[Minamiboso City] Cultivating the Satoyama by "Staying" - A One-Group-Per-Day Inn is Running a Crowdfunding Campaign!

SUNAO Retreat Okushirahama (Minamiboso City, Chiba Prefecture / Representative: Mika Ando) is participating in the regional revitalization project "Nanso Futto Keikaku" (Nanso Boiling Project), in collaboration with Chiba Bank. Through Chibagin Shouten's crowdfunding platform "C-VALUE," they are seeking support to raise a target amount of 300,000 yen from June 1, 2026, to August 31, 2026, for a one-group-per-day retreat plan. The owner, a former tofu shop proprietor, offers experiences such as locally sourced Japanese meals featuring freshly made tofu, Kajime seaweed baths heated by firewood, and SUP (Stand Up Paddleboarding) on the calm sea. A portion of the revenue will be reinvested into satoyama conservation activities, which they have been engaged in for approximately six years, to pass on the neglected satoyama to the future.

Crowdfunding Special Page: https://www.c-value.jp/projects/sunaoretreat001

Exterior of SUNAO Retreat Okushirahama

Background: Protecting the Satoyama Through Stays

"SUNAO Retreat Okushirahama" is more than just a place to stay. Our goal is to create a place where "food," "nature," and "people" connect, and the blessings of this land circulate. To protect the beautiful nature of Shirahama, Minamiboso City, we, as the "Okushirahama Satoyama Conservation Group," have been engaged in grassroots efforts to maintain the neglected satoyama and conduct environmental conservation activities.

This satoyama, with its minimal artificial light, is home to fireflies, and at night, a sky full of stars unfolds. This wonderful environment is maintained thanks to the region's rich nature and the activities undertaken to protect it. However, to continue protecting the satoyama, an "economic circulation" that does not rely solely on volunteer spirit is necessary.

Therefore, upon participating in the Nanso Futto Keikaku, we have launched a circular project that will introduce the charms of Minamiboso to people nationwide through retreat experiences, with a portion of the revenue directly contributing to satoyama conservation activities and regional revitalization.

Village scenery A sky full of stars

One-Group-Per-Day Kominka Retreat

Disconnecting from daily life, connecting with nature and people, and rediscovering yourself – that is our concept of "rest."

We offer not luxury, but down-to-earth time spent talking around a fire and sleeping while listening to the sound of the wind.

Exclusive Use of a Kominka (Traditional Japanese House) for One Group Per Day: Luxuriously rent a Japanese house with a high ceiling and a long veranda.

Retreat Food with the Former Tofu Shop Owner's Commitment: Locally sourced organic brown rice, homemade miso and soy sauce, freshly made tofu, and other locally sourced Japanese meals that will delight your mind and body.

Active Rest Connecting with Nature: SUP cruising on the calm sea guided by an instructor (the owner), bonfires in the satoyama, and yoga experiences.

"Kajime Bath" to Feel the Blessings of the Sea: A mellow bath heated by firewood and solar energy, using "Kajime," a seaweed traditionally found in Minamiboso.

SUP Experience Yoga Experience

C-VALUE Exclusive Rewards

We offer plans with special discounts and benefits exclusive to crowdfunding.

[Day Trip Rental] 1-Day SUP Retreat Plan (Weekdays/Sundays)

A day-trip plan to refresh your mind and body, including a SUP experience, retreat lunch, and firewood bath.

[1 Night, 2 Meals] Special Retreat Accommodation Ticket

A relaxing stay in a kominka exclusively for one group per day, enjoying dinner (Japanese meal with tofu) and breakfast (rich soy milk French toast).

Japanese meal with tofu Children playing on the veranda

A Message from the Owner, So Ando

Why "Soybeans"?

Triggered by 3.11, as a chef, I deeply re-examined the "source of ingredients." The answer I arrived at was "soybeans," the foundation of Japanese cuisine. Soybeans transform into tofu, miso, and soy sauce, supporting our dining tables, and their cultivation is deeply involved in soil improvement. Cultivating soybeans is synonymous with healing the earth.

Melting the Barrier of Relocation with "Tofu"

Life and conservation activities in the satoyama cannot be achieved alone. The role of a "tofu shop" allowed me to overcome the hurdle of relocation and put down roots in the community. Handmade tofu became a "social tool" that bridged the gap between a new place, myself, and the people who visit, fostering conversation. Gathering around the dining table is a precious time that connects nature and humans, and people with people.

Circulating Satoyama and the Proposal of "Retreat Food"

Currently, we operate a retreat facility centered around soybeans to pass on the satoyama environment to the next generation. What we offer here is not just a meal. It is "retreat food" prepared with locally sourced ingredients, where you can touch the soil yourself.

We protect the satoyama nature through the activities of soybeans, and visitors to this place rediscover their true selves through dialogue with food. Human connections create healing, and that healing is returned to satoyama conservation – we embody this "form of circulation" in this land.

Aiming for a Place Where Nature and People Heal Together

Our activities are a fusion of satoyama conservation and retreats that harmonize the minds of modern people. It is a place to savor the stories behind the ingredients and feel the satoyama breeze. We believe that this small circulation, starting with soybeans, will enrich the hearts of more people and the future of this land.

Limited Edition Shirahama Freshly Squeezed Tofu

A Message from Representative Mika Ando

"Our activities originally began with a small tofu shop, but we were drawn to the nature of Minamiboso and wanted to create a place where the blessings of this land could circulate. Talking around a fire, sleeping while listening to the sound of the wind – such casual moments deeply restore the minds and bodies of people working hard in modern times. This project is a challenge to deliver healing to our guests while also protecting and passing on the beautiful satoyama of Minamiboso to the future. We sincerely await the warm support from everyone who agrees with this spirit of circulation.

[Contact Information for This Matter]

Organization/Shop Name: SUNAO Retreat Okushirahama (Okushirahama Satoyama Conservation Group)

Contact Person: Mika Ando

Email Address: sunaoretreat@gmail.com

Official HP: https://sunaoretreat.jp/

Address: 9088-1 Shirahama, Shirahama-cho, Minamiboso City, Chiba Prefecture, 295-0102