About us
If you're looking for an opportunity to contribute to nature and the local community while enjoying the outdoors and meeting new people, this group is for you.
We're working on a project to restore an abandoned forest and create a comfortable, welcoming space in Ogawamachi, Saitama, about one hour from Ikebukuro by direct train.
Let's enjoy nature while bringing the forest back to life together with other nature lovers!
The work varies, and no prior knowledge or outdoor experience is necessary. We don't always have a fixed list of tasks. Instead, we look at what needs to be done, find something that suits each person's pace and ability, share ideas, and work together to improve the forest step by step.
Whether you're interested in nature and the environment, want to get active outdoors, or simply hope to meet new people, everyone is welcome!
You'll have opportunities to:
✅ Contribute to a forest restoration project
✅ Enjoy refreshing outdoor exercise while working
✅ Exchange ideas about how we can make better use of the forest
✅ Relax and refresh your body and mind through forest bathing
✅ Learn about Japanese forests and how they can be cared for
✅ Meet new people, from nature lovers to those interested in environmental issues
~ About This Project ~
Over 70% of Japan is covered by mountains and forests, but many forests are no longer actively managed. In the past, forests were closely connected to everyday life and were used for firewood, compost, building materials, and many other purposes. As lifestyles changed and imported resources, fossil fuels, and chemical fertilizers became more common, many forests gradually lost their role in people's daily lives.
Since 2020, we've been working little by little to restore and revitalize this forest and give it new value as a place where people can relax, connect with nature, and meet others.
The project started with just one person, but through our volunteer events, more people have joined us and we've made great progress together. We started by clearing areas that had become difficult to enter because of fallen trees, overgrown vegetation, and bamboo grass. Since then, we've built log stairs, bamboo handrails along the slopes and even created an elevated wooden deck in a sunny, open area of the forest.
There's still plenty more we can do. We want to continue developing the forest into a place where more people can visit, relax, enjoy nature, try new things, and connect with others. We don't have a fixed vision for everything yet. Part of the fun is thinking together about what this forest could become.
We also believe that protecting and maintaining nature needs to be economically sustainable. Caring for a forest takes time, effort, and money, so we're exploring ways to create both environmental and economic value that can help keep the project going for the long term.
Our members are mostly people who love nature, enjoy learning new things, and are open to meeting new people. It's always a pleasure to meet people who share similar interests. About half of our participants are returning members and half are first-time visitors, so you'll always find both familiar faces and newcomers. Whether you come alone or with friends, you'll be warmly welcomed.
Our organizers speak both English and Japanese, so there's no need to worry about the language barrier.
We look forward to restoring the forest, sharing ideas, and enjoying nature with you!
Upcoming events
1
🌾 New Rice Onigiri Making, Farming & Hiking with Pumpkin Croquettes Lunch🎃🍮🌳
Tokyo, JP（English/日本語）
The refreshing autumn season is here 🌳🍂Let’s enjoy the outdoors with a hands-on farming experience, make onigiri together using freshly harvested rice, enjoy a pumpkin croquette lunch made with pumpkins harvested from our farm this summer, and go for a light hike in the forest 😋🌳✨
The event will take place in Ogawamachi, Saitama, one of Japan’s well-known towns for organic farming. It’s about one hour by direct train from Ikebukuro, Tokyo. We’ve also set the meeting time so you can take direct trains from Shibuya, Shinjuku, Yokohama, Musashi-Kosugi, Nakameguro, and other areas 🚃
We’ll enjoy a light walk through the peaceful countryside surrounded by forests on our way to the farm 🏃➡️🏞️
At the organic farm, we’re planning to experience growing autumn and winter vegetables 🌱🥬By this time of year, the new rice harvest will be finished, so we’ll use delicious freshly harvested rice to make onigiri together 🌾🍙
You might not have made a proper triangular Japanese onigiri before, so let’s learn some tips together💡 You’ll be surprised by how delicious the onigiri you make yourself tastes 😋✨For lunch, we’ll enjoy our freshly made onigiri together with pumpkin croquettes made using pumpkins harvested from our farm this summer 🎃✨
We also grow shiitake mushrooms on logs in the forest, so if they are ready to harvest, we’re planning to use some for lunch 🪵🍄After lunch, we’ll go for a hike in the forest that we manage and enjoy some forest bathing along the way 🏃➡️🏞️
The weather is cool and comfortable at this time of year, making it a wonderful season for walking in the forest 🌳✨After some light exercise, we’ll take a relaxing tea break 🍵
This time, we’re planning to prepare homemade pumpkin pudding 😋🎃🍮Through this event, we also hope you’ll have the chance to meet other people who enjoy nature and hiking or are interested in farming ✨
Let’s enjoy farming, hiking, and seasonal Japanese food culture in nature while meeting other nature lovers 😊To see more of our past events, farm, and forest, check out our Instagram here ↓
https://www.instagram.com/taka_in_ogawamachi/■ Schedule:
10:00: Meet outside Ogawamachi Station
10:00–10:10: Self-introductions
10:10–10:30: Walk through the countryside
10:30–11:30: Organic farming experience
11:30–11:45: Walk to the lunch location
11:45–12:15: Onigiri making experience
12:15–13:15: Lunch
13:15–14:15: Light forest hike
14:15–15:00: Tea break
15:00–15:30: Walk back to Ogawamachi Station
※ We plan to catch one of the trains departing from Ogawamachi Station at 15:46, 16:03, or 16:14.*If you prefer not to join the forest hike, you are welcome to stay and relax in the room.
*The schedule is a rough estimate. The event will take place in the rain, but the farming experience may be changed to a farm tour depending on the weather.
*People with dietary restrictions, including vegetarians and vegans, are very welcome. Please send us a message at least 10 days before the event, and we’ll do our best to accommodate you.■ Participation Fee:
・5,000 yen + 500 yen for insurance = 5,500 yen
・The fee will be used for lunch and dessert ingredients, preparation of meals and activities, guiding, and maintaining the forest we manage.
・Advance payment is required (PayPay, Rakuten Pay, bank transfer, etc. If you prefer another payment method, please let us know.)■ About Insurance:
・Covers medical expenses for injuries.■ Hiking Course Level:
・Beginner level
・There are some gentle uphill and downhill slopes in the forest.
・We’ll walk together at a comfortable pace.■ Meeting Place and Time:
・In front of Ogawamachi Station on the Tobu Tojo Line
※ Note: This is Ogawamachi in Saitama, not Ogawamachi in Tokyo.
・10:00 AM. There is a convenience store nearby. Please take care of shopping and restrooms before meeting.
・We won’t be able to wait for late arrivals, so please be on time. If you are running late on the day, please send us a message and we’ll let you know where to meet us.■ Train Access Examples:
・Direct trains are available from Ikebukuro, Shibuya, Yokohama, Shinjuku-sanchome, Musashi-Kosugi, Nakameguro, and more.
・Please check the comments section for details.■ What to Bring & Wear:
・Drinking water, a hat, a towel, etc.
・Please wear clothes you don’t mind getting dirty, as we’ll be visiting the farm and forest.
・Hiking shoes are ideal for the forest, but some participants also come in sneakers.
・There is a space to change clothes at the lunch location, so please bring a change of clothes if needed.■ Registration Deadline & Confirmation:
✅ 10 days before the event (Thursday, November 5)
✅ After you register, we will send you payment details by message. Your participation will be confirmed once payment is received.
✅ We expect around 15 participants. Places will be secured on a first-paid, first-served basis.
※ Even after the registration deadline, spots may become available due to cancellations, so feel free to message us if you’d like to join.■ Cancellation Policy:
・7 to 4 days before the event: 20%
・3 to 2 days before the event: 50%
・1 day before or on the day of the event: 100%
*If the event is canceled due to a typhoon or other severe weather, a full refund will be provided.■ Note:
・We are not responsible for any injuries, accidents, lost or stolen items, damages, or other issues that may occur during the event.The guides speak both Japanese and English, so people who are not fluent in either language are also very welcome!
There are always people joining our events or Meetup for the first time, so please feel free to join us without any worries ^^
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“新米おにぎり作り＆農業体験＆森ハイキング！かぼちゃコロッケランチ付き🎃🍙🌳”清々しい秋の季節がやってきます🌳🍂
畑で土に触れながら農業を体験し、新米を使ったおにぎり作り＆夏に畑で収穫したかぼちゃのコロッケランチを堪能し、森での軽いハイキングを楽しみましょう😋🌳✨場所は、日本でも有数の有機農業が盛んな町、埼玉県小川町。東京・池袋から電車で一本、約1時間。その他、渋谷・新宿・横浜・武蔵小杉・中目黒などからも乗り換えなしで一本で来られる電車の時間に合わせて、集合時間を設定しています🚃
森に囲まれた空気のおいしい里山の町を楽しみながら、畑まで軽くウォーキングします🏃➡️🏞️
オーガニックファームでは、秋・冬野菜を育てる作業を体験する予定です🌱🥬この時期はちょうど新米の収穫が終わっているので、美味しい新米を使って、おにぎりを一緒に作ります🌾🍙
意外と日本の三角おにぎりを作ったことがない方もいると思いますが、この機会にコツを学びましょう💡自分で握ったおにぎりは、予想以上に美味しいです😋✨夏に畑で収穫したかぼちゃを使った、かぼちゃコロッケランチと一緒に堪能します🎃✨
森では原木椎茸も栽培しているので、もしちょうど椎茸ができていれば、ランチに使う予定です🪵🍄ランチ後は、私たちが管理している森の中で、森林浴を楽しみながらハイキング🏃➡️🏞️
涼しくて、森歩きがとても気持ちの良い季節です🌳✨軽く体を動かした後は、ティーブレイクでリフレッシュ🍵
今回は、手作りかぼちゃプリンをご用意する予定です😋🎃🍮このイベントを通して、自然やハイキングが好きな方、畑に興味のある方との素敵な出会いも期待できます✨
自然の中で農業体験＆ハイキング＆季節の日本の食文化を楽しみながら、自然好きな人たちとの出会いも楽しみましょう😊イベントや畑・森の様子はこちらから↓
https://www.instagram.com/taka_in_ogawamachi/■ スケジュール：
10:00: 小川町駅を出たところで集合
10:00-10:10: 自己紹介
10:10-10:30: 里山ウォーキング
10:30-11:30: 農業体験
11:30-11:45 ランチ場所までウォーキング
11:45-12:15: おにぎり作り体験
12:15-13:15: ランチ
13:15-14:15 森で軽いハイキング
14:15-15:00: ティーブレイク
15:00-15:30: 駅までウォーキング
※15:46、16:03、16:14 小川町駅発のいずれかの電車に乗車予定です。*森にハイキングへ行かずに部屋で待機することも可能です。
*スケジュールは目安です。雨天決行ですが、雨の場合、農業体験が畑ガイドツアーに変更になる可能性があります。
*ベジタリアンやヴィーガンの方など、食事制限がある方も大歓迎です。10日前までにメッセージでお知らせください。■ 参加費:
・5,000円＋保険代500円=5,500円
・参加費は、昼食・デザートなどの材料、食事やアクティビティの準備、ガイド、私たちが管理する山の維持のために使用されます。
・事前支払いになります（PayPayや楽天ペイ、銀行振り込み。その他の方法をご希望の方はご相談ください）。■保険について
・怪我などに対する治療費が補償されます。■ 森でのハイキングコースのレベル:
・初級者レベル
・森には少し上り坂や下り坂のアップダウンがあります。
・皆でペースを合わせて歩きます。■ 集合場所と時間
・東武東上線小川町駅の入り口前 ※注意：東京の小川町ではなく埼玉県の小川町です。
・午前10:00。近くにコンビニがあります。必要な物の購入やトイレなど済ませて集合ください。
・遅れて到着された方をお待ちできないので、お時間にお気をつけください。当日万が一遅れる場合は、目的地を伝えるのでメッセージでご連絡ください。■当日利用可能な電車の例：
・池袋、渋谷、横浜、新宿三丁目、武蔵小杉、中目黒などから電車で一本で来れます。
・詳細はコメント欄をご参考ください。■持ち物、服装
・飲料水、帽子、タオルなど
・畑や森に行くので、汚れても問題のない格好がおすすめです。
・森ではハイキングシューズだと歩きやすいですが、スニーカーで来られる方もいます。
・ランチの場所で着替えることも可能ですので、着替えたい方は着替えをご持参ください■申し込み締切&確定期日
✅ 10日前（11月5日木曜日）
✅ 参加申し込みいただいた後に、お支払い方法をメッセージでお送りしますのでご確認ください。お支払い完了をもって参加確定となります。
✅ 参加人数は15名ほどで、お支払いをいただいた先着順となります。
※申し込み期限を過ぎた場合でも、キャンセルなどで枠が空くこともあるので、参加希望の方はメッセージをください。■キャンセルポリシー
・1週間前〜4日前まで：20％
・3日前〜2日前まで：50％
・1日前・当日：100％
*台風などにより中止となった場合は、100%返金いたします。■ 注意事項
・イベント中に発生した怪我、事故、紛失や盗難、損害、その他の問題については責任を負いかねますので、ご了承ください。ガイドは日本語と英語を話すので、英語や日本語が話せない方でも大歓迎です！
私たちのイベントやMeetup自体に参加するのが初めての方も毎回いらっしゃいますので、安心してご参加ください^^14 attendees
Past events
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