Asia Future Leaders Scholarship Program (AFLSP) Service Learning 2025

Inheritance of Traditional Culture and Contemporary Challenges: Using Miyama-cho as an Example (伝統文化の継承と現代の課題―美山町を例に)

October 11 (Sat) to October 13 (Mon, holiday), 2025

10 scholars (5 male and 5 female), 3 Japanese students (female), 1 supervisor (male)

The aim is to expand the horizons of international students by allowing them to directly experience the charms and challenges of rural areas in Japan, providing them opportunities to gain deep insights into intercultural understanding and sustainability. Specifically, we are planning the following (but not limited to these):

1. Understanding and Respecting Traditional Culture: By allowing international students to experience traditional culture and lifestyles in Japan's rural areas, we aim to broaden their international perspectives and deepen their respect and understanding of culture.
2. Promotion of Diversity and Inclusion: By exposing students to unique regional cultures and traditions, we provide an opportunity for them to realize the value of diversity and reflect on the importance of accepting and collaborating with people from different cultural backgrounds.
3. Understanding the Reality of Aging and Declining Birthrates: Students will witness firsthand the issue of an aging population and declining birthrates, which is a realistic challenge in rural areas. They will delve deeper into the impacts and problems faced by the local community, learning beyond what is taught in traditional school education.
4. Promotion of Sustainable Development: Contrary to popular tourist destinations, students will appreciate the charm and value of rural areas. They will also reflect on the negative impacts brought about by environmental changes and overtourism, and contemplate methods of sustainable tourism and agricultural development.

• Kyoto → Miyama (Oct 11th): JR Nijo Station (二条駅) 10:12 (express train) → Sonobe Station (園部駅) 10:44 (transit) 10:46 (local train) → Hiyoshi (日吉) 10:54 → City Bus 11:10 → Agake (安掛) 11:49 → Visitor center (美山ふれあい広場)
• Miyama → Kyoto (Oct 13th): Agake (安掛) 14:05 (city bus) → Hiyoshi (日吉) 14:45 → JR 15:04 (local train) → Sonobe (園部) 15:13 (transit) 15:14 (express) → Nijo (二条) 15:48
• Note: The supervisor goes with a car.
• IMPORTANT: To get paid by AFLSP funding, please keep the receipts of all your tickets and take pictures of all the tickets with the dates they were used (take the picture after you get into the station and before get out of the station).

Competence: We designed the competence for this program. Please check it before the SL, and you need to fill and submit the first sheet after the SL.

Aligning to the T-PBR, we divided participants into the next groups to complete pre-learning, interview, and report. Please consider three to five questions (one for each member, on average) to ask or discuss during the interview with local people of Miyama-cho. Notice that each member shall contribute to some task, management/time keeper, interviewing, writing memo, writing the final report, etc.

Reference fo pre-learning

https://kyototamba-vc.com/db/

• 12:00-13:00, Oct ?? (Zoom), including program explanation, Q&A, etc.

1. 歯ブラシ Tooth brush
2. バスタオル、ハンドタオル Bath towel and hand towel
3. パジャマ Night wear
4. 着替え spare cloths
5. 汚れてもよい靴、服　Cloth and shoes that you can get dirty
6. 薄手の羽織りもの、カーディガンなど　※朝晩は冷えて寒いです。10℃くらい Warm wear like Jacket, cardigan, etc (It is cold in the morning and at night. The temperature is about 10 degree centigrade.)
7. 雨具 Umbrella
8. モバイルバッテリー（あれば） Mobile battery if you have
9. 携帯電話/スマホ（充電器・ケーブルもお忘れなく） Mobile phone or smart phone (don't forget the charger and cable)
10. お金 Money
11. 身分証明書（免許や在留カード等） ID card (e.g., residence card)
12. 筆記用具（ノート・紙とペン） Notebook/Paper and pen
13. ビニール袋数枚（ゴミなどに） Plastic bags (for garbage etc)
14. マスク、絆創膏，（該当者）薬，コンタクトレンズなど Face mask, bandage, medicine, contact lens, etc
15. 記録や発表に必要なら、ラップトップパソコンまたはタブレット Laptop or tablet if needed for taking memo or doing presentation
16. その他必要なもの，ただし必要最小限に．Others necessary (keep them the minimum)

Oct 11th (Sat)

• 11:49 Arrival（京都丹波高原国定公園ビジターセンター, Visitor Center）
• 12:00 Lunch (Bento)
• 13:00 Introduction (90 minutes lecture) by DMO (一般社団法人南丹市美山観光まちづくり協会)
• 14:30 Free time (30 minutes)
• 15:00 Move to Kashikaso/美山町自然文化村河鹿荘 (by DMO'car)
• 15:30 Check-in (美山町自然文化村河鹿荘)
• TBD (Sense foraging in Nature, dinner, night event, etc)

Oct 12th (Sun)

• When? Breakfast
• When? Move to かやぶきの里 (by DMO'car)
• 9:00 Guided tour かやぶきの里 (Japanese, 45 minutes) → 45 minutes free time
• 10:30 Interview (90 minutes) at かやぶきの里の北公民館
  • Group 1 かやぶきの里保存会
  • Group 2 美山町内観光事業者
  • Group 3 持続可能発展関係
• 12:00 Lunch (Bento)
• 12:40 Move (by DMO's car)
• 13:00 Volunteer activity (2.5 hours)
• 15:30 Finish and move (by DMO's car)
• 16:00 Orientation on home stay 美山町自然文化村河鹿荘

Oct 13th (Mon, holiday)

• 9:30 Closing ceremony 京都丹波高原国定公園ビジターセンター (Visitor center)
• 10:00 Reflection 京都丹波高原国定公園ビジターセンター (1h for overall, 1h in groups)
• 12:00 Lunch (Bento) 京都丹波高原国定公園ビジターセンター
• 13:00 Prof. Zhao leaves
• 14:05 Bus (return back to Kyoto)

1. There are no convenience stores in Miyama. Please purchase any anticipated necessary items in advance before participating.
2. Depending on the location, there may be places with no WIFI/cellular signal.
3. It gets cold in the morning and evening, so it's convenient to have a jacket or something to wear over your clothes.

Every scholar must submit the next reports to fulfill part of the requirement by the AFLSP program.

• Deadline: Oct 18th (monthly seminar in the morning)
• Individual report: two pages about your personal learning and reflection (free style) + competence sheet (fill the first sheet please)
• Group report: 4 pages including the findings of pre-learning, interview, discussion, references, etc (in report style).

• Ayaka-san (thank you!)
• We will upload some pictures and movies online. Please notice this is considered a duty for the program. → Exception: Yuju

• To be included.