This article introduces the experience of Ms Ichikawa, a third-year university student who did a one-month homestay in Shimanto-machi, Kochi Prefecture, Japan, from October to November 2021!
This time, Ms Ichikawa herself wrote the article about her experience!
【Ms. Ichikawa profile】
Age: 21 years old
Hometown: Tokyo
Occupation: 3rd year university student
Period of stay: 1 month
About the place of stay: Shimanto Town, Kochi Prefecture
Host family’s introduction HP: https://familyinn.jp/en/hosts/ekimaehousesamaru/
Host family name: Ono-san
このページを見ているあなたにおすすめの「田舎ホームステイ」
普段の暮らしでは経験できない、新しい体験で価値観を広げませんか？田舎ホームステイ・まるごと田舎体験ができるファミリンがおすすめです。
ホストと過ごすもよし、スマホを置いて一人ゆったりするもよし、子供や家族と自然体験をするもよし。
少しでも気になった方はサイトをご覧ください！
"Recommended Rural Homestay for You Viewing This Page"
Why not broaden your horizons with new experiences that you can't encounter in everyday life? Familyinn offers rural homestays and immersive countryside experiences that we highly recommend.
You can enjoy spending time with your host, unplugging from your smartphone to relax alone, or engaging in nature activities with your kids or family.
If this piques your interest, feel free to check out our website!
「推薦給正在瀏覽此頁的您——鄉村民宿體驗」
為什麼不藉由日常生活中無法體驗的新鮮事物，開拓您的視野呢？Familyinn 提供鄉村民宿及全面的鄉村體驗，非常值得一試。
您可以選擇和主人共度時光，放下手機獨自放鬆，或者帶著孩子和家人一起進行自然體驗。
對這樣的體驗感興趣嗎？歡迎瀏覽我們的網站！
Why did you use Familyinn?
I have a friend who did a country homestay through Familyinn! I felt it was wonderful…! That’s how I got interested in it. Until then, I didn’t even know that homestays were available in Japan.
I was born and raised in Tokyo. So I had a strong yearning for the countryside and I immediately decided to go.
I wanted to experience country life anyway! This was the main reason, but there were also the following reasons.
I wanted to get away from the chaos of the COVID period!
I want to see if country life is right for me.
→I want to see if countryside living is right for me.
I want to improve my communication skills and ability to live.
→I want to gain experience before I become a working member of society.
These were some of the reasons given.
Did you have any concerns before your homestay?
I was somewhat anxious because it was my first time to spend a month in an unknown place where I knew no one. However, I remember that I was more excited and thrilled. Once I got there, everything I saw was fresh and I was overwhelmed by the wilderness every day!
My impressions of the hosts and the town I felt throughout my stay
I stayed at a guesthouse in front of Tosa Taisho Station for one month. I imagined from the words “EKIMAE in front of the station” that there would be a convenience store and that traffic would not be too bad, but I was very surprised to find that there were no convenience stores and that there were only four trains a day in each direction. However, the fact that the Nigiwai base is located under the guest house made the area in front of the station a constant gathering place for tourists, events using the station building, street speeches for the House of Representatives election, etc. The shopping street leading from the station was lined with small supermarkets, pubs, okonomiyaki restaurants, etc., and the atmosphere was lively and very bright even at night!
This is what a homestay looks like
The host, Mr.Ono, is a DIY enthusiast and stylish! The shared kitchen and living room space is cosy and it was easy to spend a month there. I also find the interaction with the guest house guests fascinating!
Good points of Shimanto Town
(i) The scenery is just beautiful!
Surrounded by mountains and rivers, Shimanto Town is very rich in nature. The water is crystal clear and I was healed every time I saw the river! The sunken bridges were interesting as there were many different shapes!
At night, you can see the Milky Way and it looks like a planetarium! At night you can see the Milky Way and the sky is so full of stars that you would think you were in a planetarium!
(ii) The citizens of Shimanto Town are kind!
I was told by a citizen: “Since you came all the way from Tokyo, I want you to have lots of experiences, it was fun! I want to come again! I hope they will want to come back again! We were extremely happy that they took time out of their busy schedules to enjoy themselves with us.
(iii) The food is delicious!
Not only the famous bonito, but also eel, ayu fish, crabs, seaweed, chestnuts, etc. were very tasty. We also had fried moray eel, shiitake mushroom tataki, jang-men (hormone meat ramen) and other dishes that you can’t eat anywhere else!
What did you experience?
Observing ayu fish fire-walking
Rice harvesting experience
Part-time job at a sake brewery
Autumn festival, rice cake pounding → Mochi pounding competition at a guest house
Part-time job at a tavern
Assistance in festival management (reception)
Visiting food processing companies
Ayu (sweetfish) salt grilling experience
Salt factory visit
Squash/volleyball
Peanut bite
Helping with events in front of train stations
All of these experiences were made possible by the extensive personal connections of the organiser, Mr Ono. I was invited to participate by an acquaintance of Mr Ono’s. I was also invited to participate.
Other activities.
Cycling in Shimanto Town.
Sightseeing in Uwajima by train,
Watching a bullfight.
I borrowed a moped from the owner of the pub where I work part-time and went to Cape Ashizuri, Tosakure Taisho Market and Nishi-Tosa.
I was taken by locals to places I could not go by myself and sight-seen Kashiwa Island, Shikoku Karst and Ehime!
Has your homestay experience changed you?
After I was restricted from going out by COVID, I started to think that I was too lazy to get involved with people, but through the homestay I was able to feel the warmth of people again. It has been about a week since I returned to Tokyo, and my friends tell me that I have become more cheerful than usual! I have been told that I have become even brighter than usual.
I am now grateful for small things that I used to take for granted and feel happy. Also, through the homestay, I have broadened my options for the future, as I now realise that there is such a way of life.
My recommendations and ways to spend time in a meaningful way
If you are someone who is curious and wants to experience different things you should go.
There are so many opportunities for local people to talk to you. There were a number of events that I attended as a result of chance encounters. I think there is a way of staying in a guesthouse, which is to relax and spend time in a guesthouse. However, by getting involved with local people, you can learn more about the town and expand your circle of people. I would recommend moving around anyway, seeing it as a chance to experience many different things!
Message from me
I strongly believe that I chose this place for my first homestay. It was the most intense month of my life. I am grateful to everyone involved. I will never forget the happy memories and will do my best in my future university life. Before my homestay, I had hoped that Shimanto Town, where I stayed, would become my second home, just like my friends. People who live in Shimanto told me, “Come home again anytime! I’ll be waiting for you!” I was really happy to hear that. I will definitely return to Shimanto Town again!
About Familyinn
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If it’s just a place with information on the internet, it’s not enough.
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