ARTICLES
The Treehouse Project: Making Play in Kamikawa, Hokkaido More Fun, Vol. 2
Hello! This is the editorial team from Domingo, the news and events app for Hokkaido.
Welcome to "Hokkaido Wind," a series that brings you the charm of life in various parts of Hokkaido under the concept of "Bringing the winds of Hokkaido to you now."
For our very first feature, we're joined by Yohei Ueno, an Outdoor Producer for the Kamikawa Town Community-Engaging Cooperator Squad, who is currently leading the "Hands-On Treehouse Project" at Sounkyo Auto Campground.
This is Vol. 2 of our three-part series, "The Treehouse Project: Making Play in Kamikawa, Hokkaido More Fun." In this article, we delve into Mr. Ueno's passion for creating "hands-on" activities, a key element of the Treehouse Project.
Hattori
Did you consult with them during the initial planning phase of building a treehouse?
Ueno
Yes, since they're my cousins, it started out very casually, like, "Hey, can you build me a little hut?" As we got into more specifics, we discussed things like the terrace and, most importantly, that it should be easy to assemble and disassemble.
In the end, we decided on a structure that uses as few screws as possible, where you assemble it by fitting panels together.
Hattori
So, making it something anyone can assemble was a priority.
Ueno
It's not "super easy," but we've managed to create a design that can be assembled even without prior knowledge or experience. For this year, I plan to be present during assembly.
Hattori
And you're planning to add more types of parts and make the experience easier to understand in the future?
Ueno
Starting next year, I want to prepare instruction manuals so that customers can assemble it on their own.
I also want to keep increasing the variety of things to build. Right now, we have two types, a large house and a small house, but it doesn't have to be a house. It could be something like building blocks. I hope to create a lot more options. The terrace is quite spacious, so there's a lot of freedom in what we can do.
Hattori
I'm not an expert on treehouses, but I always imagined them as being fixed structures perched on a tree. Isn't an assembly-style one quite rare?
Ueno
Yes, I don't think I know of any others. I wasn't particularly set on a 'treehouse' itself. I wanted to create something in the forests of Kamikawa that families, children, and friends could 'experience' together.
Hattori
So that's why you're so focused on the 'assembly' part.
Ueno
Exactly, that's what I'm more passionate about. Rather than building a large, sturdy, and comfortable house, I thought it would be better if anyone could build it. I hope that visitors will come, have the experience of assembling a house on the tree terrace, and then spend their time there however they like. I'd love for families and groups of friends to come.
Hattori
Do you have any ideas in mind for how people might enjoy using it?
Ueno
How about hanging a hammock between the two trees that support the terrace? That could be fun.
Hattori
That sounds great! With this nice weather, I can picture it vividly.
Ueno
There are maple trees too, so I think it will be beautiful in the fall when the leaves change color! For adults, I think it would be amazing to just put a chair on the terrace and relax with a drink.
I also want it to be used as a place for nature learning. Bringing chairs and a blackboard up to the terrace to study would probably be very pleasant.
Hattori
Since last year, a lot of people from the Community-Engaging Cooperator Squad have been working in Kamikawa, right?
With the opening of "Daisetsu Kamikawa Nukumo," I get the impression that many young people are very active now. What's your take?
Ueno
That's right. There are about 10 people in their 20s and 30s working as part of the cooperator squad in Kamikawa. Each of us is pursuing what we find interesting while thinking daily about how we can contribute to the town.
Hattori
I heard everyone pitched in to build the tree terrace.
Ueno
Yes. I booked everyone's schedules in advance. They helped me build the tree terrace, cooked meals... I got a lot of help from them.
Hattori
How long did it take to complete the terrace?
Ueno
One week! We had two local carpenters, three forestry workers, and four members of the cooperator squad—nine of us working on it every day!
Hattori
By the way, were there any experienced builders in the cooperator squad?
Ueno
Only one person had experience with on-site work. Everyone else was a complete beginner.
Hattori
So with the passion to build and carpenters to teach you, you can create such a wonderful and sturdy-looking tree terrace...!
Ueno
That's right. If you have at least one carpenter to guide you, you can manage somehow...!
Hattori
On that note, who drew that lovely illustration of the treehouse you used on the crowdfunding page?
Ueno
I asked an illustrator who is an acquaintance of an acquaintance. She goes by the name "Shihatsu-chan." She came to visit Kamikawa once, and I asked her to draw it.
Hattori
So this project is being built through the collaboration of various people who live in, have visited, or are friends with Kamikawa...!
Hattori
Where do the materials for the treehouse and terrace come from?
Ueno
All the materials for the house's paneling are from Shimokawa Town. The decking material for the terrace uses wood from Aibetsu and Shimokawa, the towns next to Kamikawa. Unfortunately, Kamikawa doesn't have a sawmill at the moment, so we go to nearby towns to buy lumber as much as possible. The huge logs, however, were harvested in Kamikawa.
Hattori
Is this tree terrace attached directly to the trees?
Ueno
Let's go take a look! It's fixed by running bolts through the trees. We drilled large holes straight through them. This method is apparently mainstream in the treehouse world today. They say drilling many small holes damages the tree, so making one big hole is the safest and gentlest way.
Hattori
I see! So it's built in a way that coexists with the trees and the forest. Is the overall triangular shape also for that reason?
Ueno
We chose a triangular shape because it's the most stable. We decided on the shape together with a knowledgeable forestry expert.
Hattori
This tree terrace, strong enough to support multiple people, is a culmination of various wisdoms. And it's surprisingly high up.
Ueno
It's 2 meters high. Be careful not to fall! (laughs)
Hattori
By the way, are you building a deck over there?
Ueno
It's more of a walkway. This area gets very muddy, so we're using decking material to create a path to the tree terrace. This place was really just an empty spot, so we need to work on the ground preparation, like laying down sleepers.
Hattori
Are there plans to build more things in the campground as a whole?
Ueno
Right now, new cottages are being built, and we're preparing a new tent sauna, so new activities are increasing. I'd love to try building a wooden sauna!
In Vol. 2, under the theme "What is the Treehouse Project?," we explored Mr. Ueno's passion for creating "hands-on" activities, a core element of the project.
In Vol. 3, he will talk about his passionate feelings for the town of Kamikawa and the Treehouse Project. Look forward to Vol. 3, scheduled for release next week!
Welcome to "Hokkaido Wind," a series that brings you the charm of life in various parts of Hokkaido under the concept of "Bringing the winds of Hokkaido to you now."
For our very first feature, we're joined by Yohei Ueno, an Outdoor Producer for the Kamikawa Town Community-Engaging Cooperator Squad, who is currently leading the "Hands-On Treehouse Project" at Sounkyo Auto Campground.
This is Vol. 2 of our three-part series, "The Treehouse Project: Making Play in Kamikawa, Hokkaido More Fun." In this article, we delve into Mr. Ueno's passion for creating "hands-on" activities, a key element of the Treehouse Project.
-Interview Overview-
Date: July 5, 2020
Method: Online event held via Zoom
-Previously on...-
[Vol. 1] What is the Treehouse Project?
We got a full overview of the project's background and current status while taking a virtual tour of the site.
A Passion for Creating "Hands-On" Activities
Ryota Hattori, Domingo Editorial Team (hereafter, Hattori)
I heard the treehouse is completely custom-made, or rather, handmade?!
Yohei Ueno, Kamikawa Town Community-Engaging Cooperator Squad (hereafter, Ueno)
It's handmade! We didn't even draw up any blueprints; we just figured it out with the carpenters on the spot, making it up as we went along. My two cousins and my uncle, who are carpenters in the Kansai region, came over and built most of it. My only request was, "I want it to be something anyone can assemble if they have the parts." (laughs)
In two days, they made the parts for both the large and small houses and then went home...
Hattori
Did you consult with them during the initial planning phase of building a treehouse?
Ueno
Yes, since they're my cousins, it started out very casually, like, "Hey, can you build me a little hut?" As we got into more specifics, we discussed things like the terrace and, most importantly, that it should be easy to assemble and disassemble.
In the end, we decided on a structure that uses as few screws as possible, where you assemble it by fitting panels together.
Hattori
So, making it something anyone can assemble was a priority.
Ueno
It's not "super easy," but we've managed to create a design that can be assembled even without prior knowledge or experience. For this year, I plan to be present during assembly.
Hattori
And you're planning to add more types of parts and make the experience easier to understand in the future?
Ueno
Starting next year, I want to prepare instruction manuals so that customers can assemble it on their own.
I also want to keep increasing the variety of things to build. Right now, we have two types, a large house and a small house, but it doesn't have to be a house. It could be something like building blocks. I hope to create a lot more options. The terrace is quite spacious, so there's a lot of freedom in what we can do.
Hattori
I'm not an expert on treehouses, but I always imagined them as being fixed structures perched on a tree. Isn't an assembly-style one quite rare?
Ueno
Yes, I don't think I know of any others. I wasn't particularly set on a 'treehouse' itself. I wanted to create something in the forests of Kamikawa that families, children, and friends could 'experience' together.
Hattori
So that's why you're so focused on the 'assembly' part.
Ueno
Exactly, that's what I'm more passionate about. Rather than building a large, sturdy, and comfortable house, I thought it would be better if anyone could build it. I hope that visitors will come, have the experience of assembling a house on the tree terrace, and then spend their time there however they like. I'd love for families and groups of friends to come.
Hattori
Do you have any ideas in mind for how people might enjoy using it?
Ueno
How about hanging a hammock between the two trees that support the terrace? That could be fun.
Hattori
That sounds great! With this nice weather, I can picture it vividly.
Ueno
There are maple trees too, so I think it will be beautiful in the fall when the leaves change color! For adults, I think it would be amazing to just put a chair on the terrace and relax with a drink.
I also want it to be used as a place for nature learning. Bringing chairs and a blackboard up to the terrace to study would probably be very pleasant.
Passionate Commitment to the Project and the People Who Support It
Hattori
Since last year, a lot of people from the Community-Engaging Cooperator Squad have been working in Kamikawa, right?
With the opening of "Daisetsu Kamikawa Nukumo," I get the impression that many young people are very active now. What's your take?
Ueno
That's right. There are about 10 people in their 20s and 30s working as part of the cooperator squad in Kamikawa. Each of us is pursuing what we find interesting while thinking daily about how we can contribute to the town.
Hattori
I heard everyone pitched in to build the tree terrace.
Ueno
Yes. I booked everyone's schedules in advance. They helped me build the tree terrace, cooked meals... I got a lot of help from them.
Hattori
How long did it take to complete the terrace?
Ueno
One week! We had two local carpenters, three forestry workers, and four members of the cooperator squad—nine of us working on it every day!
Hattori
By the way, were there any experienced builders in the cooperator squad?
Ueno
Only one person had experience with on-site work. Everyone else was a complete beginner.
Hattori
So with the passion to build and carpenters to teach you, you can create such a wonderful and sturdy-looking tree terrace...!
Ueno
That's right. If you have at least one carpenter to guide you, you can manage somehow...!
Hattori
On that note, who drew that lovely illustration of the treehouse you used on the crowdfunding page?
Ueno
I asked an illustrator who is an acquaintance of an acquaintance. She goes by the name "Shihatsu-chan." She came to visit Kamikawa once, and I asked her to draw it.
Hattori
So this project is being built through the collaboration of various people who live in, have visited, or are friends with Kamikawa...!
Using Reliable Materials to Play in a Harsh Natural Environment
Hattori
Where do the materials for the treehouse and terrace come from?
Ueno
All the materials for the house's paneling are from Shimokawa Town. The decking material for the terrace uses wood from Aibetsu and Shimokawa, the towns next to Kamikawa. Unfortunately, Kamikawa doesn't have a sawmill at the moment, so we go to nearby towns to buy lumber as much as possible. The huge logs, however, were harvested in Kamikawa.
Hattori
Is this tree terrace attached directly to the trees?
Ueno
Let's go take a look! It's fixed by running bolts through the trees. We drilled large holes straight through them. This method is apparently mainstream in the treehouse world today. They say drilling many small holes damages the tree, so making one big hole is the safest and gentlest way.
Hattori
I see! So it's built in a way that coexists with the trees and the forest. Is the overall triangular shape also for that reason?
Ueno
We chose a triangular shape because it's the most stable. We decided on the shape together with a knowledgeable forestry expert.
Hattori
This tree terrace, strong enough to support multiple people, is a culmination of various wisdoms. And it's surprisingly high up.
Ueno
It's 2 meters high. Be careful not to fall! (laughs)
Hattori
By the way, are you building a deck over there?
Ueno
It's more of a walkway. This area gets very muddy, so we're using decking material to create a path to the tree terrace. This place was really just an empty spot, so we need to work on the ground preparation, like laying down sleepers.
Hattori
Are there plans to build more things in the campground as a whole?
Ueno
Right now, new cottages are being built, and we're preparing a new tent sauna, so new activities are increasing. I'd love to try building a wooden sauna!
Conclusion
In Vol. 2, under the theme "What is the Treehouse Project?," we explored Mr. Ueno's passion for creating "hands-on" activities, a core element of the project.
In Vol. 3, he will talk about his passionate feelings for the town of Kamikawa and the Treehouse Project. Look forward to Vol. 3, scheduled for release next week!
Profile
Yohei Ueno
Born in 1993. Outdoor Producer for the Kamikawa Town Community-Engaging Cooperator Squad in Hokkaido. He moved to Kamikawa, a town known for its progressive and proactive town development. He is currently leading the "Hands-On Treehouse Project," which aims to create a new tourist attraction in Kamikawa. His mission is to develop outdoor content to create job opportunities in the town.
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Other Articles in This Series
The Treehouse Project: Making Play in Kamikawa, Hokkaido More Fun, Vol. 1
The Treehouse Project: Making Play in Kamikawa, Hokkaido More Fun, Vol. 3
Related Links
The secret base you dreamed of as a child. Let's build a treehouse together in Kamikawa Town! Crowdfunding on READYFOR
Sounkyo Auto Campground
