Welcome Home Tour – Meet Your Family in Japan –

What a lovely family visit it was! Hiroko, our guide, gave us very clear instructions from the very beginning on how to get to an agreed spot. When me and my wife arrived at the train station- she was already waiting for us, it all went very smooth. Since we had some extra time before dinner started, we visited a beautiful local park full of roses. It was a lovely sunny day and a great start of the whole family visit experience. After that we made a brief stop at a local liquor store and headed for family dinner. And what a dinner it was! The host, Hiromi, went above and beyond with food that she prepared for us. Both quality, flavours and presentation felt more like at a Michelin rated restaurant than regular local family home! Hiromi served us traditional Japanese dinner based on locally sourced ingredients like bluefin tuna, shrimp, squid, she also made fantastic tamagoyaki omelette (even shared her recipe with me!). There was homemade stew, pork meat with salad, tofu, picked vegetables, soup and much more of fantastic dishes names of which I sadly can’t remember. We were honoured to try homemade lemon sake, made by her father (apparently it was aged 5 years!). After lovely dinner we got to try on traditional Japanese outfits and had a little photoshoot in those. The highlight of that part was the traditional Japanese sword (katana) which we were allowed to borrow from Hiromi’s son private collection. By the end of the evening we took part in traditional matcha brewing ritual, followed by a lovely surprise: a homemade sponge cake with strawberries, as this trip to Japan is a honeymoon for me and my wife. All in all, we had a great time, met lovely people and experienced beautiful, wholehearted Japanese hospitality. This was, by far, one of the best experience of our entire Japanese adventure.

this was so cute! for my 65+ mom traveling solo, hariko contacted both me right away as well as my mom and made sure to curate the yummiest menu. my mom met people right away and loved it so much

I’ve been to Japan many times and joined all kinds of tours, but this Welcome Home Tour was hands down the most unforgettable experience of them all. While Japan's famous landmarks and cuisine are amazing, this tour reminded me that the real charm of Japan lies in its people. From the moment I met my host family, I felt such warmth and kindness—it truly felt like coming home. Shopping together at the local market and preparing a meal side-by-side was like a mini adventure, filled with laughter and cultural discovery. The home was cozy, beautifully decorated, and spotlessly clean. It was the perfect blend of function and charm, offering a real taste of daily life in Japan. The meal we shared was absolutely delicious—a world apart from anything you'd find in a restaurant. Everything was homemade with care, and even a beautifully prepared dessert was served. I was truly blown away by the level of hospitality and thoughtfulness. It was authentic, heartfelt, and deeply touching. This isn’t just a tour. It’s a human connection, a cultural bridge, and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience Japan from the inside. Unlike sightseeing tours, this experience gives you something money can’t buy—a meaningful bond and memories that will stay with you forever. If you're looking to experience the real Japan, don’t miss this tour. It will open your heart and change the way you see the world.

During our three-week adventure in Japan, the Homevisit just outside of Tokyo turned out to be the most memorable and enriching experience we had—and one we hadn’t even considered until it was recommended by Kota at Howzit. My sister, partner, and I had the incredible opportunity to visit a local Japanese family's home, where we were warmly welcomed like old friends. The visit included a tour of their beautiful, traditional home, trying on Yukatas, and—perhaps the best part—sharing an extensive, lovingly prepared spread of authentic home-cooked Japanese food. Getting to meet and connect with real Japanese people in such a personal, genuine setting was truly special. It was fun, heartwarming, and deeply meaningful. We learned so much, not just about Japanese cuisine and culture, but also about the kindness and hospitality that define it. This wasn’t your typical tourist activity—it was a rare chance to experience Japan from the inside. I would highly recommend it to anyone looking to go beyond the guidebooks and truly connect with the heart of the country.