Throughout the year, INOW hosts seasonal small-group programs that bring together individual travelers who share a common curiosity about sustainability, rural life, and regenerative futures.
Explore Zero Waste in Kamikatsu
SPRING 2026
Date: March 25-29
Duration: 3.5 Days / 4 Nights
Location: Kamikatsu, Japan
This program is intended for anyone with a curiosity to learn about zero waste and sustainability from a practical, local and cultural perspective.
WHY Zero Waste Center
KAMIKATSU
Zero Waste in Kamikatsu
Navigating the Global Waste Crisis:
Insights from Kamikatsu
Our world is transitioning, with modern lifestyles creating a global waste crisis. In this shift, we often lose touch with cultural practices and values essential to our connection with nature and community. As with climate change, we must ask: where do we begin?
Two decades ago, Kamikatsu, a small village in Japan, declared its commitment to Zero Waste. Every day, residents sort waste into 45 categories at the WHY Zero Waste Center. Zero waste here means diverting 100% of waste from incineration and landfill to recycling.
For visitors, the WHY Zero Waste Center is a major attraction, but for residents, it’s only a small part of life. Zero waste in Kamikatsu is deeply connected to their way of life, cultural practices, countryside resourcefulness, strong community ties, and their relationship with nature.
Kamikatsu’s journey offers valuable lessons on how a community can thrive by embracing sustainability, resourcefulness, and cultural heritage, providing a blueprint for addressing the global waste crisis and fostering a sustainable future.
Our Itinerary
Overview
March 25 | Arrival & Welcome: Participants arrive in Kamikatsu and settle into the village. In the evening, we gather for a welcome dinner and begin our time together through food and conversation.
March 26 | Zero Waste as a Way of Life: Welcome and program introduction; Spend time with a resident, have conversations about rural life and prepare lunch together. Learn about Kamikatsu’s zero waste journey: facility tour and workshop at the WHY Zero Waste Center.
March 27 | Living with Nature & Local Rhythm: Visit a local farmer and participate in seasonal harvesting; Explore community-based initiatives (such as kayabuki Thatched School); Reflection on how seasonal rhythms and relationships with nature shape sustainable living
March 28 | Circular Skills & Community Exchange Morning workshop with local craftspeople, focusing on upcycling or traditional craft; Co-creative exchange session where participants and residents share skills/stories; Group reflection on insights and actions to carry forward; Farewell Dinner
March 29 | Departure Day Optional morning hike to Yamainudake (Moss Forest); Departure
Day 1: Mottainai
“Mottainai is a concept Japanese people use in daily life to express the important value something holds. The word, roughly translated it means ‘let’s not waste’, or ‘that’s a waste’. It conveys a sense of sadness or regret when something might go to waste, reflecting a deep respect for the value of all things and an attitude of ensuring nothing of value is wasted.”
On the first day we will take you to the WHY Zero Waste center and introduce you to the community-based waste system that changed from open burning to a 45-category waste sorting system. In a playful way, through hands-on workshops and conversations, we will share about sustainability, waste, and recycling in Kamikatsu, Japan’s first zero-waste town.
You will learn about the process of change in our village and we will connect you with residents active in the waste movement. It’s also an opportunity to connect as a group and learn about each other’s motivation to be part of this program.
Day 2: Kurashi
“Kurashi refers to “a way of life”. Kurashi is not only a collection of lifestyle choices, but a deeper orientation toward time, values, and relationships.”
On the second day of our program, you’ll spend time with a local resident, immersing yourself in the slower, simpler rhythm of life in Kamikatsu. This experience highlights the joy found in a lifestyle that values simplicity and mindfulness.
Understanding waste requires recognizing that it results from the lifestyles we choose. It’s about how we relate to time, money, and effort. This day will emphasize designing a lifestyle that prioritizes joy, simplicity, and sustainability, offering insights into how our choices impact waste and our overall well-being.
Day 3: Kufu
“工夫’: refers to ingenuity or resourcefulness – It’s about the creativity needed to solve problems, and about paying close attention to what’s already in front of you.”
Resourcefulness is important, especially in environments lacking convenience. While convenience can lead to waste, inconvenience fosters awareness of our surroundings and how to utilize abundant resources.
On the third day, we explore Kamikatsu’s unique Irodori business, where farmers cultivate leaves to showcase seasonality. Leaves are harvested to be used as decorations across Japan. We will visit a local farmer, learn about Irodori, and help with leaf harvesting.
In the afternoon, we’ll create a communal space to gather with residents, where you’ll be invited to share a unique skill that could be fun, meaningful, or inspiring for others to learn.
Your Stay
Accommodation
You’ll be staying in a traditional-style hotel called Tsukigatani Onsen Hotel.
You’ll be staying in a mix of traditional-style accommodations, including hotel rooms and bungalows at the Tsukigatani Onsen Hotel. Each room has a private bathroom and shower, with public access to an onsen (Japanese bath*) for those who wish to try it. *Tattoos are accepted at our onsen if they are for an aesthetic purpose, but please cover large tattoos if possible.
Meals
Meals in Kamikatsu are almost entirely made with seasonal, locally grown ingredients, including rice, vegetables, and meat.
Breakfast: Typically consists of rice, miso, vegetables, and a meat or fish dish.
Lunch: We’ll visit a variety of places within Kamikatsu.
Dinner: On your own each evening, except for the group dinners on the first and last night. For a convenient and affordable option with a variety of dishes, we recommend dining at the onsen restaurant.
Dietary Preferences & Restrictions:
If you have any dietary requirements (e.g., allergies, vegetarian, religious), please inform INOW in advance so we can try to accommodate you. That said, options may be limited, so we encourage you to be flexible and open to trying new dishes.
INOW Zero Waste Spring Program (March 25-29, 2026)
Apply Before March 1, 2026
Pricing
The program is $850 USD (~¥130,000 JPY) including tax, per person. For more information, please see the FAQ ‘Program Contents’ below for what’s included and not included in this price.
A non-refundable deposit $200 USD (~¥30,000 JPY) secures your place with the balance due 2 weeks before the start date.
This program is intended for anyone with a curiosity to learn about zero waste and sustainability from a practical, local and cultural perspective.
What’s Included?
What’s not included: Flights, hotel stay in Kamikatsu, travel insurance, incidentals, passport and visa fees
Who is this program for?
Does any of this resonate with you?
INOW Kamikatsu
INOW Team
Our small team of three is passionate about facilitating immersive experiences that allow us to connect, play, feel inspired, learn, and reflect together on some of the social and environmental issues communities grapple with.
At INOW, we don’t consider ourselves as guides or teachers, but rather as facilitators of spaces of dialogue in which we can share ideas, skills, and different perspectives between people in and outside of Kamikatsu.
INOW Teachers
Fundamental to our program are our Kamikatsu residents and businesses, as they inspire our guests with local, Japanese, cultural practices and lifestyles, such as satoyama and mottainai, as well as contemporary practices, such as recycling, natural farming, and circular economy.
We like to call the residents ‘teachers’ because we see unique value in the experience, perspectives, and skills they hold. They might not be ‘experts’ or ‘teachers’ in a conventional sense. Instead, residents will take you into their daily lives, businesses, community projects; share perspectives and skills, and might have as many questions for you, as you have for them.
Q&A
About Program Contents
Q: What is included in the INOW Spring (March) Program?
- All experiences, workshops, activities
- Lunch on days of the program (1 group dinner will be included in the program)
- Equitable pay to local ‘teachers’ and businesses
- Translation, facilitation and guiding
- Transportation within the village to all the activities
Everything, except for your stay + breakfast and dinners, are included in the program fee. This includes accommodations, transportation, meals, experience fees, cultural activities, and equitable pay to all the local people we cooperate with during the program.
Q: What is not included in the program?
- Transportation to and from Kamikatsu
- Personal insurance (all guests must carry personal insurance)
- Breakfast and dinners (1 group dinner will be included in the program)
- Accommodation (we will provide support for booking)
Transportation to/from Kamikatsu is not included. Participants must cover their own airfare, travel documentation, and medical insurance.
We also do not cover discretionary funds for personal snacks, gifts, or other personal needs.
Travel health insurance is compulsory and necessary for participating in the program. If you are unsure about what type of insurance you should purchase, please contact us for more details.
Q: How is INOW and my participation contributing to Kamikatsu and beyond?
While our time is short and INOW is only a tiny part of a larger community, slowly, INOW and your participation in this program contribute to:
- Fostering educational opportunities in the community
- Transmitting cultural practices, knowledge, and skills
- Protecting, sustaining, and revitalizing landscapes and human-nature relationships
- Encouraging and empowering local participation by valuing rural lifestyle, knowledge, and skills.
- Supporting the flow of economic impact to small businesses, artists, and residents
- Contributing to rural development
- Affirming, supporting, and advancing places, projects, and businesses that focus on building more sustainable societies
- Building a community of conscious thinkers that value societies embedded and developed in relationship to our natural world.
- Nurturing and promoting conscious resource use by valuing economic and societal practices that include and encourage: reuse, repurpose, and repair; local production and consumption; resourcefulness, community building and reliance, and human-nature relationships.
- Encouraging tourism that operates consciously and responsibly in relationship to community and environment.
About Program Costs
Q: What is the price of the program?
The cost of the program is 130,000 JPY (including tax)
Please check the ‘Program Contents’ question to see what it includes and does not include.
Q: How do I make a payment?
Payments can be made by international bank. A 20% deposit or payment in full is required to secure your position in the program.
Q: What are the cancellation and payment terms?
Please refer to our Terms & Conditions page for more information.
About weather & packing
Q: What’s the weather like in March in Kamikatsu?
Typical Conditions in March
- Daytime temperatures: ~11–15°C (51–59°F) can feel cool.
- Night/early morning: ~4–8°C (39–46°F) chilly, especially outdoors.
- Rain chance: moderate (about ~30% of days).
Q: What should I pack? How should I dress?
We will spend a considerable amount of time outdoors, so please dress in clothing that is comfortable.
A full list of recommended packing items will be provided to you spot in the program is confirmed.
About Program Expectations
Q: What can I expect from the INOW program?
Connect with local people, lifestyle, culture, nature and traditions
Learn together: Spend one week together with a community of like-minded individuals learning about sustainability within a rural Japanese context;
Learn practically about Kamikatsu’s waste system, and connect to a deeper understanding of zero waste and sustainability connected to lifestyle, philosophy, and culture;
Experience real examples of ‘resourcefulness’, ‘circularity’ and human-nature relationships;
Expect nature! Sun, rain, bugs… (we’ll make sure you’re well-packed!)
Q: What should I not expect?
You will not find ready-made, textbook one-size-fits-all answers, solutions or tools that you could apply within your own life context;
You will not experience Kamikatsu as a romanticized zero waste village where everyone cares about the environment and no one creates waste.
Some residents and businesses care deeply about the environment and are conscious of consumption and waste; and equally, some don’t care about the environment.
With the start of the zero waste movement, 2 decades ago, something very special and unique started in Kamikatsu, and we hope we can take you through that journey in our village.
Q: What kind of participant are you looking for?
This program is intended for anyone with a curiosity to learn and broaden their horizons about zero waste and the environment in Japan; for individuals who are looking for an opportunity to connect with like-minded people from different countries and backgrounds.
Open-minded: You are open to listening and learning from difference
Seeking an experience to expand your comfort zone: You understand that these experiences may challenge you to move beyond your comfort zone (e.g. weather, nature, no convenience stores,…).
Group-minded: You can cooperate within a group and are supportive and inclusive of other people’s opinions, experience levels, and comfort zones.
Co-creative: You actively take part in shaping a meaningful learning experience for yourself, other group members, and local people.
Driven to create a sustainable future: You are motivated to learn, connect, and build a more sustainable future in your home and community.
Flexible: You can be flexible to a changing schedule. We are dependent on weather circumstances and work with the rhythm of local people.
About program language
Q: What is the main program language?
The program will be conducted in English. Applicants should feel comfortable using English proficiently.
Most of our local residents speak only Japanese. We will provide Japanese-English translation throughout the program.
Q: Do I need to speak Japanese?
Japanese is not required. There will be translation and interpretation so everyone will be able to connect with one another. Having a basic understanding of greetings, phrases, and simple conversation is a nice bonus!
About program logistics
Q: Where does the program take place?
The program will entirely take place in Kamikatsu, Tokushima, Japan.
While we are considered the smallest village of Shikoku island, residents live deeply scattered in the mountains.
For information on how to come to Kamikatsu, please see access.