[06] Tadaima Stay Higashiomi / Real Japanese Life through Homestay

Real Japanese Life through Homestay

Find the Warmth of Family in Higashiomi

Tadaima Stay Higashiomi (Higashiomi City)

Keywords: nature / kids-fun / local food

Season: All year 

English Assistance: Minimum or partially

Are you familiar with the Japanese phrases tadaima and okaeri? When someone returns home, they say ”Tadaima,” meaning “I’m home,” and the response is ”Okaeri,” or “Welcome back.” These phrases, often exchanged between family members, convey a sense of comfort and belonging. They can also express the sentiment of returning to one’s hometown or a place of personal significance, offering a specific warmth for the Japanese.

In Shiga Prefecture, Higashiomi City, you can experience a sense of ”coming home” through a homestay program. The area offers a diverse landscape, from mountain villages, and farming communities, to the coast of Lake Biwa. Here, you can experience an authentic Japanese way of life in harmony with nature.

In this unique area, farm homestays, or nohaku, offer the opportunity to live with local families, fully immersing yourself in authentic Japanese life and culture. It’s a chance to connect with the community and experience the simple, genuine hospitality of everyday people, distinct from the typical accommodations of cities or sightseeing destinations. Here, you can embrace the Japanese concept of go-en, appreciating even the briefest connections. The encounters and shared moments will become cherished memories, highlighting the significance of every interaction.

Located on the eastern shore of Lake Biwa, just 40 minutes from Kyoto, the City of Higashiomi spans approximately 33 kilometers from east to west and 26 kilometers from north to south, extending from the lakeshore to the mountains and covering about 10% of the prefecture’s total area. As the city with the largest cultivated land area in the Kansai region, it has a long history deeply connected to agriculture and local community life, showcasing a lifestyle that has coexisted harmoniously with nature for generations.

Let’s meet one of the hosts welcoming visitors here, at their traditional family home situated in the quiet, yet historically rich countryside of Higashiomi, further inland from Lake Biwa. This area features terraced rice fields that take advantage of the unique terrain formed by ancient riverbanks, offering stunning views of the sunset as it illuminates the fields.

A stroll through the tranquil streets, lined with traditional Japanese houses, will lead you to a warm greeting from Sueko Ueda, the host mother of your stay. As Ueda-san cheerfully says, “Okaeri” (Welcome home), and you respond with “Tadaima” (I’m home), you’ll feel right at home in the warm, family atmosphere that awaits.

Upon entering, you’ll be guided to a large tatami room, where you’ll find the family’s butsudan, a Buddhist altar common to Japanese households. The detailed craftsmanship and striking presence often surprise international guests. The entire home is the living space of Ueda-san and her family, and you’ll feel like part of the family yourself over the course of your stay.

The schedule of staying guests flows naturally in harmony with the host mother’s daily routine. Meals are not simply served; instead, you join the family in preparing dishes made with locally sourced vegetables and other ingredients. Everyone gathers around the table to enjoy the meals together. The menu consists of simple home-style dishes, such as tempura using seasonal ingredients like sweet potatoes, pumpkin, and maitake mushrooms, as well as chirashi-zushi, and rolled sushi that children will surely enjoy.

As you’re treated like a member of the family, you participate in everyday tasks such as meal preparation, washing dishes, and managing futons, as well as other essential activities of daily life. When it’s Ueda-san’s turn to oversee the neighborhood garbage collection, you’ll also take part. Moreover, given her active involvement in local volunteer work, you may also have opportunities to join in these activities.

Aside from these everyday experiences, Ueda-san also offers workshops for visitors. Guests can enjoy activities such as wearing kimonos from her collection or making eco-friendly bags from recycled rice sacks, for unique experiences that can be found only here. The focus is on living together and sharing daily life, with Ueda-san eager to extend hospitality that may bring joy to her guests.

While we’ve introduced just one of the host families here, Tadaima Stay Higashiomi, the farm stay program run by the Higashiomi Tourist Association, works with several participating host families from which to match guests based on their inquiries. Most host families accept groups of up to four people. Other participating families include one with ties to strawberry farming, rice farmers, Satoyama field conservationists, and even caretakers of a Buddhist temple. Each household offers a different lifestyle experience, welcoming visitors as members of the family.

While these experiences differ from typical accommodations, they offer a rare opportunity to become part of a Japanese family, even if just for a few days. Such immersive experiences offer a perspective entirely different from that of a typical tourist, allowing for a deeper and more authentic connection with Japan.

Nohaku, or farm stay, involves staying in rural areas to experience local food, nature, culture, and traditions while connecting with the community. In Higashiomi City, a long-established farm stay program offers a range of homestay experiences with local families, primarily aimed at educational trips for urban schools to introduce students to rural life. With diverse options in host family types, ages, and locations, the program provides a genuine opportunity to experience authentic Japanese life and households. The Higashiomi Tourist Association runs the homestay program, Tadaima Stay Higashiomi, working closely with participants to match them with the ideal host family. While most guests are from Japan, interest from international exchange programs and overseas travel agencies is steadily growing.

This initiative began about 30 years ago, when it was launched to combat depopulation and revitalize the community by utilizing resources and local culture to attract visitors. Initially, the program focused on exchanges with sister cities, welcoming children from other regions in Japan and abroad. Sueko Ueda, the host introduced above, has been involved since the early days. She recalls how some of the elementary school students who once participated in these exchanges have since returned to the area as municipal staff, leading groups of children to experience the region again. She also continues to maintain connections with former international exchange students from countries like China and Taiwan.

Participating host families often share a strong desire to contribute to their community. For example, Ueda-san is actively involved as a community welfare officer and participates in various volunteer efforts. Through daily life experiences with these families, you will have a one-of-a-kind opportunity to connect with wonderful individuals who are dedicated to their local communities. Although English communication may be limited, these families warmly welcome international guests, using gestures and translation tools for a fun and memorable exchange.

For those interested in exploring the simple yet authentic side of Japanese life, this homestay offers a valuable and enriching experience. Amid the lush, natural countryside, visitors can enjoy local homestyle cuisine and interact with the friendly community of this small town. The aim is for guests to leave with a deep appreciation and meaningful sense of fulfillment from their time in Higashiomi.

Please book directly through the provider

Name of Provider
Tadaima Stay Higashiomi

Contact
https://tadaimastay.com (JA)
[email protected]

Activities & Pricing
IMPORTANT: This program is not a typical accommodation. Guests will experience daily life with a host family, including meal preparation and household tasks, immersing in local culture and authentic Japanese family life.

Rooms (accommodates up to 4 guests)
●Adults: 13,750 yen (1 night) / 26,500 yen (2 nights)
●Children Under 13: 11,500 yen (1 night) / 22,100 yen (2 nights)
●Children Under 6: 8,250 yen (1 night) / 15,500 yen (2 nights)
●2 nights maximum
●Each night of stay Includes 2 meals and 1 half-day experience (varies by season).
*Prices as of 2024. May be subject to change. Please check with the provider for latest info.

Meals (prepared with a host family)
●The menu features local homemade dishes, with flexibility to accommodate allergies and dietary restrictions.
●Alcohol is available for an additional fee.

Other Notes
●Bathroom, toilet, and other facilities are shared with the host family. Floor futons are common, though bedding type varies by household.
●Soap, shampoo, conditioner, and a hairdryer are provided, along with bath and hand towels. Please bring any additional personal amenities.
●Smoking is prohibited indoors.
●Guests are responsible for managing their valuables.

Reservation

●Please contact via the email address above.
●In your initial inquiry, include group size, ages, and dietary preferences (allergies and restrictions can be accommodated; Halal options may not be available).
●As this is a homestay program, certain arrangements may not always be possible, but we will do our best to accommodate your needs.

Business Hours & Holidays
Available year-round; however, from April to June, availability may be limited due to the busy school acceptance period.

Check-in / out
3:00 pm / between 8:30 am and 10:00 am

Location
Within Higashiomi City (details will be provided upon confirming arrangements)
Payment Method Payment is made in cash directly to the host family during the check-in orientation.

Payment Method
Payment is made in cash directly to the host family during the check-in orientation.

Age Requirements
No specific requirements, but age information may be important for arranging the best host family experience.

Support for Foreign Visitors
●Foreign language speakers: No
●Communication is via translation devices or apps

Insurance
Not provided (individual coverage is recommended)

Wi-Fi Access
Generally available, but conditions may vary depending on host family.

Disabled Accessibility
N/A

Access
To Higashiomi City
Accessible by JR Biwako Line (40 mins from Kyoto, 13 mins from Maibara) or Ohmi Railway. By car: 1 hour from Kyoto, 45 mins from Maibara. Homestay address provided upon confirmation.

Ride Service
Pickup from the nearest station is available with advance notice. Please bring a child seat for young children or use public transport.