Miyama Heimat Youth Hostel

I stayed at the Miyama Heimat Youth Hostel for 3 nights in May 2016. When I arrived, having caught the bus service that Eiji had so kindly explained for me, I was greeted with a warm smile and a welcome umbrella to shelter me from the torrential rain that evening. From this point until the moment I said goodbye to get on the train back to Kyoto, I was made to feel more welcome and at home than I have at any other hotel or hostel in my life. Despite English not being a first language for either Eiji or Michie, both made such a fantastic effort to include me in conversations, telling me about the local area, Japanese customs, the food we were eating and the animals I had seen whilst out during the day. I opted to pay for home-cooked meals for the duration of my stay, and I am so glad I did - each meal was delicious and so new to me, coming from the UK (although I wasn't quite strong enough to brave the legendary natto beans!) The local area of Miyama-cho is indescribably beautiful, from the hills adorned with woodland to the glistening river flowing alongside the road, to the utterly breathtaking views of Kayabuki-no-sato, the nearby traditional Japanese village set against a stunning backdrop of forests and mountains. From the kites circling overhead to the occasional monkey spotted scurrying through the woods, I found myself entirely immersed in what I truly felt to be the real Japan, away from the bustling cities. I was extremely pleased that the beds were very comfortable, and the showers were very warm, and everything was provided that I could have asked for to my make my stay as pleasant as possible. I was given a short lesson in Japanese calligraphy from another guest staying there, at Michie's request, and was also fortunate enough to be given a taste of genuine Japanese sake as well as a lesson in how to properly conduct a Japanese matcha, and make a classic egg roll (which I never did really learn how to get the hang of!) This was my first trip away from home by myself; having flown halfway around the world and finding myself in a country where I could barely speak two words of the language, knew next to nothing about the culture, and most importantly knew no one in the entire country, I cannot put into words how grateful I still am to Eiji and Michie for providing me with one of the single best experiences of my life. I honestly cannot recommend this place enough to anyone, whoever you are or wherever you are from. I am certainly determined to return here in the future so I can enjoy this unique and wonderful experience all over again, and I hope you will do the same as well.