This project is actively working for SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) and SDGs 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), organized together with the local group since 2019. This village has been welcoming "ohenro (pilgrims)" who visit 88 temples in Shikoku since long time ago.
The pilgrims walk through this village before visiting "Kakurin-ji temple"; the 20th temple out of 88 temples of the Shikoku Ohenro Pilgrimage. However, there are problems which should be solved such as aging and depopulation of the community these days, and locals haven't been able to find solutions for those problems. On the other hand, since more and more people from overseas visit for the Shikoku Ohenro Pilgrimage locals are trying to find new ways for "omotenashi (hospitality)". Volunteers who have been working on the project have come up with ideas for the reuse of vacant and abandoned land. Local host Oi have finally decided that they can freely renovate and modify the vacant houses. Moreover, the site is in a good location, with mountains, a river and fields. It is up to the volunteers from now on to decide how to develop the project. The aim is for the volunteer members to clean up the abandoned houses and village landscape and transform it into a village that people will want to visit to take photos, as it used to be a village where people came and went since ancient times.
1) Supporting for harvesting and shipping during the peak of the Japanese star anise (shikimi) harvest season. 2) Supporting for harvesting and shipping of sudachi (Japanese citrus fruit) at the peak of harvest season. 3) Supporting for activities such as writing English guides in various places in the town for foreign pilgrims. 4) Cleaning of vacant houses, support for carrying out furniture, pruning of cedar cypress branches in abandoned mountain forests, picking up plastic rubbish from the sea and river, and utilisation of vacant houses. 5) Maintenance of Asagimadara flying sites, maintenance of firefly flying sites, etc.
Positive attitude, a willingness to work hard and communicate with local people!
Home staying at local farmhouses. All meals will be cooked by volunteers by turns. Sleeping bag is NOT necessary.
70 nationalities are exempted to get visa within 3-6 months stay! So, only those who are from other countries or those who will stay for a longer time will need to get visa.
Check the updated info. at this site (https://www.mofa.go.jp/ca/fna/page22e_000921.html#section2) and this site (https://www.mofa.go.jp/j_info/visit/visa/index.html) of MOFA, Japanese embassies and any others.
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18,000 JPY (110 EUR by the rate on 2023 Nov. 18th) per month till the 3rd month and 9,000 JPY per month from the 4th month 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 camp leaders while the meals and the accommodation are provided by the local host by free. Odd days are counted as one month (e.g., 170 days are counted as 6 months).
- Study theme
Finding ways for sustainability of a depopulated village, Pass down the "osettai" culture to the next generation, Helping senior citizens to host foreigners
- Other activities
Visiting Kakurin-ji temple.
- Location
Oi-cho, Anan city, Tokushima pref.
- Terminal
The nearest int'l airport is Kansai (Osaka). From Osaka to the meeting point in Tokushima, it takes 3 hours by highway bus. Volunteers are recommended to arrive there one day before workcamp starts since the bus leaves early. Volunteers need to take local train from the meeting point to the campsite about 2.5 hours. Volunteers need to arrive at the meeting point at 14:00 on 1st day and can leave project site around 13:00 on last day.
- Language
English (Japanese is also welcomed!)
- Other
The first/ last 2 days are On Arrival/ Evaluation Seminars in Osaka. Video about Kakurin-ji temple https://youtu.be/V2vX5Ik4ASM.
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