01 · Developing now
The founding camp
A rented, appropriately licensed venue for the proposed July 2027 pilot. A small group of families, real camp days, and relationships we can learn from before expanding.
Our founding purpose
A place to feel at home.
A reason to come back.
Komorebi begins with a summer camp. We want it to grow into a lasting relationship between families looking for belonging and a Japanese community that wants to build with us.
Jewish-rooted. Open-hearted.
The safe haven we want to build.
Concern for Jewish safety is part of why this project exists. We want children to grow friendships, enjoy Jewish life, and feel comfortable being themselves. We want parents to find people they trust and a place their family can return to.
Jewish belonging is a founding purpose, not an optional add-on. Families of other backgrounds who respect that purpose are welcome. Sharing our traditions while learning from our Japanese neighbours is part of the invitation.
Friday-night meals, Shabbat rhythms, reflection, and a connection between Yui and tikkun olam are part of the programme we want to develop. Participation would be a choice. Food standards and observance arrangements need qualified partners before we can promise them.
A safe haven is our ambition, not a safety guarantee. Komorebi is not an emergency refuge, asylum programme, or relocation service. No venue, security arrangements, or care team is yet confirmed. Safeguarding, emergency planning, local relationships, and privacy must be in place before bookings open.
Why Japan · The Yui Project
A welcome that works both ways.
Japan's ageing population and rural population changes make intergenerational relationships and locally useful work important questions. They do not tell us what any particular town needs. We will start by listening.
Our aim is to pay local teachers, guides, cooks, and operators; bring families back across seasons; and make space for residents to share the skills and traditions they want to share. Older residents are potential partners and teachers, not a backdrop or a problem for visitors to solve.
Yui (結い) is a tradition of mutual aid. For camp, that means a small, supervised project or cultural exchange chosen with residents. It is not elder care, clinical work, or a substitute for paid local services.
We are exploring the Nagano highlands and Karuizawa corridor, including Miyota, Komoro, Saku, and Kitakaruizawa. The right host relationship, lawful venue, healthcare access, and operating team matter more than a low property price.
Background: Statistics Bureau of Japan, 2025 ageing population summary. Local needs and partnerships remain to be established.
One first step. A longer horizon.
More than a week away.
02 · Exploring
Return across seasons
Licensed year-round lodging for travellers and returning families. Founding-family discounts, an included week, and transferable stays are research ideas, not confirmed benefits. Capacity, cost, timing, screening, and availability rules are still to be designed.
03 · Longer-term questions
A deeper connection
Some families may want extended stays or a future life in Japan. We want to understand that interest without selling an exit plan. Buying property or shares does not grant residency. Every household needs an eligible immigration route and qualified advice.
What must come before expansion
A community that wants the project, demonstrated family demand, capable operators, a lawful lodging model, and finances that work without assuming rental income or rising property values. Exchange rates may affect costs; they are not our mission or a reliable investment thesis.
No investment offer today
We welcome conversations with potential property and operating partners. Ownership, governance, family access, and any future investment terms need separate professional review. Property can be illiquid and expensive to maintain, and capital can be lost.
Research checked September 22, 2026: Japan Immigration Services Agency and Japan Tourism Agency lodging guidance. The private-lodging framework has a 180-night annual cap and local restrictions; year-round operations require an appropriate lawful model. This is general context, not legal advice.
Help shape the place you would return to.
Tell us what matters for your family, question an assumption, or introduce someone who could help. Interest is not a commitment.