Profile information
Host rating
100 %
Last replied
14 Apr 2024
Reply rate
92.3 %
Usually responds within 23 days
Feedback
13
Email verified
Badges (2)
Details
Description
My wife and I have two young children (8 and 5) in Matsumoto, Japan. We are busy with a wide variety of fun stuff, but also busy with work. We live on a fantastic and beautiful street in the heart of our small city (Matsumoto), and are looking for people to help with a variety of things, from playing with our kids (and subsequent neighbor kids that end up here somehow) to helping clean up the popular river along our street (great for picnics and music).
This is a good opportunity for those who:
-like music
-want to experience Japanese countryside
-enjoy nature and mountains
-like kids
-want to learn Japanese
-want to meet travelers
-want to learn how to become involved in city improvement projects
I hope to hear from you!
-Chris
Types of help and learning opportunities
Language practice
Help with Eco Projects
DIY and building projects
Babysitting and creative play
Help around the house
General Maintenance
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
I think you will receive a very interesting insight into how Japanese life and systems work around most of Japan. Also, you will experience a lot of art (especially music) here. Please look up Matsumoto city online. It is a wonderful place!
Areas of cultural interest here are:
-music (Fujigen guitar manufacturer is from here, as well as Mr Suzuki from the Suzuki Method, and Seiji Ozawa, Japan's top classical composer)
-art (Yayoi Kusama is from here)
-temari (traditional yarn ball decorations)
-food (soba, wild mountain vegetables and mushrooms, wasabi, apples, grapes)
-history (Matsumoto castle and many wonderful shrines)
-education (first elementary school in Japan, and one of the leaders of Japan's initial public school system development)
-mountains (many Japanese people come here to work in mountain huts for the season)
Projects involving children
This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.
Help
Depending on your abilities, you could help with these things:
-with our kids: playing/drawing/reading with them, walking them to school or after school activities (all about 15 minute walks)
-with music: helping setup small music performances on the street. We invite musicians to busk on the street in front of our place on weekends, and we like to help by setting things up or providing equipment (we have lots of music equipment). We also recently started hosting free live music regularly on Thursdays. You can even play music if you wanted to!
-basic maintenance of things around the building. It's not a farm
-guesthouse checkin, if you like talking with people
-other miscellaneous tasks, such as cleaning or trimming bushes.
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Japanese: Fluent
Accommodation
You will stay in a private room on 2nd floor (same floor as guesthouse). But the restrooms, shower, and kitchen are shared spaces.
What else ...
With time off, there is so much to do. We live in a prime location in Matsumoto city. You can walk or bicycle to any city activities and parks. You can walk to the station to take a train or bus to any of the nearby mountains for hiking, or make day trips to nearby small traditional villages.
Some of my favorites are:
-Matsumoto castle
-Alps park
-Utsukushigahara mountain
-Kamikochi national park
-Norikura mountain
-Hakuba mountain area
-Nagano city and Zenkoji temple
-Narai Juku (famous and very small post town on the old Nakasendo trail)
-Daio wasabi farm
-Hotaka shrine
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
How many Workawayers can stay?
One
Hours expected
4 hours a day, 5 days a week
Feedback (7)
We had a truly nice time in Matsumoto with Chris, Kumi, Hana, Nico and Kumi's mom! It… read more
Chris is very kind and… read more
It's so relaxed and beautiful around and it's such a pity (for me) that the national mountain parks were all closed to visit them on a free day. Staying in the hostel gave me some privacy after few months of intense travelling and helping with the check-in… read more
Feedback
These are extra optional ratings when members leave feedback. The average rating left for each option is displayed.
Accuracy of profile:
(4.9)
Cultural exchange:
(4.9)
Communication:
(4.7)
We had a truly nice time in Matsumoto with Chris, Kumi, Hana, Nico and Kumi's mom! It… read more
Chris is very kind and… read more
It's so relaxed and beautiful around and it's such a pity (for me) that the national mountain parks were all closed to visit them on a free day. Staying in the hostel gave me some privacy after few months of intense travelling and helping with the check-in… read more
The two months that I spent with them flied and this was because it was not really working but helping out each… read more
Thank you for all your help! And your Japanese is wayyyyy better than mine.
I helped them with the check-in of the guests so it is a lot of presence time (I was there but doing my things) : really easy ! I also helped once… read more
They welcomed me like a member of their family, trusted me and I thank them.
During my stay I had a comfortable room with air conditioning. I had the chance to meet incredible people in the guesthouse but also in the café just downstairs. I hope to be able to come back one day ! I… read more
