Okami no Tani no Yado
Okami no Tani no Yado - おおかみの谷の宿
Transition Shelter & Mutual Aid Solidarity in Japan
A safe haven, reconstruction and safety in the mountains of Kumakogen
A safe haven, reconstruction and safety in the mountains of Kumakogen
"Okami no Tani no Yado" is a Japanese association dedicated to mutual aid and solidarity. Our primary project is to transform our traditional vacant house (akiya) in Shimohatanokawa, Kumakogen, into a private shelter and temporary safe haven for families (women, children, and single fathers with children) fleeing domestic violence. Situated in the serene mountains of Shikoku, our haven provides a secure shelter and peaceful natural environment for healing. In the future, the project will also welcome pilgrims and foster traditional craftsmanship training.
Our home provides a free and secure temporary shelter for people fleeing domestic violence. In the peaceful mountains of Kumakogen, they find a space to rest and rebuild in nature.
The project relies on solidary donations and public/private grants search in Japan. Discover our purchase budget of 6.8 million JPY and how you can help us equip the shelter.
Follow the purchase, the setup of the shelter, and daily life in Kumakogen on video. Discover the challenges of preserving this mountain akiya and the impact of your support.
In Phase 2, eco-friendly chantiers will allow us to build outdoor installations like the traditional hot bath (ofuro) and introduce residents and companions to local carpentry techniques.
In the future, the house will also serve as a resting stop for Shikoku pilgrims, creating a space of inter-cultural exchange while funding the sustainability of the shelter.
At the origin of the "Okami no Tani no Yado" project lies a story of love, intercultural exchange, and a shared passion for the pilgrimage trail, shared with our faithful companion Inu! For Kurodo, a Belgian, this passion began on April 4, 2016, during his first pilgrimage "Goya 2016" on the island of Shikoku. It was on that same island that he met his wife, Misako, a Japanese woman, during his third journey in 2023, on his 44th birthday, April 4th.
By founding this association based in Japan, Kurodo and Misako unite their forces to build this shelter. Misako brings her listening, kindness, and dedication to support families in distress, while Kurodo manages the practical side of the house and the future akiyas renovations in Shikoku, offering everyone a new start under the kind eye of Inu!
