The First Homestay This Year!
Our homestay season has officially started for the year! β¨
Our very first guests of 2026 were a mother and her junior high school-aged son. Knowing how sensitive teenagers can be, I was a little nervous but also excited to see how it would go. However, the moment we met them at the station, my worries vanishedβhe was such a polite, sweet boy.
Putting myself in his shoes made me think: how does it feel for a young teenager to spend several days staying at a complete stranger's house with his mother? At home, he spent quite a bit of time in his room, but whenever his mother called him, he would come out and chat with us so properly. π With no peers around and only adults to talk to, he did such a great job. Good for him!
While the son was relaxing in his room, the mother enjoyed chatting with us and playing with our pet budgies. Together, we made John's specialty, beer bread, played games, and went sightseeing. We even went strawberry picking! π
It was actually our first time visiting this particular strawberry farm in Konda-cho. The strawberries were grown hanging in the air, and the space underneath was designed beautifully like a cafe. It was such a lovely place!
Their 3-night, 4-day stay flew by in the blink of an eye. Since the first and third days were mostly taken up by travel, it practically felt like just two days. That's why every single moment with our guests is so incredibly precious to us. Along with the strawberry farm, we also did a tiny bit of walking around the old castle town.
To catch our breath after sightseeing, we decided to take a break in the eat-in area of "Fresh Sato," a famous local supermarket. There, I ran into an old friend I hadn't seen in years. While we were catching up, I got a surprising piece of information: apparently, "Karl" (a famous corn snack) and "Onigiri Senbei" (rice crackers) aren't sold in the Kanto region! So, as a farewell souvenir, we gifted them some Onigiri Senbei and Karl (both Light Salt and Cheese flavors).
Time passed way too quickly, but they were such a wonderful and fun pair. Please come back and visit us again! π₯°
P.S. A few days later, we received this beautiful review from the mother.
Here is the review from our guest: πππ
I stayed here for 3 nights and 4 days with my 14-year-old
son (2nd year of junior high). Because he is currently not attending school, I
was looking for a meaningful way for him to spend his time away from the
classroom. That's when I found this place and took a leap of faith to come all
the way from Tokyo.
John and Yoko welcomed us so warmly. It gave us that mysterious, comforting feeling of visiting family in the countryside, and we were so healed by the budgies that we were able to completely unwind and relax.
My son is at an age where he tends to shut himself in his room, but they gracefully let him go at his own pace without any pressure. He said he was so happy to experience so many things, like the house tour, bread making, and exploring Sasayama. He even said, 'When I become a high school student, I want to come back and visit here with my friends!'
As for me, it is so reassuring and deeply comforting to feel like I've found a place where I can easily return to, like a second home. I will do my best in many ways so that we can come see John and Yoko again. We are already looking forward to experiencing Sasayama in a different season next time. Thank you so much for giving us such a wonderful, unforgettable experience!