Omi-Hino Cultural Exchange Network
1-1 Kawara, Hino-cho, Gamo-gun, Shiga 529-1602 JAPAN / Hino Town Commerce and Industry Tourism Division Secretariat
Tel.: 0748-52-6562 Fax: 0748-52-8888
“Sanpo Yoshi!” Omi-Hino Rural Life Experience
About Hino Town
Rich with lush greenery and the warm hearts of its residents, Hino Town in Shiga Prefecture has a population of about 22,000 people. Located in the Kinki region, the town is nearly in the center of Japan. Hino Town has a long history said to have roots in agriculture some 2,000 years ago. During the early modern times, the town was the home of the famous Omi Merchants in the Edo period, who got both their name and fortune thanks to their skill in peddling products. Omi Merchants firmly adopted the idea of “Sanpo Yoshi” (literally, “three-way satisfaction”) with a constant desire to offer returns to society while conducting their business and amassing their wealth. The “Sanpo Yoshi” idea states, “What’s good for the seller is good for the buyer, which is good for society.”“Sanpo Yoshi!” Omi-Hino Rural Life Experiences are based on this idea.
Restoration of confidence and pride in the greeter (seller)
Energization of the region (society)
Profound movements initiated by the visitor (buyer)
Under these keywords, the Omi-Hino Rural Life Experiences program aims to provide heartwarming, inspiring opportunities. Come and enjoy an opportunity to experience life in a true “cherished hometown in the heart of Japan”.
Experience Program
The Omi-Hino Rural Life Experience program consist of the Rural Living (agricultural stay) Experience and the Family Business Experience. With applications being accepted for small groups of 1 to 4 people, participants are invited to make and enjoy meals together, and to sleep under the same roof. These communal experiences provide a deeper understanding of the region, the people, and how locals interact not just with each other but also with nature.
Rural Living Experience (origami)
Rural Living Experience (walnut-related craftwork)
Umamioka-Watamuki-jinja Shrine
Notes
* The participants will be staying with local families,not at hotels or Japanese-style inns.We ara not offering accommodation only tours; we take reservations for programs which include at least haif a day for tha Family Business Experience. We don't provide longstay plans,either; we only have 2 day-1 night or 3day-2 night-programs.
* Host families will speak only Japanese. Visitors are encouraged to try communicating using gestures, illustrations, mobile applications, or other means. Be creative!
Family Business Experience
The Family Business Experience involves rural host families that run a family business, skilled trade, or rural business. Spending time enjoying the family’s experiences together offers visitors a more profound cultural exchange. Particular examples of some activities under the Family Business Experience involve agricultural work including preparing Omi-Hino rice and hinona (traditional Japanese turnips), forestry experiences including forest thinning work, traditional Japanese food-based experiences, and rural living experiences such as wearing a kimono.
Communal Cooking
Cultural Exchange (application of traditional Myanmarese makeup, thanaka)
Face-to-Face Encounters
Notes
* Experiences cannot be selected in advance.
* Only Japanese cuisine will be provided. However, arrangements can be made for allergy or religion-based limitations.
* Please be sure to notify us if any special considerations should be made based on religion or prayer schedules. We will do our best to accommodate these needs.
* Visitors are asked to enjoy their stay while abiding by the rules of the rural host family. Drastic changes to a host family’s daily lifestyle cannot be expected. We appreciate your understanding.
* Regional guidelines will be created for measures against novel coronavirus infections.
Contact the secretariat for more information.
Access to Hino Town
Recommended Courses
Basic Course No. 1
Kansai International Airport
Touring/lodging in Osaka, Kyoto, and Nara
Omi-Hino Rural Life Experience — 2 days/1 night, or 3 days/2 nights
Kansai International Airport
Basic Course No. 2
Chubu Centrair Airport
Touring/lodging in Nagoya and Ise
Omi-Hino Rural Life Experience — 2 days/1 night, or 3 days/2 nights
Chubu Centrair Airport
Golden Course
Kansai International Airport
Touring/lodging in Osaka and Kyoto
Omi-Hino Rural Life Experience — 2 days/1 night, or 3 days/2 nights
Toward Nagoya/Tokyo
Chubu Centrair Airport or Narita International Airport
Shoryu (Rising Dragon) Course
Chubu Centrair Airport
Touring/lodging in Nagoya
Omi-Hino Rural Life Experience — 2 days/1 night, or 3 days/2 nights
Toward Fukui, Ishikawa, and Gifu
Chubu Centrair Airport
How to Apply
Those interested in the Omi-Hino Rural Life Experience program are asked to apply through a Japanese travel agency or a local travel agency capable of making reservations in Japanese.
Through the “Sanpo Yoshi!” Omi-Hino Rural Life Experiences program, visitors will have the chance to hear firsthand why locals have made Omi-Hino their home and what makes them proud to live here. The program aims to give both visitors and locals an opportunity to acknowledge not just each other but those around them as well, which will give a newfound appreciation for the significance and value of others. This, in turn, will provide compassion and power for the future. Come, experience Omi-Hino, and let your heart soar!
Attention Travel Agencies
Programs will be tailored to suit customer requests and budgets wherever possible.
Please feel free to contact us for details.
(*Staff speak Japanese only.)
We ask all individuals looking to experience the area to make reservations through a travel agency.
Process up to Selection
Submit a reservation by fax or e-mail containing the name of your school, the desired dates, number of nights, number of participants, and a tentative reservation deadline.
Acceptance of your tentative reservation will be submitted by fax. (The fee will be included on the fax with the tentative reservation reply.)
Submit your final decision or cancel your reservation by fax or e-mail. The reservation response form will arrive shortly thereafter.
Contact Information
For any questions about the Omi-Hino Rural Life Experiences program, contact us via the following.
Tel: 0748-52-6562
Fax: 0748-52-8888
Attention Experience Participants
The form on the following page is designed for use by those looking to reconnect with their host family for any reason, including those who do not have their host family’s contact address and those who would like to update their host family on their current situation.
Someone in the program office will be happy to forward your message to the appropriate recipient.
Letter to Host Family (Form)
