I have no words to describe how wonderful was my experience with the Ishii family. I have been travelling the world and had many homestay experiences, however the one with Kunio and Rieko is the best I had so far. They are not a simple host in Japan, they become your best friends and family in the very first moment you step into their house. Usually host families like to keep their own spaces separated from the guests, however living at the Ishii house you have complete freedom, as their spaces are also yours. They supported me with every means possible, both by listening to my problems, helping me with the language, supporting me with the very complicated Japanese burocracy. They would assist me if I felt sick, listen if I had troubles, giving me advice. They would encourage me to have a healthy life, so we did many activities together, such as swimming, dancing, Tai-chi, Japanese flute and drums. They have a very active life and will inspire you. Also, they love movie nights, so expect days eating Rieko's delicious yakisoba in front of a good movie!
From a more practical point of view, the house is amazing, in traditional Japanese style, cozy, and clean. Kunio loves to design the garden and takes care of the cleaning of the first floor, which always has the good smell of incense. He is an artist, so the view from the window will be your escape from school or work reality!
The house is located is a very convenient place, few meters from the city office and the station. The station has many lines, and it literally connects you with the whole Tokyo very easily. It is probably the most convenient place where I have been living in Japan.
I loved my room, it had everything I needed, a comfortable futon that solved my back pain, and also a sink, so I didn't need to share my privacy with other guests. Also, I had my own veranda for hanging the laundry.
They will help you keeping it clean and ventilate it to avoid mold when you are away.
Rieko is an amazing chef. I got addicted to her meals, she loves to both make traditional Japanese dishes and dishes from around the world. She loves to experiment fusion, so I had the chance to try many delicious lasagna recipes I'd never tried before!
We often went out to eat or to the onsen, to relax after work.
They will teach you a lot about Japan and Japanese culture, so if you have many questions, take the chance!
My experience at the Ishii homestay was truly wonderful. The house’s location is perfect: it’s situated just far enough from the bustling city center to provide a peaceful environment for rest, yet close enough to Shinjuku for easy access. The bedroom is surprisingly spacious for Japan, and I particularly enjoyed living in a traditional Japanese house. The futon was really comfortable and I’ve never had any back problems during my stay.
Words cannot express how amazing Rieko-san and Kunio-san were during my year-long stay with them. Despite being so far away from my own family, I never felt alone because of their constant presence and daily assistance. They were both fluent in English and were eager to teach me useful Japanese expressions. Although I didn’t have much spare time to dedicate to studying Japanese due to my English-language studies, I still learned a great deal from them. I miss hearing them greet me with “Okaeri Nasai” upon my return to the house. Their meals were also incredibly delicious and I highly recommend having dinner with them as often as possible.
In conclusion, I wholeheartedly recommend the Ishii homestay if you’re looking for an authentic, homely experience and not just a hotel in disguise.
