Menno Village is an agricultural initiative of Mennonite churches near Sapporo that emphasizes sustainable agriculture and creation care.

The Christian community known as Menno Village is an 80-acre hillside farm on the northern island of Hokkaido, Japan. In addition to providing food to their neighbors in a community supported agriculture (CSA) program, Menno Village is a culture of caring.

Since its inception in 1995, Menno Village has been more than a farm; it is a mission driven by the ethos to, as Epp put it, “witness to the liberating work of God by creating a culture of peace that seeks to liberate all humanity and all creation.” In this context, liberation means breaking free from the grip of industrial markets, especially in food and construction materials. 

Such an intentional community works at issues of economics and technology based on the “living word” that comes with Christian faith, challenging idolatry, empowering people, and loving humanity. Residents participate in the simple yet demanding task of growing food for the sake of understanding the work it takes to keep humanity alive, so they can speak good news and challenge those ideas and systems that exploit people and exploit the land.

March 2025 update

In the above aerial view of Menno Village is a solar array generating 42,000 kw per year. The black covered green houses are home to 1,500 laying hens. The blue-roofed building towards the left is Maoi Cover Seed, a cover crop seed business to help farmers “regenerate God’s creation.” 

The house in the foreground will become the Hitsuji House retreat center. 

The fields are covered with vegetation year around to build soil. Soil carbon levels have increased along with beneficial insects and animals. The below-ground biodiversity improvement has led to an elimination of chemicals and fertilizers for grain crops and an increase in sheep health and productivity.