Recognizing the growing popularity of allotments and other back-to-the-land aspirations, plus the possibilities created by remote working, Japan’s and farm Co., Ltd. just launched ‘and farm Kleingarten.’ The concept combines a shared vacation home with a farming experience — think timeshares with individual vegetable gardens. For a fixed monthly fee, city dwellers can slow down and enjoy life in the countryside for up to four consecutive days at a time.
and farm Kleingarten is designed with a focus on natural materials, blending Nordic design with Japanese minimalism to create a ‘Japandi’ style. The accommodation is fully furnished and equipped, with solid Wi-Fi for those who want to work remotely. Members have access to farm tools for working on their personal 30-square-meter vegetable plots, and workshops are available to those without prior gardening experience. For an additional fee, members’ allotments are tended to in their absence, with the option of having harvests home-delivered.
By adopting vacant houses and abandoned farmland on the outskirts of Nirasaki City, Yamanashi Prefecture, the concept not only provides users with an affordable second-home experience but also helps revitalize a rural area by fostering a new community of regular visitors. and farm Kleingarten soft-launched in October 2024. Monthly fees are JPY 55,000 (USD 360/EUR 335) for weekday stays, or JPY 88,000 to include weekend and holiday bookings, too.
