"Scout 7" in Okayama Prefecture, Takahashi Takahashi City Prefecture is a space for farmers to socialize. We will introduce the seven charms of this "toy box"-like space that combines information dissemination, meeting places, play areas, and relaxation.
2025.04.23-
Table of Contents
- Attraction 1: A "free space" where people and nature can connect
- Charm 2: A "nice guy" farm owner who stands in his field wearing a tie
- Attraction 3: A toy box-like space filled with curiosity
- Attraction 4: Have fun to your heart's content playing pretend games, gardens, and fields, which you always dreamed of
- Charm 5: The joy of "simply spending time in silence" away from the hustle and bustle of the city
- Appeal 6: The vegetables at Nanakusa Farm "do not go against nature"
- Point 7: "Scout 7" welcomes visitors at any time
- Where can you taste vegetables from Nanakusa Farm?
- Look for the "Stone Windmill" at Ukan Tsuneyama Park
- Scout 7: "What do you play?"
Did you know that there is a social space called "Scout 7" owned by a farmer in Takahashi City , located slightly north of the Chuo of Okayama Prefecture ? This is a base for disseminating information, and a place where people can meet, talk, and connect. It is also a playground and a space for relaxation. We will introduce the charm of "Scout 7," a social space that is like a "toy box" that satisfies the curiosity and playfulness of adults, from seven perspectives.
Attraction 1: A "free space" where people and nature can connect
There are many different purposes and styles for travel and leisure activities, such as "visiting tourist attractions," "visiting hidden local places," and "interacting with local people." Each person wants to follow their own ideas.
Scout 7 was originally founded with the idea that if there was no place to gather, then we should make one. It was a vacant old house (traditional Japanese house) that was renovated by an immigrant owner. At first glance, it looks like a shared space or an event venue, but it is a free space without a clear definition, and it is now a place where people can naturally connect with each other.
The name "Scout 7" incorporates the original meaning of "scout" - information gathering, like the Boy Scouts - and the meaning of "scouting (gathering)" fun friends. It also includes the number "7" from the owner's farm, "Nanakusa Farm."
Charm 2: A "nice guy" farm owner who stands in his field wearing a tie
Chigara Ishibashi, owner of "Scout 7".
Mr. Ishibashi, who practices farming in Yukan, grew up in the Kanto region, including Tokyo, and studied biomass and renewable energy at university. As an answer to a question he had been asking himself since he was a junior high school student, "Is there a way to live without relying on money?", Mr. Ishibashi, who had been practicing a self-sufficient lifestyle, moved to Okayama Prefecture when his parents relocated there.
Ishibashi has a unique style of working in the fields, wearing a tie and a jacket. The reason is that "a tie keeps your collar tight, so it's actually good for working," and "it allows me to face the crops sincerely." His appearance makes him look like a stylish gentleman reminiscent of a star of the past (he was even Feature Articles in a 30-minute NHK TV program).
Attraction 3: A toy box-like space filled with curiosity
At Scout 7, information and ideas from people of all ages and professions, including local residents, immigrants, travelers, farmers, chefs, coffee experts (baristas), musicians, and creators, naturally gather. It functions not only as a venue for meetings and workshops, but also as a playground. It is a fascinating space where you can never predict what will happen.
The "Make a Christmas Wreath with Common Materials & Enjoy a Warm and Sweet Time" event is held every December. There are no specific materials required, and participants literally use things they can find in the area to make their own original wreath, and enjoy sweets handmade by staff.
If you look closely, you'll see that in the adjacent vegetable shipping workshop and farm equipment storage shed, you'll find a large number of radio-controlled cars and air guns stored alongside agricultural tractors! It's a place like a "toy box" brimming with curiosity and not bound by preconceived ideas.
Attraction 4: Have fun to your heart's content playing pretend games, gardens, and fields, which you always dreamed of
Here you can return to your childhood and enjoy adult role-playing and events held at Ishibashi's farm.
for example:
- "Summer Vacation Pretend Play" for people who wanted to play watermelon-smashing games as children (a summer game where you smash a watermelon with a stick while blindfolded)
- "Wa-kaiseki (traditional Japanese course meal)" for those who want to enjoy the atmosphere of an authentic restaurant
・"Outdoor Disco Beer Garden" under the stars with a sense of openness
Held at Ishibashi's farm
・"Peanut Digging and Boiling Excursion" in collaboration with a ryokan in Yubara Onsen(held once a year)
- "Seasonal Farm Eating Party" (held irregularly) where crops are harvested and cooked on the spot
Just hearing the title of the event will get you excited. The appeal of "Scout 7" is that you can freely give form to any ideas that come to your mind.
Charm 5: The joy of "simply spending time in silence" away from the hustle and bustle of the city
Scout 7 is not just a place to have fun. In the natural environment of the mountains, where you can barely hear the sounds of trains or cars, you can spend the luxury of doing nothing while drinking coffee in the garden or on the wooden deck. It teaches you that even time that seems meaningless at first glance can have meaning, and that there is happiness in "just spending quietly" by following your true feelings.
You might even come across a coffee expert who sometimes appears out of nowhere (at unpredictable times) or a musician who will entertain you with live music.
Appeal 6: The vegetables at Nanakusa Farm "do not go against nature"
Farmer Ishibashi's commitment is to "not resist the flow of nature." Rather than forcibly improving the soil, he takes the approach of "adapting" his farming style to the characteristics of the land. The soil in Kanto and Arima is completely different, but Ishibashi says that one of the interesting things about farming is facing the soil sincerely.
For example, turnips (white root vegetables) get sweeter as it gets colder, and their taste changes with the signs of spring. The style of Nanakusa Farm is to deliver even these changes in taste as an expression of vegetables. Ishibashi's wish is for people to "feel the change in taste" of vegetables that are "out of season." The relationship between agriculture and food cannot be explained by "efficiency" or "cost performance" alone. We view the scent of the soil, the changing of the seasons, and the vitality of the seeds as "one life," and we grow vegetables, communicate with chefs, and connect them to the dinner table. The vegetables at Nanakusa Farm are packed with not only flavor but also stories. Ishibashi's idea that "agriculture can be more free" is in common with the way of "Scout 7."
Point 7: "Scout 7" welcomes visitors at any time
The well-maintained streets, gardens, and specialty cuisine are attractive, but meeting people, enjoying the Hara mountain scenery, and simply watching the sun set are also wonderful experiences. We recommend visiting "Scout 7" as one of the purposes of your trip to Okayama. This is a space that welcomes visitors at any time of the year.
However, since Mr. Ishibashi is a farmer, he is not always at home, so please be sure to contact him in advance if you plan to visit! Also, if you would like to hold or participate in an event, please contact us regarding the schedule.
Where can you taste vegetables from Nanakusa Farm?
At Nanakusa Farm, we respect the characteristics of the land and grow a small amount of a wide variety of vegetables without pesticides or chemical fertilizers (organic). The vegetables are grown in harmony with nature and are full of love, so you can really taste the natural flavor of the vegetables. We also grow many rare vegetables that are not commonly seen even in Japan.
A restaurant where you can eat vegetables from Nanakusa Farm
*Some restaurants require reservations, so we recommend checking in advance on each restaurant's official Instagram or by phone.
Look for the "Stone Windmill" at Ukan Tsuneyama Park
Scout 7 and Nanakusa Farm are located about a 5-minute drive from the Arikan Interchange on the Okayama Expressway. Nearby is Ukan Tsuneyama Park, whose symbol is a stone windmill monument. On sunny days, we recommend playing and relaxing on the grass. If you are not using the expressway, use this park as a landmark. This stone windmill may look like a decoration, but it actually spins when it catches the wind!
Okayama Tourism WEB | Ukan Tsuneyama Park (Stone Windmill)
Scout 7: "What do you play?"
When you visit Scout 7, don't forget to think about what you want to do to have fun. Mr. Ishibashi, who is full of fun, is also working on a new initiative for a farmer called "Seasonal Farm Delivery," which does not include any vegetables and delivers the feeling of the season itself. If you are interested, please contact us.
[Scout 7 (Seven Herbs Farm)]
Location: 8830 Kamiarikan , Takahashi City, Takahashi City, Okayama Prefecture Prefecture
TEL: 090-0845-1541
*Please understand that we may not be able to answer the phone during farm work, etc.
Nanakusa Farm → Official Instagram
(Event images provided by Scout 7 and Nanakusa Farm)
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