3-Day Stay in Karie: Experience Life Among Steep Citrus Groves and the Sea with Japan's Most Welcoming Tribe (Ehime)

Steep mountain slopes are covered in layers of mandarin orange orchards, which descend to meet the sparkling blue sea. Nestled between the mountains and the ocean lies the tiny village of 'Karie,' home to about 700 people and the stage for this experience. Most of the residents here are either citrus farmers or fishermen. It is a village overflowing with smiles, where the physical and psychological distance between people is remarkably small. This extends to outsiders as well. Genuine, down-to-earth interactions are born with residents deeply rooted in a culture of hospitality. As proof, 12 young people have moved here from other towns over the past five years to become new residents and revitalize the region.
 
The highlight of this product is 'living like a local,' just as the people of this town do.
Based on a 3-day, 2-night stay, you can experience the life of the village. You can rest easy knowing an 'attend guide' will support your daily life throughout your stay. They will guide you through the entire daily program, ensuring smooth interactions with the local people. While your attend guide is a professional bridge to the community, they are not fluent in English (only capable of daily conversation). You might find it a bit challenging to convey your thoughts to them, but please embrace this as part of the travel experience. The effort of communicating with your guide is a simulation of what it actually means to live in this region. Rest assured, your guide is dedicated to serving you and will spare no effort to understand your thoughts. (*For those who require an interpreter, one can be added as a separate option.)
 
The village offers a variety of experience programs. There are many recommended activities depending on the season, such as harvesting from the mountains and sea, downhill cycling, local cooking classes, and festival experiences. Among these, we highly recommend the 'Stone Wall Restoration Experience,' which can only be done in this village in all of Japan.
As mentioned, the pillar of this village's industry is 'citrus farming.' The farming style here involves building stone walls on mountain slopes to create farmland. These stone walls, built hundreds of years ago, support the local citrus industry. However, these walls are prone to damage from rain and wild boars. In the past, farmers repaired them themselves, but due to the aging population and a decrease in farmers, they are no longer able to maintain them. This led to the birth of a new role: the 'Stone Wall Restorer,' an expert in regenerating collapsed walls. During the experience, you will learn from these experts and participate in the actual restoration. You might think, 'It's just stacking stones,' but the fun of this experience is something you only realize once you try it. It is a real-life Tetris game, requiring wisdom and physical strength to balance the relationship between the small stones that support the soil and the large stones that face outward, all while aligning them with the natural shapes of the stones. Above all, the act of stacking them with joy allows you to contribute to the region by supporting its industry, giving you a true sense of purpose.
 
In the evening, meals with the villagers are prepared, and you can look forward to making many new friends. After dinner, you will experience the local festival drums. These festival drums play a crucial role in the 'Kasuga Shrine Autumn Festival,' the region's autumn event, leading processions and enlivening the movements of the parade. This festival is a tradition dating back to the Edo period, and it is the region's largest event, featuring magnificent floats like the Ushioni (ox demon), five-deer floats, and treasure ships touring the village. The climax features the powerful 'Miya-iri,' where three portable shrines rush up steep stone steps at once, allowing you to feel the passion and bonds of the region.
The 'Festival Drums,' which you can experience a part of, are characterized by powerful rhythms and unique phrasing, with the sound echoing through the mountains and sea, further heightening the excitement of the festival. The moment the Ushioni and portable shrines begin to move to the beat of the drums is one of the true thrills of the festival. You will practice on the first night and perform on the second night. By the time you leave, you might just find that you have a second home in Japan.
Come and experience a program where you can 'interact with residents and live like a local' in the Karie village, a place still unknown to the rest of the world.