A lot has happened, but I never imagined things would progress so smoothly according to plan toward the guesthouse opening this fall.
I left the company where I had worked for many years and came here to pursue a new dream. I was filled with uncertainty.
We moved into a one-year municipal short-term housing unit with the goal of “becoming part of the community and finding a property where we could run a guesthouse.”
If we hadn’t found a property within this year, there was a possibility that we would have had to give up on our plan.
In the midst of all this, the local people welcomed us with an astonishing warmth.
What is this warmth, really?
In my mind, I had imagined that a village deep in the Kii Mountains, built on agriculture and forestry and sustained by generations of mutual support, would have strong bonds, making it difficult for outsiders to enter such a community.
What’s more, this town has a deep history dating back to the Nanboku-chō period. For over 1,300 years, it prospered as part of the Kumano Kodo Nakahechi route and served as the final lodging place for nobles and commoners on their way to Hongu Taisha.
Precisely because this is such a proud and historic town, I thought it would be difficult for outsiders like us to fit in.
However, that turned out to be a complete misconception.
I have never encountered a town so warm and welcoming to people.
Really, why is that, I wonder?
I was able to find the property thanks to the cooperation of the local people.
I am truly, truly grateful to the people of this community.
From now on, I want to cherish my connection with the local community, live here, and welcome people from all over the world to this guesthouse.
On TV news, it is being reported that extreme heat continues across the country.
Chikatsuyu is also quite hot, but the coolness returns at night.
People walking the Kumano Kodo say, “There’s plenty of shade in the forest, so it’s not too hot to walk,” but still, the heat seems to be quite harsh.
You can fully enjoy the unique beauty of summer — the vibrant green forests, blooming hydrangeas, and encounters with small creatures like deer, lizards, and even snakes (!?).
The sound of insects that begins to echo from evening into night gently soothes both the mind and body.
And now, a little extra story.
When it comes to summer, it has to be a beer garden!
This time, my daughter—who is currently staying with us—and I went to “NONAGASE” to cool off and beat the summer heat.
A heartfelt thank-you to all the craftsmen working on-site in this extreme heat!
