What kind of "Expo" will be held in Sasari, a village of about 10 people in Miyama-cho, Nantan City, Kyoto Prefecture? Sasari Expo, where you can experience the charm of mountain villages and rich forests, will be held on June 21st and 22nd, 2025. There will be talks by local elders, a blind acupuncturist, and a nature observation expert, as well as night and morning walks when animals are active. The future of depopulated areas will be considered from the perspective of "designing a future society where life shines," just like the Osaka-Kansai Expo.
Hideki Kinai (64 years old, Osaka City), who has been visiting the mountains of Tanba since his days as a member of the Ritsumeikan University Explorers Club, was the center of the Miyama Safari Club, which plans nature experiences. The event will be held during the season when the beautiful cries of the ruddy kingfisher arrive and the fireflies flutter about.
On June 21st, from 3pm, at the cafe "Spacewood". A blind acupuncturist who frequently visits Sasari from Kyoto City will give a talk titled "Sounds of the Forest." Local elderly people will talk about how they have made the most of the bounty of the mountains. Hideki Kinai and his team will talk about the relationship between people and forests, drawing on their extensive experience traveling to Africa.
A barbecue will also be held midway through the event, and participants will take a walk through the forest in the evening and on the morning of June 22nd.
Hideki Kinai, who also works as a staff member at the Osaka Expo, points out that sustainability is the theme of this event. "We don't know if Sasari will disappear. We want to increase the number of fans outside the area," he says.
Free, partial participation possible. Capacity: about 10 people. The barbecue costs 3,000 to 4,000 yen. You can also stay overnight at the Harima-ya guesthouse in Sasari. Reservations must be made via the club's Instagram account, or by contacting Hideki Kinai at 080-4019-2920.
