Welcome to INOW
INOW connects people and place through immersive, community-rooted experiences in Japan’s first zero waste village.
Japan’s First Zero Waste Village
Nestled in the mountains of Shikoku, Kamikatsu is Japan’s first zero waste village. For two decades, residents have carefully sorted waste into 45 recyclable categories – a quiet yet radical approach that has made it a symbol for sustainability around the world and showcases a community-led effort to address an environmental crisis.
But zero waste here is more than recycling — it’s a way of life, valuing resources and fostering community.
Place-Based Learning Program
INOW is a place-based learning program located in Kamikatsu, Japan’s first zero-waste village. Our mission is to foster a community of people who steward a waste-free, circular society.
We serve as a bridge between past and future, local and global—showing that even in a remote mountain village, residents and visitors can contribute to a worldwide waste-conscious movement.
Through immersive, bilingual (Japanese and English) programs, guests explore waste as a system and experience sustainability in practice. Participants are welcomed into rural Japanese lifestyles rooted in circularity and self-sufficiency.
Co-created Experiences
Each program is co-created with waste managers, local farmers, craftspeople, producers, and small businesses, offering hands-on, experience-based learning. While we primarily partner with universities and secondary schools, we also welcome solo travelers, families, long-term volunteers, and businesses seeking to deepen their understanding of waste and sustainability.
About Us
INOW demonstrates how small, intentional actions can lead to more sustainable and meaningful ways of living—together creating ripple effects far beyond our village.
Our goal is to share practical knowledge that participants can carry into their own lives. By engaging with local residents and their wisdom of everyday circular practices, guests feel empowered to apply the same principles at home. Many participants go on to reduce waste, start recycling initiatives, or launch sustainability projects in their own communities after visiting Kamikatsu.
Our Values
Raising Awareness
Plant seeds of awareness and empower guests with knowledge on waste and circular practices.
Building Community
Creating exchanges between guests and locals where knowledge is co-created and learning happens together.
Transformative Action
Guests return home with new perspectives and inspiration that spark change, and foster waste-conscious practices in their homes, communities, schools, and businesses.
Re-thinking Our Waste
Kamikatsu is not perfect but the village shows what’s possible when a community dares to rethink the systems that shape our lives.
INOW invites you to slow down, to listen, to learn from the people of Kamikatsu. Together, we can start a journey of being more conscious about the global waste crisis.
University Partnerships
+ 10 universities across Asia and the United States
Business Partnerships
+ 20 businesses through our business programs
Research Collaborations
+ 20 researchers in various fields
Media
15 media groups ranging (documentaries, podcasts, webmagazines, television, etc.)
Our Impact
As a learning hub in Kamikatsu, INOW aims to inspire individuals, particularly young people, to reimagine their relationship with waste and consumption, and their connection to community and nature.
What Our Guests Say
Warm Connection with the Local Community
A truly memorable and heartwarming experience — it felt more like living than just traveling. Everything was so thoughtfully arranged, from the seamless journey and well-curated itinerary to the delicious food, engaging activities, and warm connection with the local community. The place itself is a peaceful haven, surrounded by lush greenery and a stunning landscape that invites rest and reflection.
Opened Their Hearts To Us
We (teachers and college students) spent a memorable nine days at Kamikatsu. It was clear to us that INOW has close relationships with the villagers and intimate knowledge of the town. Everyone they arranged for us to meet opened their hearts to us. Not only did we discuss zero-waste and farming practices, but also the challenges of village life.
Strong Emphasis on Sustainability
I deeply appreciate the strong emphasis on sustainability in Kamikatsu, as it aligns perfectly with the mission of INOW to promote the concept of sustainability. Thank you, Kana and Sil, for providing us with such an unforgettable trip to Kamikatsu! I will undoubtedly encourage my friends and others interested in the program to experience this wonderful INOW offering.
We plant seeds of awareness through real experiences. From those seeds, connection grows. And with connection, a collective consciousness takes root — transforming how we live and do business.
