ARI Monthly Event on May (1) – Chokotto Farm & Forest – Enjoy a Taste of Farm Life at ARI

May 2, 2025
ARI Develop

Enjoy a Taste of Farm Life at ARI – Chokotto Farm & Forest Hosted by the Asian Rural Institute (ARI)
ARI’s Chokotto Farm & Forest offers a seasonal program where you can experience a slice of life at ARI, learning in our diverse community of international rural leaders.
This monthly event welcomes individuals, families, and groups to enjoy farming, explore the campus and forest, and savor organic meals together. No special skills or experience are necessary—just bring your curiosity and love for nature!
Registration via the entry form

📍 Event Details:

Dates: Every 3rd Saturday from May to November
(5/17, 6/21, 7/19, 9/20, 10/18, ~~11/15~~ → 11/29 – no session in August)
Time: 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM
Location: Asian Rural Institute (Tochigi, Japan)
Capacity: 20 participants per session
Fee:
- Adults: ¥2,000
- Children aged 0–3: Free
What to Bring: Comfortable clothes, drink bottle, hat, towel

🌿 Typical Schedule:

10:00 – Gather at ARI
10:15 – Campus & forest exploration
11:00 – Hands-on farming experience
12:00 – Organic lunch
14:00 – End

🍅 Monthly Highlights:

May: Let’s plant vegetables
June: Rice paddy adventure
July: Harvest & summer vegetables
September: Azuki bean harvesting & wagashi making
October: New rice celebration & onigiri making
November: Challenge pizza making

💬 Whether you’re a curious local or just passing through, join us in reconnecting with nature and the food we eat!

👉 Registration via the QR code or contact ARI directly.Registration via the entry form

Men's Dormitory & Guest House

Participants and volunteers live in separate dormitories for men and women. The dormitory includes shared lounges, kitchens, showers, and laundry facilities. Wi-Fi is not available.

Poultry House

The poultry facilities include free-range chicken coops and a brooding house. More than 400 chickens are raised, producing over 80,000 eggs and approximately one ton of chicken meat each year.

Pig Pen

Participants learn a variety of pig farming techniques through hands-on practice. Both deep-litter and concrete-floor systems are used, and manure is recycled into biogas and fertilizer.

Goat House

Goat milk (over 200 liters annually) and meat are used for food, while manure is used as fertilizer. During the day, the goats roam freely in the pasture.

Forest

The forests surrounding the campus are managed through selective thinning for firewood and charcoal production. Leaves and other organic materials are collected for use in agriculture.

Fields

On 2.5 hectares of farmland, approximately 100 varieties of vegetables and crops are grown without chemical fertilizers or pesticides. The entire community helps manage the fields as part of its commitment to learning and self-sufficiency.

Rice Paddies

Rice is cultivated in paddies both on and off campus. Various organic rice-growing methods are studied and practiced, including weed control and fertilization using ducks.

Workshop

The workshop is a space for repair and recycling activities. It contains machinery, welding equipment, woodworking tools, and a variety of materials.

Feed Mixing Room

Livestock feed is produced here using both manual and mechanical methods. Continuous efforts are made to improve feed quality and sustainability.

Administration Building

The first floor houses the reception area and administrative offices, while the second floor contains staff offices and the Director’s office. The Farm Shop (Agricultural Training Room) is located adjacent to the building.

ARI Shop

The shop offers ARI-grown produce, processed foods, books, and handicrafts from the home countries of ARI graduates.

Farm Shop (Agricultural Training Room)

The facility serves as the hub of agricultural activities at ARI. It includes classrooms, storage for tools and farming materials, and facilities for drying and storing crops.

Oikos Chapel

Originally a 100-year-old traditional farmhouse, the chapel has been renovated into a place of worship. Daily morning gatherings are held here, along with meditation, dialogue sessions, gospel choir practice, and other community activities. Oikos is a Greek word meaning “home.”

Manna House (Food Processing Room)

This facility is used for producing and storing processed foods such as cookies and jam. The ground floor also contains a poultry processing facility.

Fish Ponds

Fish are raised for both food and agricultural purposes.