ACTIVITIES & EXPERIENCES
Rural Japan at Its Best
Run by a well-travelled young couple, Jugemu is an organic farm and B&B in rural Wakayama. Here you can pick tea leaves and brew your own green tea, cook dishes in a kamado (traditional-style oven), try your hand at rice planting or choose from one of many other activities. Stays can be booked through Airbnb.
If you are interested in organic farming, pay a visit to Hananone, an organic farm opened in 2011. Guests can stay on the farm, get hands-on farming experience and enjoy the natural beauty of the surrounding area. To book a stay and for more information on activities offered, contact the farm directly.
To experience the life of a peach farmer, pay a visit to Wakaba Noen, where you can try your hand at farm work, tend the peach trees and even pick a few peaches when in season. Accommodation is available and can be booked through Airbnb. The friendly farmer and his wife are accustomed to welcoming visitors from overseas.
Mirai Noen is a fruit farm in Tanabe run by a friendly farming family. They welcome guests to stay and experience life on the farm. Highlights include mandarin and ume picking in the cooler months. If you enjoy fishing, let the farmer know and he will gladly take you on his boat.
Tucked in the mountains near one of the Kumano Kodo trails Tsukimi-so is a beautifully renovated traditional Japanese farmhouse. The futon and pajamas are all made using organic cotton, and a stay includes two meals. Vegetarian and vegan options are available. While at the farmhouse you can take cooking lessons and learn to make your own pickled plums.