Farmstay Hida, Japan

5.0
(9 reviews)9

🏡🌿 House Renovation & Countryside Life in Hida, Japan

Top Host
This host receives lots of worldpackers and has a high average rating, being recognized by the community as a Top Host.
Help a sustainable project
9 travelers confirmed that this host is actively contributing to a more sustainable future for everyone!
Higher chance of approval
This host has recently approved volunteers and is looking for more applications.
Immerse yourself in the local culture
8 travelers recommend this host for those looking for a local cultural immersion
Connect with the locals
8 travelers recommend this host to have close contact with locals

Some content was translated automatically. Show original

Save to Wishlist

What you offer

25h

Hours per week
Help out and collaborate with your host only a few hours per week.
Farming
Plant crops, sow seeds and help in outside tasks.
Painting & Decorating
Help with painting or decorating the property facilities.
Building & Repairing
Help with a wide range of repairs or building.
Gardening
Help grow plants and cultivate gardens
Learn more

What you get

2

Days off per week
Have some time off for yourself, go explore the city or rest for a while.
Private Room
You will have a bed in a private room. In other words, a room just for you.
Shared Dorm
You will have a bed in a shared room, which means you will share the same room with other travelers.
Breakfast
You are entitled to a free breakfast, every day of your stay.
Lunch
You are entitled to a free lunch, every day of your stay.
Dinner
You are entitled to a free dinner, every day of your stay.
Basic Internet Access
Basic speed internet for you to work remotely
Use our equipped kitchen
Feel free to use our kitchen and make your own delicious food.
Free Laundry
You can use our laundry room freely.
Pick Up
We will pick you up when you arrive, and take you to our property.
Support
Get help from the Worldpackers support team in case you need it, at any point of your trip.
Verified Host
This host has been verified by our team before joining the community.
WP Safeguard
Did something not go as planned? Contact our team.
Learn more
Learn more

Availability

Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar
Stay at least
2 weeks

The Experience

Join Dong Ju in rural Hida Takayama and take part in restoring a 70-year-old traditional Japanese house through natural materials and handmade craftsmanship. Volunteers can help with carpentry, renovation projects, gardening, DIY activities, farming, and content creation while experiencing a self-sufficient lifestyle surrounded by nature. A perfect opportunity for people interested in craftsmanship, sustainability, and rural Japanese culture. ✨🇯

Learn more

Requirements

  • Intermediate English or Beginner Japanese
  • Over 22 years old
  • Only hosts solo volunteers (doesn’t accept couples or partners)

What's not included

Flights, Travel Insurance, Internal Transportation and Visa

Learn more

Talk to those who have lived the experience

In our community, you can talk to worldpackers who have already collaborated with this host and get your questions answered directly.

You can ask things like:

  • a) How was your experience with this host?
  • b) How was your day-to-day routine?
  • c) How much did you spend on this trip?

Exclusive for members

Connect with those who will also be there

Become a Verified Member and exchange ideas before your trip with other worldpackers who will be volunteering in the same place as you.

Become a member

9 Reviews

5.0

Host & Team

5.0

Hours & Tasks

5.0

Farmstay

5.0

Learning & Fun

5.0

How this experience will transform you

  • 8 Immersing in the local culture
  • 8 Meeting locals
  • 7 Get in touch with nature
  • 7 Meeting international travelers
  • 6 Learning about sustainability
  • 4 Developing environmental awareness

This host contributes to Sustainable Development Goals

  • 9 15. Life on land
  • 7 7. Affordable and clean energy
  • 4 1. No poverty
Chiara

Germany

5

The atmosphere here is just incredibly pleasant. We played a lot of games together and always had great, interesting conversations. If you enjoy talking about life, the universe, and everything, and philosophizing about it, this is exactly the right place for you .I really appreciated that. There were also always plenty of breaks between work, and they were made with so much love. Homemade drinks and always new Japanese snacks that were genuinely delicious.

about 2 months ago


Dong Ju replied

Thank you so much, Chiara! We really enjoyed having you with us. All those games and long conversations about life, the universe, and everything made the days fly by, and your curiosity made every break more fun. We're so glad you liked the homemade drinks and the snacks. There are plenty more we haven't tried yet! They're always welcome back in Hida. Take care, and good luck on your next adventure!

Josh

Singapore

5

This was my first Worldpackers experience and I couldn't have asked for a better experience. Volunteering here was truly eye-opening and inspiring. I not only learned practical skills but also gained a deeper appreciation for rural life and the passion behind builing something meaningful. The work was manageable with plenty of breaks, and the home-cooked meals by Dj and Tomomi were so good that I already miss them. I would highly recommend Dj's project to anyone looking for a rewarding and fun experience. Thank you to everyone who was a part of this experience for making this a core memory!

3 months ago


Dong Ju replied

Thank you so much, Josh! It was a pleasure having you here as part of our family. We really enjoyed all the conversations, board games, and the positive energy you brought every day. We're happy to hear your first Worldpackers experience was such a meaningful one. Wishing you all the best with your future adventures, and you're always welcome back to Hida anytime! 😊

Filip

Slovakia

5

The time I spent there was really great—from the game nights to the people, everything was amazing. Dong Ju is a great host who will teach you a lot about living in the countryside. I definitely recommend checking out this place.

3 months ago


Dong Ju replied

Thank you, Filip! It was great having you here, and we're glad you enjoyed your time with us. We really appreciated your help, your company during game nights, and all the good conversations. We wish you all the best on your travels, and you're always welcome back to Hida anytime. See you again! 😊

Jiwoo

South Korea

5

First time to do volunteering here and I really enjoyed my time at Dj’s place. My partner and I were very welcome everyday with delicious meals and cozy vibe. The work requires a lot of physical effort but we got rewarded by nice meals and days off. The area is a really nice countryside of Japan that has a lot to explore and look around during the free days. Also, it was very exciting to hear all the plans of the renovation of the house and watching everything changing by ourselves. Thank you so much for everything to Dj, Tomomi, Jiho and other volunteering members:):)

3 months ago


Dong Ju replied

Thank you so much, Jiwoo! 😊

It was a pleasure having you both here. I'm so glad you enjoyed the countryside, the meals, and being part of our renovation journey. Thank you for all your hard work and for bringing such a positive atmosphere to our home.

Wishing you both all the best, and you're always welcome back to Hida!

Tom

United Kingdom

5

My time staying and working with DJ was an unforgettable experience. DJ creates an environment where hard work is rewarded. He clearly explains what he wants done and is easy to talk and get guidance from if you're struggling. The work can be physical at times but he gives enough breaks to refuel and keep working hard! His family, Tomomi and Jiho were amazing company, I won't forget them! The meals we were given by DJ and Tomomi were absolutely exceptional - every meal was delicious! The country side they live in is stunning and everyone is so friendly. I only wish I could have stayed longer.

3 months ago


Dong Ju replied

Thank you so much, Tom! 😊

We really enjoyed having you here. You worked incredibly hard, always gave your best, and quickly became part of the team. It was great sharing meals, playing football, and spending time together after work.

I hope you'll come back one day to see how much the house has changed. Until then, I wish you all the best with your future adventures. Keep in touch, and hopefully we'll see each other again someday! 🍻

View all

About the host

  • • Recently Online

Hosted by Dong Ju

Top Host
This host receives a lot of worldpackers and has a high average rating.
Response Rate
This host usually answers to 100% of the messages
Response Time
This host usually writes back in 2 days
3 published videos
This host has 3 published videos showing a little bit about their place

Want to know more about this host?

We only provide detailed host information and videos to Members

Become a member

How do Worldpackers trips work?

As a member, you can contact as many hosts and travel safely as many times as you want.

Choose your plan to travel with Worldpackers as many times as you like.

Complete your profile, watch the video lessons in the Academy, and earn certificates to stand out to hosts.

Apply to as many positions as you like, and get in contact with our verified hosts.

If a host thinks you’re a good fit for their position, they’ll pre-approve you.

Get your documents and tickets ready for your volunteer trip.

Confirm your trip to enjoy all of the safety of Worldpackers.

Have a transformative experience and make a positive impact on the world.

If anything doesn’t go as planned with a host, count on the WP Safeguard and our highly responsive support team!

After volunteering, you and your host exchange reviews.

With positive reviews, you’ll stand out to hosts and get even more benefits.

Check out all our plans Learn more about how it works