【Report by the foreigner who knows Ayabe well.】
Name of facility : Pokapoka-nouen Visit date : 2020/8/4 Visitor name : Sazonov Maxim
You may enjoy agricultural experience and spend a day in countryside. So, many people who are thinking to moving to the countryside and guests from overseas who wish to experience Japanese local life in countryside visit there.
‘Pokapoka-nouen’ is in Kamiyata-cho, Ayabe city and surrounded by rich nature.
I think it is perfect place for those who want to try a real country life.
In addition to enjoying the atmosphere of a peasant house, you can experience various things and try the lifestyle of the countryside by yourself.
One of unique points of Pokapoka-noen is "Goemon open-air bath" which was built by the owner, Mr. Kushida. You can enjoy the bath with rich nature, your private space and you will feel a sense of freedom from fatigue. Another unique experience is to make a fire. You can learn the value of nature by making a fire yourself.
It seems that the contents of the experience differ depending on the season, but in the summer for example you can enjoy firewood splitting and weeding of rice fields.
You can also experience "Goemon open-air bath" which is very rare nowadays.
Depends on the season, you can try harvesting vegetables and work in rice field. Currently sesame and mugwort tea are being sold at Ayabe Tokusankan. And they cultivate rice, mugwort, vegetables and focusing on sesame cultivation in agricultural chemicals free and fertilizer free culture.
The annex that is the place to stay is very large and has a kitchen and toilet.
You can stay alone, with your family, or with a small group.
Chopping wood, which we rarely have opportunity to do nowadays, is one of important tasks in countryside.
The owner, Mr. Kushida, is very kind and the hospitality is the best.
He is from Tokyo.
Recently more and more people are moving from the city to Ayabe and they start farming like him.
Pokapoka-noen is popular to guests from overseas since they can enjoy Japanese life experience in countryside and nature. You can receive their hospitality and enjoy unique experiences such as ‘Goemon open-air bath’ and ‘make a fire’. It would be a unforgettable memory.
Breakfast uses homemade vegetables.
It was very delicious and had a fresh taste.
I enjoyed home cooking and it made me feel I am home.
It is a great chance to relax in a quiet atmosphere surrounded by nature.
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▼Visitor profileーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーー
Sazonov Maxim
From Russia, came to Japan in 2018.
He likes to visit countryside in Japan and interested in Japanese culture and history.
His hobbies are Japanese martial arts (Jodo) and to do calligraphy.
