Nagano: Family life on Tsugaya Farm

We arrive in Tomi-shi in Nagano Prefecture after a ride on the Shinkansen. From a distance, we see the active volcano Asamayama. We gaze in awe at the steam rising from it. Salia is fascinated and often asks if it will erupt soon. We can only reassure her as the likelihood of an eruption is quite possible...
Amiko-san picks us up from the train station and takes us to her wonderful home. Her husband Sou-san and their three children Rintarou, Mei-chan, and Shuhei (not to forget their two cats Rin-Rin and Taro) live there. We immediately feel at home and quickly become a part of the family's daily life. We help in the field, pulling out weeds or sowing new vegetables. We assist Amiko-san in preparing meals, which are a true delicacy. Rice is always present. For breakfast, we have baked onigiri (especially delicious with walnut and miso), mugicha, and apple slices. For lunch, we have miso soup and steamed vegetables, yakisoba, kare-rice, sautéed meat, and kimchi (oishi...). In the evenings, we have leftovers.

The children are initially a bit shy. But we overcome the language barrier with a round of 'Streetfighter II' and 'Mario Kart' (on the SNES!) or play table tennis outside. Unfortunately, the TV is on almost all day here, but the kotatsu (a typical Japanese table with a heater) is a well-visited retreat, especially for Salia. Often, several children are cuddled up under the table, watching entertainment shows. But also, painting the living room wall together with the children brings us closer.
Mei-chan soon takes a liking to Salia and Namira, and the three of them roam the fields while we work in the greenhouse.

We experience Hanami again, go to the onsen with a view of Asamayama and the mountains, visit the Kodama estate where a German-Japanese family lives. In the evenings, we sit together for a long time, drink beer, laugh a lot about the differences between Japanese and Germans, and talk about everything under the sun. We receive so much warmth and kindness from Amiko and Sou, which makes our stay with them a great gift. Arigatou-gozaimasu for the wonderful time.