This project is organised together with the Organisation of Green Water (OGW), which aims to raise awareness of the importance of prairie and forest areas. The area they work in is Iwami Ginzan which is registered as a World Heritage site since July 2007. Volunteers will be involved in various environmental tasks and maintenance works in the forests in the area such as cutting bamboos and grass, maintaining footpaths, fire prevention activities, etc. The project is part of the Greening Asia campaign. A homestay is also planned.

Protecting nature and Greening Asia Campaign.

National Mikame youth's house. Sleeping bag required. Meals provided.

Iwami Ginzan is in Shimane Prefecture, about 250km north west of Osaka, near the Sea of Japan.

Osaka (9 hours by train) or Tokyo (6 hours by bullet train, 12 hours by overnight bus)

Work will be physically hard. Volunteers should be interested in nature conservation. The group will be made up of 4 Japanese and 4 international volunteers.

40 years ago, Minamata suffered from a major man-made environmental disaster when a large proportion of the town were affrected by what is now termed Minamata's Disease, a neurological disaster brought about by mercury poisoning. Although the town is now completely safe, the image held of it is still the one of an unclean place and its inhabitants often suffer discrimination due to this. Through 10 years of international volunteer projects, NICE have been working with the Minamata International Friendship Association to create a forest on the reclaimed land as a symbol of revival. Over the years international volunteers have created a new forest by planting trees in the area. Volunteers will mainly work on a marine project involving cleaning the beaches, helping to purify the water with using EM bacteria, etc. Volunteers may also maintain the forest by transplanting the seedlings, do some farm work etc. This project is part of the Greening Asia campaign.

The future plan of Minamata and Greening Asia Campaign.

In a public hall. Bathrooms will be offered by neighbours, thus creating a nice exchange with the local community. Sleeping bag required.

Minamata is a small coastal town in Kumamoto prefecture, on the southwest part of Kyushu island.

Fukuoka (3 hrs by slow train) or Osaka (6 hrs by bullet train or 12 hrs by overnight bus)

Volunteers should have an interest in nature protection. The group will consist of 6 Japanese and 8 international volunteers.

This project is organised together with a local environmental NPO who aim to protect an area of nature at risk due to its proximity to the big cities of Osaka and Nagoya. By collecting donations, purchasing land at risk and making use of it for various environmental activities they hope to protect the natural beauty of the area. Volunteers will do various works to take care of the forest such as cutting trees, cutting branches, maintaining footpaths, etc. The main task this year is fixing a hiking way near a dragonfly pond. This project is part of Greening Asia. Excursions and a local school visit are planned.

Local participation to protect nature and Greening Asia Campaign.

In a pension. Sleeping bag required.

Mie prefecture about 60 km east of Osaka. There are famous waterfalls nearby which many hikers visit.

Osaka or Nagoya (1hr by train from either)

Motivation letter is needed. Volunteers should have strong motivation for conservation forest work. The group will be composed of 4 Japanese and 4 international volunteers. Work can be physically hard, physical strength is required.

This project is organized together with Shirakawa-Go Eco Institute (TSEI) in cooperation with the local government and the Toyota corporation. The organisation has 172ha of land and organises various types of nature protection, cultural activities and nature discovery programs. Volunteers will help to preserve the local environment through conservation tasks: volunteers will cut the grass to improve the ecological richness of the forest, plant trees with the villagers, improve the sanctuary for the butterflies, maintain a nature path etc.

Issues regarding World Heritage sites and the future plan of TSEI.

In a house. Sleeping bag required. No vegetarian food available.

A small, mountain village famous for its beautiful and traditional buildings and registered as a World Cultural Heritage site. Located 2 hours from Takayama.

Nagoya (3 hours by express train & bus) or Tokyo (7 hours by bullet train or 10 hours by bus)

Volunteers should be interested in nature protection. The group will be composed of 5 Japanese and 5 international volunteers.

This project is jointly organised with the Shirakami Mountains Preservation Society (SMPS). The Shirakami area, located on the border of Aomori and Akita prefectures, is one of Japan's few remaining natural forests. Many tourists visit every year to enjoy the scenery but their visits also have an environmental cost. Volunteers will help SMPS with forest conservation activities such as cutting grasses, forest maintenance. Excursions and exchange parties are planned.

In a simple house. Sleeping bag required.

The Shirakami mountains in northern Honshu island.

Tokyo (7 hours by bullet train, 10 hours by bus)

Volunteers should be motivated to work outside in the forests in all weathers with local people. The group will be composed of 3 Japanese and 4 international volunteers.

This project is organised together with Morito, a local voluntary group from Sado island. They take care of a small forest, allowing local people to enjoy themselves during every season. On this project they want to focus on caring for the forest together with international volunteers and local people. Volunteers will participate in the art festival called "Earth Celebration", sell soba noodles with local people, work in the forests, cutting bushes etc. as well as create a recreation programme for local young people.

In tents. Sleeping bag required.

On Sado island, 300km north of Tokyo. Ogi is in the southern part next to the the beach. Fishing and a hot spring can be enjoyed here!

Tokyo (6 hours by bullet train and ferry from Naoetsu port)

Some Japanese ability required. The project language will be Japanese. Similar experience welcome! The group will be made up of 3 Japanese and 3 international volunteers.

Organized together with Chuo National Youth House (CNYH) since 2005. CNYH is a social education facility, which aims to educate youth through a variety of group activities, experiences and study. It is located in the foot in Mt. Fuji that has been a popular tourism spot for a long time ago. However, a beautiful virgin forest that exists widely in Mt. Fuji has been lost by garbage that the tourist leaves and the illegal disposal. We will activate this project as a fresh wind.

We will do cleaning activity of Mt. Fuji with a local group that consists of 60 Japanese university students and local motivate people and construct volunteer House to promote voluntary activities. We will also help local farmers near the workcamp site.

The future plan of beautiful mountains in the world and their networking.

Volunteer House. Self-catering.

Mt. Fuji is 3,776 m high and is the highest mountain in Japan situated at the border of south-eastern Yamanashi and Shizuoka. It is the world famous symbol of Japan.

Tokyo (90 min by bullet train or 3 hours by slow train).

Mt. Fuji climbing, cultural exchange parties, sports, etc.

Motivation to actively work with local people!

This project is organised together with the Tondabayashi Nature Protection Association (TNPA). Although 70% of Japan is forest, much of it is neglected due to the low price of imported wood. TNPA aims to improve the ecology of the forest with voluntary power. Volunteers will cut trees, clear footpaths, cut bushes etc. to preserve the local forest. Exchange parties and a home stay are planned. This project is part of Greening Asia.

In a simple renovated house. Food cooked by firewood. Sleeping bag required.

60km south of Osaka, surrounded by beautiful nature.

Osaka

Volunteers must be interested in nature conservation and able to adapt to a simple lifestyle.