What if you could move to the Japanese Alps for a month – not as a tourist, but as part of a small, like-minded community? It’s an escape that doesn’t just promise fresh air, but a serious mind-body reset.
Enter Goodpace: the company behind a brand-new co-living community house just for trail runners.
This summer, from June 12 to July 12, Goodpace will launch its first pilot stay in Fujimi, Japan, just two hours from Tokyo. It’s inviting six to eight participants to live, work, and run together in the mountains. The idea is to create a small cohort to ‘live and train together’ by exploring routes across the Japanese Alps, and encourage runners to share their knowledge and routines.
According to the company, the month-long pilot is less of a polished product, and more of an experiment to figure out what happens when like-minded people commit to a slower way of life. In the long term, the company hopes to offer a permanent training base to mountain enthusiasts keen to explore this region of Japan – right now, that infrastructure doesn’t really exist.
Where will you be staying?
Fujimi sits in the Nagano Prefecture and is known for its deep forests and high-altitude trails. It’s the kind of landscape that invites proper activity – long runs, hikes that end in cold-water swims, and evenings under the stars.
As for the community house, picture a secluded six-room villa where each bedroom has an ensuite, common rooms are primed for co-living and your back yard is the Yatsugatake mountain range and the Southern Alps. Oh, and there’s also a giant terrace with an outdoor BBQ, two Japanese inn-style bathing rooms, a gym, a piano and sound equipment, and a TV.
What will you do on the trip?
Participants can expect a combo of remote work and outdoor living, with time carved out for training and exploring. Group runs will be organised based on weather conditions, and the schedule of each participant, but the emphasis isn’t on performance – it’s about ‘meaningful doors’.
What are the requirements?
Ideally, participants should be available for the full month (June 12 – July 12), though Goodpace will consider shorter stays on a case-by-case basis. You should be comfortable with co-living and shared spaces, self-sufficient to organise their own schedule and training, open to group activities and be able to drive (a Japanese or international driver’s licenses are recommended).
But don’t stress about being a pro-runner or Japanese speaker – all you need is an open mind and a willingness to partake in group runs and activities. Basically, if you like trail running, mountain exploration and are a socialising, this pilot could be for you.
How much will it cost?
The price for a shared room for two (bring a friend!) goes for around ¥120,000 (around £555 per person), while a private room will cost ¥190,000 (around £880). However, Goodpace specifies that this is the founding-member pricing for the pilot month, and that future stays may be higher.
Applications are open until May 5, and for more information, visit Goodpace’s official website.
ICYMI: This is officially the world’s cleanest airport.
Plus: Two South American cities have been ranked among the world’s best for green space.
Stay in the loop: sign up to our free Travel newsletter for all the latest travel news and best stuff happening across the world.
