly smiling, and taking change because we didn’t speak much Japanese). We were then taken to an udon restaurant for lunch by the hosts, before being given free time to explore T town. In the evening we had an ocarina performance from Okaasan and her friends, and they let us have a go ourselves.
On the second day we were picking off bean pods from a heap of azuki bean plants ready for drying. Another WWOOFer who had stayed with the host family before joined us for two nights. We were then taken to their grandchild’s shichigosan ceremony. We picked more azuki when we got back and finished work at about 4.30.
On the third day we started with picking azuki beans, then brought over some more plants ready for picking later. Then we prepared daizu plants for drying. Then we threshed aburai. After lunch we were joined by another two WWOOFers who had also stayed with this host family before. We all dug gobo roots and taro together. After that we hung up the daizu to dry, and finished early because it had been a hard day’s work. We had a very special meal all together.
On the fourth day we had a day off, so could explore T town some more. We were still given breakfast and dinner if we wanted them.
On the fifth day we picked the last of the tomatoes in the morning, then started clearing the peppers and tomato plants from the polytunnels.
On the sixth day it was very cold in the morning, so we started inside picking out bad azuki beans from those which had been dried already. Once it warmed up, we spent the rest of the day clearing out the tomato plants from the poly tunnels, and spreading them over their rice paddy.
On our seventh and final day it was very cold in the morning again so we sorted some more azuki beans. When it warmed up we planted out one of the poly tunnels we had cleared previously with lettuce/cabbage. After that we cleaned more vegetables for the market, and ended with picking some more azuki beans. We had a very special farewell meal. We truly had a wonderful time.
(English WWOOFer in his 20s)
My WWOOF experience in Japan has been probably the greatest experience of my life so far.
I will be ready for another wwoof in Japan.
(Italian WWOOFer in his 20s)
Very grateful for the time spent at G-farm. It was the perfect wwoofing experience and just thinking of it makes me want to go back to Japan already.
From the moment you enter, the hospitality the G-family showers on you make you feel at home instantly. The traditional Japanese house is fully functioning and spacious, with good facilities that exceeded my expectations, even as a city dweller. The home cooked food was nothing short of AMAZING and probably the most authentic food I've eaten in Japan!! Many ingredients were from farm-to-table and the freshness is unbeatable. Working on the farm did not feel like work at all, as I got to learn many things as G-san patiently answered all our questions. I enjoyed every moment of it! From feeding chickens, to tying up tomato plants and washing the plant trays at the paddy field. When we had some free time, I looked forward to cycling around this community in the evenings and just taking in the countryside or going to the food marts.
Arigato Gozaimasu.
(Singaporean WWOOFer in her 20s)
From the moment you enter, the hospitality the G-family showers on you make you feel at home instantly. The traditional Japanese house is fully functioning and spacious, with good facilities that exceeded my expectations, even as a city dweller. The home cooked food was nothing short of AMAZING and probably the most authentic food I've eaten in Japan!! Many ingredients were from farm-to-table and the freshness is unbeatable. Working on the farm did not feel like work at all, as I got to learn many things as G-san patiently answered all our questions. I enjoyed every moment of it! From feeding chickens, to tying up tomato plants and washing the plant trays at the paddy field. When we had some free time, I looked forward to cycling around this community in the evenings and just taking in the countryside or going to the food marts.
Arigato Gozaimasu.
(Singaporean WWOOFer in her 20s)
For me this place was really a treasure. Not only have I learned a lot about Japan but also about China, Korea and the US and most importantly I gained a much deeper understanding of organic farming. S-san knows a lot and is happy to share his knowledge. Also the food is really delicious and the place in the mountains very beautiful.
(Teenager German WWOOFer, male)
(Teenager German WWOOFer, male)
Hello, I'm here to tell you that I'm doing about ten days of wwoofing near OKAYAMA.
It is a very good experience of exchange.
A farm that grows "Daikons" and Chinese cabbage, corn, onions, radishes and other vegetables!
I am very well received and the atmosphere is excellent with my hosts and the entire work team.
In November 2019 I had already been to this farm and I had a lot of fun coming back this year in March 2024.
Really fantastic.
Thank you for allowing me to discover the agricultural face of Japan.
Patrick from France
Patrick from France
十二天，让我体验到了从未体验过的生活方式，认识了平时认识不到的人，交到了平时交不到的朋友。++市不像我生活的城市那么吵闹，我爱这里宁静的生活。
强烈推荐++一家，我在这段时间里学会了一些农场知识，这是生活在城市里难得一遇的经历。最重要的是，这里有一对非常恩爱的夫妻！R-san超级厉害，她有一辆超级酷的摩托车！她是一位有追求的女士，希望她的目标能够顺利实现。M-san很耐心很幽默，经常逗得R-san捧腹大笑。
打工换宿的记忆就像童年的记忆一样，不会直接作用于平时忙碌的生活，它最大的作用，大概就是在闲暇的时候，让精神有个好去处。
最后，请大家来之前稍微了解一下日本的语言和文化，我就是因为不太了解日本的文化所以发生了很尴尬的事情，而且当大家说日语时我感觉我们就像是两个星球上的人。
(Chinese WWOOFer in her 20s)
强烈推荐++一家，我在这段时间里学会了一些农场知识，这是生活在城市里难得一遇的经历。最重要的是，这里有一对非常恩爱的夫妻！R-san超级厉害，她有一辆超级酷的摩托车！她是一位有追求的女士，希望她的目标能够顺利实现。M-san很耐心很幽默，经常逗得R-san捧腹大笑。
打工换宿的记忆就像童年的记忆一样，不会直接作用于平时忙碌的生活，它最大的作用，大概就是在闲暇的时候，让精神有个好去处。
最后，请大家来之前稍微了解一下日本的语言和文化，我就是因为不太了解日本的文化所以发生了很尴尬的事情，而且当大家说日语时我感觉我们就像是两个星球上的人。
(Chinese WWOOFer in her 20s)
非常非常棒的host
家人都很親切很有家的感覺,待的時間點遇到很多其他wwoofer,大家都很好相處,雖然夏天是最忙的時期但他們家會讓人完全心甘情願想幫忙,他們也不太會要我們做很多事但會讓人想再多幫他們一點
他們有養兩隻很可愛的狗,可以主動說要帶他們去散步,會幫他們很多忙
每天的食物都非常非常好吃,夏天去又剛好是桃子採收期,可以吃到又大又甜又多汁的美味桃子,還有桃子義大利麵或桃子素麵等各種桃子料理
小孩很活潑很可愛,主動跟他們接觸他們會跟你玩得很開心
是個絕對會想再回去的地方,是個很自在每天都充滿歡笑的地方
家人都很親切很有家的感覺,待的時間點遇到很多其他wwoofer,大家都很好相處,雖然夏天是最忙的時期但他們家會讓人完全心甘情願想幫忙,他們也不太會要我們做很多事但會讓人想再多幫他們一點
他們有養兩隻很可愛的狗,可以主動說要帶他們去散步,會幫他們很多忙
每天的食物都非常非常好吃,夏天去又剛好是桃子採收期,可以吃到又大又甜又多汁的美味桃子,還有桃子義大利麵或桃子素麵等各種桃子料理
小孩很活潑很可愛,主動跟他們接觸他們會跟你玩得很開心
是個絕對會想再回去的地方,是個很自在每天都充滿歡笑的地方
(Taiwanese WWOOFer in her 20s)