July 2026 [temporary example post]
The daikon are finally in the ground
After a slow, wet June we got the last of the daikon seedlings planted this weekend — thanks to everyone who came out Saturday morning...
Read more →Sonnenplatz was born out of a side quest after renovating our houses when we moved to Japan. Around that time, I noticed that the empty land behind our house needed some serious cleanup. It started simply enough: clear a bit of the surrounding land so our houses wouldn't become excessively overgrown. Of course, when it comes to land clearing, cutting, pruning, etc., there are some rather peculiar bureaucratic dances to perform.
We inquired about the land and eventually purchased it. Like many plots in this region, these parcels were previously held as tenant-farming land. Eventually, most were purchased by real estate companies and turned into plots for single-family homes. This particular plot, however, had remained unattended, tucked away next to a forested area.
Yes, sometimes regulations get a little stale—and in their noble quest to prevent problems, end up preventing anything from happening at all.
An empty plot is an empty plot. It had already been converted from its natural state and, left unattended, had become overgrown with the strongest—and only marginally useful—species. The official term for these plots is "hybrid land."
So the task gradually evolved. What started as an attempt to clean up the land became an effort to create something useful for the neighbors and facilitate access to the natural environment around us.
But, in honest terms, it was also a playground for myself: a place to build things, experiment, and share the results with the community. :)
As with anything that starts out as a project, eventually the project takes on a life of its own. So when people ask, "Is it finished?" Well… I'm sure we can find innumerable things to build and create.
Sonnenplatz is for the community. While it is private property, it is entirely free and not a business proposition. Rather, it is an invitation to make use of the things we already have around us—and create everyday value from them.
