This article describes the experience of KOUUN, who did a homestay in Hitachiota City, Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan, from 29 May to 2 June 2024!
KOUUN’s profile
Participant: 30s
Residence:Ichikawa, Chiba
Occupation:Video creator
Participation period: 29 May – 2 June
Staying place.: Hitachiota City, Ibaraki Prefecture
Introduction to the hostel HP: https://familyinn.jp/en/hosts/kominka300nenn/
Why did you use FAMILYINN?
I have a vegetable garden in Chiba, where I grow a variety of vegetables, and I wanted to experience the great outdoors and learn about farming from someone who lives in the mountains. I am also thinking of moving to the area in the future. I currently work from home and am not very busy, so I was looking for a place close to Tokyo where I could go every week. My life in Tokyo is busy and I would like to spend time in a calm place. I also like history and chose the homestay in Ibaraki because I felt familiar with a homestay in Ibaraki, where Mitsukuni Tokugawa’s grave is nearby.
Did you have any concerns before joining FAMILYINN?
I was concerned about the time it would take to get from my house to the homestay and the inconvenience of transport as there is no bus service after 17:00. My host, Mr Kitayama, came to pick me up, which made me feel safe, but I felt it would have been more convenient to have a car. I think it is better to research transport links in advance.
Other than that, I was worried about insects and snakes when we went to the mountains, but it was actually not that scary.
My impressions of the stay’s town and hosts
While I was there, everyone in the community was very kind to me on my morning walks and runs, saying good morning and telling me if I had any problems. Mr Kitayama was also very kind. Everyone made everything themselves and I felt they had amazing talent. I was taught about tea, vegetables, grass cutting and other daily habits that I would not normally be involved in. Also, they were easier to talk to than city people.
The distance between the houses in the townscape is far apart, so it was fun to light a fire and have a BBQ and sing songs without being offended.
Mr Kitayama let me experience many things when he arrived.
When I was feeding the chickens, I felt a bit scared about the birds flying around, but he showed me how to take care of them and let me experience everything.
They were very kind.
One night when it rained, I really wanted to have a BBQ, but Mr Kitayama brought charcoal and fulfilled my wish, which made me really happy.
Mr Kitayama also gave me a lot of vegetables and eggs, he was like my parents.
I didn’t like insects, but Mr Kitayama caught one and told me it was okay because it was gentle, which made me love nature even more!
My daily schedule.
It was different every day.
Sometimes my hosts were busy, sometimes not.
Day 1: I fed the chickens, cut the grass and planted watermelon seeds.
Day 2: I took a break to recover from the first day.
We polished broken eggs and put them in clean boxes. As everyone was tired, we cooked lunch, which was enjoyed by all.
We also prepared for rice planting by pulling rice field squares.
Day 3: We planted rice together with local people.
Day 4: We continued planting rice in the same way as on day 3.
Most memorable episode at the homestay
My first experience of rice planting was impressive.
At first I thought it was hard work, but it was wonderful to see everyone laughing and talking and cooperating with each other. It was interesting to see the children finishing the rice planting faster than the adults and shouting at the mountains.
It felt so good to be in touch with nature by planting rice barefoot!
It was like being back in the olden days, touching the mud.
When we got tired, we all had a cup of tea and lunch together, and it was very impressive to see them back in the rice fields working towards the same goal.
Did you have any new insights or discoveries after participating in FAMILYINN?
I felt very refreshed and when I went back to the city for a bit, I became more efficient at work and my concentration improved.
Who would you recommend this homestay to?
I would recommend it to people with depression or stress at work.
Living a simple life in the mountains helps you to relax and not have complex thoughts.
You can hear frogs and birds singing, which helps you sleep well.
This is also a good option for people with children.
It is difficult for children to play freely in the city, but living in nature has a positive effect on them.
Even children who don’t like curry are happy to eat it here.
It is also recommended for DIY enthusiasts.Kitayama’s house has a hill at the back of the house, which is perfect for DIY enthusiasts, as he also offers woodworking classes.
It is also perfect for people who like animals and insects.
My impressions and message
In the countryside I felt content and secure that many people needed me. They gave me inner strength. I would love to go back, I would love to go back again, I would love to go back to the countryside again! Thank you very much!
About Familyinn
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There are times when you can touch a place, a person, but can’t connect deeply with them.
If it’s just a place with information on the internet, it’s not enough.
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