Tono is far away from the large cities.
Tono is not a stop on the Shinkansen super express.
Tono does not have 3 star restaurants.
If you are looking for the urban lifestyle, Tono is not your destination.
But if you are looking to experience the traditional Japanese lifestyle, farm stay in Tono is perfect for you. You can experience the real Japanese lifestyle by staying at a farmer or fishermen’s house. Share the house with the family by cooking and eating together, visiting the local izakaya together and going to an onsen hot spring with the family. You can also experience farming, fishing, rambling, hiking, biking and many more.
Tono is located in Iwate prefecture, which is the northeastern area of Japan. Tono is famous for its folktales, old legends and mysterious stories that feature spirits, ghosts and other imaginative creatures like Kappa. Tono is less than 4 hours away from Tokyo by Shinkansen bullet train if you transfer at the Shin-Hanamaki station.
One of the exciting events in Tono is the Tono-matsuri festival, which is held in early autumn every year.
During the festival, local performances such as Kagura (ancient Japanese sacred music) and the rice planting dances are performed.
For your information :
Travel agent for Farmers stay in Tono : Tono Natural Life Network
http://www.tonotv.com/members/yamasatonet/PDF/English-npo.pdf
Contact : kuwahata.yamasatonet@gmail.com
Related link:
http://www.tonojikan.jp/Several_languages/english/english.html
https://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/spot/histtown/tono.html
Photograph and text by meguru hayata
Break at Farming Activity
After breakfast, short ride to Golden Rice Paddy. Enjoy the rice harvest. When we finished almost half, we had the break with rice-cake (mochi with red beans) and hot tea.
Shrine Rambling around farm house
Before dinner we walked around the house, we found shrine nearby house.
Cow Rambling around farm house
We enjoy the cow at house.
Setting futon
We visited here at end September. Chilly in night. We set futon from bottom to 4 layers. It's pretty warm slightly heavy to lure me good sleep.
Departing
Always departure is wet. I could not image that we feel tears by farm stay in Japan.
Departing
Tono and host family itself is charming.