IN JAPAN: July 2017

For the first time, couchsurfing with a family!

As 11th guest, we had a family guest for the first time. They came from Germany, but originally from Australia. Family of 3 and the boy was almost same age as my son so most of time they played well together as we expected. They have already couchserfed couple of times both as host and surfer. They started Couchsurfing 5 years faster than me so they knew well how couchsurfing is. Actually, I was excited not only to have a family through couchsurfing for the first time, it was also first time to get opportunity to have conversations with native English speaker.
Although their " Real English" was so high level for me.....
This time, they came to our place on weekdays so we were not able to have much time to spend with, and they visited Arima onsen in the day time because I recommended as usual :), but in the dinner time we enjoyed nice chatting. It was great to get know their couchsurfing experience and their educational philosophy.

First impression

The only small trouble was the dates when they come. I was considering to change the hosting pace down like once in a month for my family after finished summer hosting, it was too much constantly. However, I got 2 offers from families for the first time and one of them was October, and another one was November. Why I accepted the offers is not only my kids wanted to meet other kids through couchsurfing, also both offer were separated to two month. Scheduled in end of November was this family, but they said that they changed the plan slightly from end of November to end of October. I couldn't catch the exact meaning of " slightly" , but my English dictionary says its mean " To a small degree or extent". I wondered the changing one month is whether small thing in overseas, but at least it is not small thing in Japan. To be honest, at that moment I doubted their personality little bit and had worried whether I could spend good time with them for 2 days.

Meet up

Anyway, I accepted their changed plan and met up the station not nearest, but I chose for considering their convenient. They had just arrived Japan this day and came to directory from airport to this train station. They said they had killed time at Izakaya for early arrived than meeting up time, but it was also good thing for them because they surely needed some rest after long long flight. I thought it's interesting they chose Izakaya, not cafes or restaurants, they must know Japan very well.

Kids and Youkai watch and Gyoza...There is no language barrier

Their son doesn't speak Japanese and my kids don't speak English at all, but he and my son is almost same age so this two boys played well. According his parents saying, he had been excited to see Youkai watch was very popular in Japanese elementary boys instead of Pokemon at that time. It's a game for Nintendo DS and also the anime, I was surprised to hear that because it had just released even in Japan, but he already knew this new anime/game even live in Germany. I really felt the difference from my childhood. The internet really changed the world.

Anyway, they found this common interest became good friends very soon and my daughters too, even they don't speak each languages. It seems there is no language barrier for kids. This is the new discovery thing for me.

Even this period, my wife had been hooked to make gyoza, so we offered them join to cook. That was very fun to make gyoza joining all families together and they did very well more than me! This is one of good memory.

Talking about Couchsurfing, lifestyles, houses....talked a lot.

They had been couchsurfing member over 5 years at that time, and already have some experience both as host and as surfer. So they understand well about couchsurfing like some people take the cultural/experience sharing seriously and treat surfers like true guests(just like me), and some people are more simply letting people share their space. They say their style is like in the middle, basically they like meeting other people. As a host, sometimes they spend a lot of time with guests, hanging out or visiting places, but some times they simply let people use their space. Also, They serious bringing gifts for hosts as showing their thanks for hosts when they are a guest. They gave us very stylish knitted stuffs which hand made by them such as knitted hats for kids and scarves for me and wife.

They are very curious about inside other people's house and said that Japanese bathroom is most important point. They seems they liked our bathroom. Our bathroom has a room available to use not only for just get off/on clothes also for laundry. It has a washing machine avalable to pomp the water from bath tab, hanging space , and word robes available to make organizing clothes simple after washing and drying. They complimented this system very much! Also, they were surprised to see the glow in the dark wallpaper shone with UV light on it ( of course we have UV lights on ceiling for that purpose) which put on all of walls in second floor. Although my kids haven't been delighted to see it anymore because they are used to seeing it too much, their son was delighted. Thank you boy!
This boy isn't going school actually. The parents have strong and serious educational philosophy as they blogging about it. It made me and wife very surprised, we have never heard about homeschool system in Japan. They said that it's also unusual thing in western culture, but I felt sort of the society tolerance in Europe, it's not same as Japan. This is another new discovery thing through this hosting.

Spend with a foreign family further almost same age gave me pretty interesting new knowledge and experience. The one unfortunate thing was I couldn't catch the meaning and even the words when they were speaking in their family, their talking speed was so fast for me. Maybe I was just not used to their accent because I have been training with American accent ? I hope so.
Anyway, it's really " Real English", it's really cool, I was impressed.
I hope I would become be like them someday, well, I need to improve my English more and more.

Arima Onsen as one of the oldest 3 Onsen town in Japan

Arima Onsen (hot spring) town is listed in Japan as one of the oldest 3 Onsen town which are Dougo Onsen in Ehime , Shirahama Onsen in Wakayama, and Arima Onsen. Also famous as the 3 greatest Onsen with Gero Onsen in Gifu, Kusatsu Onsen in Gunma.
This is the most famous sightseeing spot in my town, so I always recommend my guests, came through couchsurfing, to visit here.

Located not far from central Kobe but in middle of north part of Mt.Rokko, has rich history. Since it appears in oldest Japanese history book over 1300 years ago, a lot of famous people in each ages such as Emperor, Shogun( it's the top of Samurai), novelist visited and stayed very often. There are about 30 hotels have each original own Onsen bath (by the way we call most of them Ryokan which is old Japanese style hotel). They are a little bit expensive as Japanese hotels but very popular especially for older people and a lot of people come and visit even now.
Also has some old town streets, shrine, temples and nature and famous as the place to see Sakura in spring season. You can feel and touch the old Japanese atmosphere and would enjoy it with great nature.

The history

He is Hideyoshi Toyotomi the important samurai in Japanese history. He is the first Daimyo( top of samurai) who succeed to rule all of Japan about 500 years ago. Arima Onsen is known well as the place he loved so much.

In 1580's, he visited Arima Onsen for the first time to relax after a big war to rule Japan, since then he loves this Onsen and he visited very often. Many of very famous people as same as Hideyoshi in each period love this Onsen and visited a lot.

Tosen-shrine is the guardian of Arima says that this Onsen was found by 2 Japanese Gods in ancient. The injured 3 crows were bathing in the puddle when 2 Gods visited Arima, then, they also found the 3 crows healed their injury with this water just in few days. It is said that this water was the Onsen.

Also we can see about Arima Onsen in the oldest Japanese history book, Nihon-shoki. This book says that two emperors visited this onsen in around 600's. This thing also made Arima famous in that period.

The Onsen

Arima has 2 unique onsen called "Kin-sen" meaning golden onsen and "Gin-sen" meaning silver onsen ( actually it means normal color) . Both have some effects for body and mind like skin beauty also good for skin troubles, heal your stress both mind and body, further to treat and improve some organ symptoms and some blood conditions by their materials included in onsen. The materials included onsen are, carbon dioxide spring, hydrogen carbonate spring (we aware it is soda), chloride spring, sulfate spring, iron spring, sulfur spring, acidity spring, radium spring, and simple spring consist of some low level materials. Most of hotels in Arima provide kind of the one day bath is meaning you can just take onsen for few hours without staying. Also, Arima has a free bath just for feet, we call it " foot bath ", it's one of "Kin-sen". You can have a bite the onsen feeling even only using this foot bath. Please note, you need a towel prepared by your self at here.

My recommendation one is GOSHOBO is a hotel. This is "Kin-sen" golden one. It has an atmosphere of Meiji period, it's about 100 years ago, you can feel like you were in that time. I don't have any pictures of inside of this hotel but I have visited once. At this onsen, You can see a kind of tunnel with onsen first, then you can go to main onsen through this interesting tunnel. The main onsen is like in a cave with some rocks, but half one is like on outside. I have visited various onsen in Japan a lot, but I think GOSHOBO style is not common so it's very interesting. This interesting Onsen is located close to enter side of Arima onsen town and it takes just 5 minute from the train station by walk.

Nature, Sakura

You can enjoy Arima's scenery in all seasons, but in Spring and Autumn are more great. There are a lot of Sakura in this town, along the river, at temples, at streets, also you can enjoy in night with Sakura lighted up.

In my case, we always visit in the night to see them and the temperature is also good to walk around.

Nature, Koyo

In autumn, you can enjoy the scenery of Koyo, means the leaves color changes from green to brown red, and Arima has a famous park with that.

The name is Zuihoji Park, this park seems has also Sakura but I think it's more famous for Koyo. There is a shop named "Momiji Cha-ya", it's a kind of old style Japanese cafe, will open in this season, and you can enjoy some Japanese traditional foods such as udon noodles, warm oden, Japanese sake.

Also, the "Ochakai", means to play old Japanese tea party with wearing Kimono in this case, will open usually between in November. You can feel the old Japan at here but this party is always full and crowded by older Japanese, in my imagine.

The streets

The streets consist of old traditional buildings. Most of those buildings are shops for souvenirs or foods. You can feel old Japanese atmosphere like you did time slip.

It's similar to Kyoto, but the streets are not big and long, the time passing very slowly. I like walking this streets while seeing the stuffs on those shops.

The most famous food as souvenir in here is Tansan-Senbei. Tansan is kind of soda and Senbei is the name of Japanese traditional sweets.

Arima Onsen is including the soda as one of their material, and this sweets is made with this soda, so named Tansan-Senbei. There are couple of types of Tansan-Senbei, like just plain one without any other materials,or with cream of some flavors, strawberry, chocolate, vanila, or little bit hard one with some sugars. By the way, My wife and I like "hard one" but my kids loves " with cream one".

Some other tips

Temples and Shrines

There are some temples and shrines as same as other sightseeing places of Japan. I am not interested in Japanese temples and shrines anymore, but each one has rich history so I think you would be able to enjoy them:) The most famous one is Tosen-shrine I mentioned in history category, this picture is not Tosen-shrine though. This shrine is the guardian of Arima onsen as the 2 Gods who find Arima onsen out and 3 crows they appeared in " the story of finding" are enshrined.

Mt.Rokko

Arima onsen is located in middle of Mt.Rokko so you can go to top of this mountain using Ropeway. There are some activity spots on top of Rokko like hotels, farm, play ground, restaurantes, cafes. From the top, you can see all of Kobe center.

Speaking of Mt.Rokko, here is famous for wild boars are living. I have seen them couple of times while I am driving, so if you visit there you might see wild boars there, even in Arima onsen town.

Access

There are 2 main route to get Arima onsen, from south or from north. From south, you take the subway bound to Tanigami from JR Sannomiya station which is central Kobe. At Tanigami station, change the train named Kobe dentetsu line bound for Sanda, further again change the train at Arima guchi station bound for Arima onsen. It takes 30 min totaly from Snnomiya station ,about.

From north, take the train , it's also Kobe dentetsu line bound for Shin-kaichi to the Arima guchi station, then transfer the train at there to Arima onsen station. It takes also 30 min in total. I think this one is easier if you come from Osaka, go to JR Sanda station first, then use this way.

11th is a half day hosting

October, 2014

When we did over 10th hosting, my kids said something like complain that " Why the kids don't come through Couchsurfing? It's always adults, we want to meet other kids ". Oh, it's nice idea! But it's not easy as you said, to overseas with kids would be very hard task for parents, furthermore through Couchsurfing.. I can't imagine to do so. Yeah, maybe someday I might get such a request from someone.

However I received 2 offers sooner, both are from families have kids !

What a coincidence! Although I was thinking whether I should stop to accept offers to give rest for my family, Yeah, I should accept both for my kids! One of them is for October but another one is for November, just once in per month, yes I think we can probably work it out.

I accepted both offers.

11th guest from Philippines

The first one was meet up the guest from Philippines. They were using Airbnb so this time was without staying. This was the first time for my family just to meet up with guests and kids through Couchsurfing.They are a family and group of 4, mother, 2 little daughters ( 10 and 7 month!) and grandmother. The husband couldn't join this trip because he is working in Saudi Arabia.Couchsurfing with older lady and a baby, it sounds very hard combination... I salute you sir!

Meeting place trouble

Although I thought we have confirmed exact meeting place and time through some messages we exchanged before we met, I got trouble to meet up.

We were going to meet up at in front of ticket gate of Shin-Kobe station at 11 am, and I think I said it at least 3 times in messages, furthermore this station is just 2 stations from their place, but earlier 10 min from 11 am, they started to say it's complicated to get there for them so they prefer to meet up their place instead of Shin-Kobe station. I was going to Shin-Kobe station by my car with 40 min from my house and I almost get there! Yeah, I can understand using the train in away country would be difficult sometimes, I have to be their help!

So I sent a message for the response during driving the high-way with some danger , that " we should change the plan and I will come to your right now place in 10 min, so let's meet up there!" I changed my road immediately, but 5 min later I got call from them. They said they are in Shin-Kobe station now, so let's meet up according first plan.

Come on!!!

I have just changed the road!!

But I had no choice, I turned back to the original road.Finally, we met at Shin-Kobe station as first plan somehow. Since I am a gentle man, of course I wasn't upset to them at all ! :)

These things will happen sometimes on Couchsurfing, so just don't care about these trouble, otherwise we can't continue the hosting.

Enjoying the time at my house

After we met, we move to our house and spend couple of hours together. They cooked for us soup with chicken and tomatoes, mainly. They said it is a local food of Philippines. Actually, my son invited his some friends to my house to play guest's children, so there are over 15 people in house, it was kind of party. We enjoyed the meals together both they cook and my wife cook.

Although it was just few hours, kids enjoyed playing together, especially their oldest daughter and my oldest daughter are almost same age so they played well! They enjoyed to cook something sweets with materials are already set in the box by sweets company.

I heard that this trip is the birthday gift for 10 years daughter. Hmm, they give the trip as a birthday gift, definitely I can't ! They must be a rich family.

They left my house few hours later to meet another friend who met also through Couchsurfing! My guest hosted her in Philippines before, then they are going to meet again in Kobe.

What a nice!

I hope also will meet my guests again in their countries someday.

We only spent couple of hours, but we could know each other culture and life.

That time was really nice.

Another nice French couple with a "Guitalele"!

September, 2014

2014 summer was super busy with Couchsurfing since we had been hosting almost every week in 2 month, but at same time, it was so much fun and we could have so much precious experience we had ever. Finishing the last hosting with a couple from Montreal, my children's summer vacation also finished, I was going to stop the hosting in a while with end of summer. I had felt it's time to giving a rest for my family. However, I received a request. According to the request, they are bring a Guitalele. What is Guitalele? Probably it's mixed guitar and ukulele?

Oh, it's interesting since I also play guitar, maybe can we Jam together? Sounds great! I accepted the request again.

They are a French couple came from near Lake Geneva in France and stayed my house 2 nights.

Listen to their background and travel story

Before we met, we discussed which is better the dates to meet for each other before we met. Fortunately they offered us weekends. Although I had my job in that weekends, anyway it's better for my family. They came here after they have visited west side Japan including Osaka.
Although they are a French couple, one of them is originally from an island which is located Caribbean far from France. I didn't know France has such islands in Caribbean. They speak French despite located near English and Spanish speaking countries.... It's hard to image the situation like that for me. Japan is also " a islands country " but they are gathered. Yes, world is so wide. I shouldn't finish my life only in such small country. They are traveling for 1 year in Asia and Oceania. In 5 months, they have visited 5 countries India, Nepal, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, China, and now they are in Japan.

They quit their jobs and decided to start this traveling.
How great..

In Japan, if we quit the job once it would be so hard to get another job again usually, but I met already couple of people who quit their job and started world traveling. I wounder is it common thing in out side of Japan? Sometimes I think about it, why Japanese people is working for long time such as from 8 am to 11 pm everyday? For what? What is the life?

Yes, I agree we have to work to get surely to alive and also have to work to keep the society. But I think Japanese society is unbalanced, it's too focused on job. When I was young I used to work in the same situation looks like 15 hours working everyday, but in fact it's not working, just stayed in office because my boss didn't accept we get back to home earlier. In my experience, it depends on just old bad culture not for efficient despite we can take long vacations without any problems on own jobs if we want, but we are not allowed to do so by society including customers and even in own companies.
So we can take only few holidays in a year. 3 weeks? 2 weeks? it's impossible. Just few days, it's like just performance to show " I am working hard". We can't do any abroad!
Fortunately, I am not working for such situation anymore but Japan has to change this bad culture in near future otherwise we can't enjoy the life truly.

Chopsticks

Around that period, my wife had hooked to make Gyoza which is one of Chinese foods, so the dinner was Gyoza for the first night. Also, it was first time for them to eat Gyoza and they seems enjoying to eat.

Speaking of meals, I was little bit surprised to see every couchsurfers use the chopsticks very well. In my image western people is not use to using chopsticks and always confused how to use them well but it's not, so far. They always say that they have some Asian restaurants in their countries and they have already used chopsticks for couple of times. Before I started Couchsurfing, I looked forward to teach some Japanese things to guests, and chopsticks is one of those.

Hmm, it seems I lost one thing, but it's Okay. Anyway, it's good thing.

R and L, differences to distinguish sounds

Having the dinner, I asked them to try the game about R sounds and L sounds.

Although this is famous story at least in Japan, most of Japanese has weakness against some sounds in language and the difference between R and L is the most famous. For example, " right " and " light ", " wrong " and " long ", " read " and " lead ", " grass " and " glass ", these sounds are completely same for us.

Moreover, not only R and L, also B and V, E and Ea, S and Th, etc. We have a lot of weakness, it's too bad! So, we can't distinguish the sounds of Bus and Bath, See and Sea, Boat and Vote... I heard that it depends Japanese language is consisted with few sounds compared to other countries languages such as English, French, Spanish. Anyway I have a game about this sounds on my phone. You choice the correct one, example from "read" bottom or " lead" bottom when you hear the sounds. I wondered that since they are french and has a lot of sounds in their language, so they might distinguish those sounds and could clear this game easily.

So I asked them to play this game. The result was, they tried it and did it very easily. Oh gosh! Is it easy thing?! My high score is 80 % depended a lot of luck, though. On the other hand, I found opposite thing that they can't distinguish the difference between " Ship " and " Sheep ", moreover " Hungry " and " Angry ".

They said that they don't pronounce " H " sound usually, so they can't distinguish those sounds. Oh I didn't know that, it's interesting! I'm going to ask and try to other couchsurfers to find out another differences.

A small concert with Guitalele and Guitar!

Second day, we couldn't spend together because I had to go to my job. They went to Arima onsen I recommend as usual, and had good time. They said that they tried to hiking to over the Mt.Rokko, but they were lost the way in the forest. They enjoyed to see small waterfall and relaxed there all day, instead.
In the night, they showed us their songs with Guitalele. Nice sound by Guitalele and beautiful voice by her.... incredible! I heard that he started to play Guitalele 3 years ago but he already plays well more than me. They seems to make their songs while traveling to fit the locations. I couldn't understand the lyrics because those were French, but anyway beautiful. One my daughter brought my guitar so that I play and sing as well, I was embarrassed though. I played " Tears in heaven " of Eric Clapton and " Knockin on heaven's door " of Bob Dylan. While I am singing they joined with Guitalele and beautiful voice. Music is great. We can connect through the music even we haven't grown up in same country and age, also we don't have same language! It was like kind of small concert. That was very fun!

Relaxing time and I noticed the thing about hosting.

In the morning on the day they leave, we walked around my town with kids and my dog. We stopped by a park during walking and enjoyed to play with my kids, and they showed us again another songs in there. It was very relaxing time.

Looking back to past hosting, I was always busy to take balance the hosting and working. I don't know why but, I think that I had felt something like pressure that I should continue giving something to make guest happy as shown my thank and hospitality. I noticed it is too much. This relaxing time with my guest is not bad.
Maybe, I should spend like this time more for both to enjoy and continue the hosting.

It’s not good to put too much pressure to myself. Finally, it seems I am getting used to hosting on couchsurfing.
In the end, my family and I went to a service area of high-way to help their hitchhiking.It was also fun to watch the friend trying to hitchhiking.
I was worried that whether they will be able to catch the car easily because my image about Japanese people is conservative, but they succeed very soon!
Great!

They headed to their next destination Kyoto.

Their travel goes on!

The violent crime happened through Airbnb.

Unfortunately, a violent crime happened in Japan recently.

The details is still not clearly right now, but a Korean lady said she got violence by Japanese guy who hosted her in Japan. She was renting the room with her female friend through Airbnb and the crime happened in this room. She told this crime to Korean consulate, then Japanese police caught the perpetrator. I'm so sad to think of her. She have been given huge terrible experience by him despite she didn't want it at all, and this experience will go to stay in her for long time. I don't know why she chose the Airbnb, but I think that she just wanted to enjoy her holidays with her friend, plus maybe she wanted to enjoy international exchanging with some Japanese through this trip with believing Japanese is very nice and kind people, not wanted just cheep staying place. However crime happened, very unfortunately....This is the most terrible betrayal. Both Airbnb and Couchsurfing are made up by trust, but if someone do the terrible thing the trust will make sure be broken and these kind systems are going to death.

Think about Airbnb and Couchsurfing and "Safe" in Japan

I heard that the number of people to start Airbnb is increasing in Japan. It's good thing.Yes, I like Airbnb, I have used this great site couple for my family trip, it's the great way definitely, especially for big family who can't find the big room of hotel out like us, it was great help and we had really great weekend at that time. However, the number of people is increasing means that it might include people who don't understand well the way to do that.It depends average always.

In saying Airbnb, it might include people who don't understand the true meaning of the kind of share rooms, and also might include people who think this site as just a business without much care around people, and it might include people who don't know how to welcome to other countries people and to keep good relationships with neighbors while hosting. Even though those are very few, it makes trouble sometimes because usually, Japanese people, especially older generation is very sensitive to strangers so if there are some older person around own house, we have to care of the neighbors to continue the hosting. I don't want say that but in fact, there are already some troubles with that even these are not crime level though, and often showed through the news. Generally, it needs the more rules when the organization is getting bigger. Airbnb is getting bigger now in Japan so it might be needed more rules and the host might be needed kind of licence issued by Airbnb in the future.

My worry is Airbnb and Couchsurfing might be misunderstood from society. The bad rumors can destroy the new things which have not been accepted yet at least in Japan. I mentioned Airbnb is getting bigger in Japan but on the other hand, I've never heard the number of people doing Couchsurfing host is increasing in Japan. I think that is why I have hardly heard bad or even good news about Couchsurfing in Japan. I think so but I can't assert doing Couchsurfing is safe in Japan. I think it just depends average. I guess the number of people to do Couchsurfing particularly doing hosting won't increase in Japan, so I think it might not need the much of rules and kind of licence so far even in the future but we need at least moral in doing host. definitely, of course. We must defend this great 2 systems for our life to be rich!

However, I have to say people living outside of Japan this is also real Japan. Generally, it seems Japan is said this is very safe country and every Japanese people are very kind from other countries people, but Japan is not perfect at all. The crime average might be still low compared to other countries indeed but it does not mean Zero. There are always terrible crime. Murders are often especially parents kill their kids or kids kill their parents or gland parents, also kill the partner are often nowadays, and after big disaster some thief appear for sure, even after the super big earthquake and tsunami 6 years ago many of thief and raper appeared. You have to pay much of care even if you are in " the safe country", don't be lazy about that.

I hoped that you were still interested in Japan for visiting or living or something after hearing these things.

9th couchserfer from Montreal, Canada

August, 2014

We welcomed 9th guest from Montreal, Canada. Montreal... 3 times in 9 times hosting, I wonder if Japan is popular in Montreal.
Actually, I was considering whether I should stop Couchsurfing in a while before I received their request. We had welcomed new guests almost all weeks this season. It's absolutely fun to do Couchsurfing for me, but it was getting to be little bit hard to take balance for both weekdays tasks we have to and to be host. However, I couldn't stop myself because I got a nice request from them ! And my decision was completely correct, we had great time even it was weekdays hosting though, especially for my older children, they did really awesome experience with them. It will stay in my kids for long time as their precious childhood memory, definitely!

They stayed 2 nights.

Not good mood...

There are 4 child in my home. Yes, They are child but they are human at same time. I mean, they have own thought, joy, sad, angry, desire. Sometimes, my wife and I can't handle the situation made by their chain reaction, my home will be terrible at that time, it's like battlefield.

One of kids get to start angry because another one took her toy which she is playing, then, a fight is started. Then, another one (older) coming to stop the fighting but younger two start to hit older one, then older one starts to join this fighting.

On the other hand, oldest one gets to start angry and shout because he can't continue his homework due to sister's screaming voices. Moreover, my wife gets to start to punish each ones .

These things can be happen sometimes in the evening despite we got tired by finishing own jobs. It's so stressful for us and after happened the atmosphere is not good.. every time.

Same thing was happened the day they came, and it was just a little bit before they arrive.

I was waiting the meeting up time which my guest and I decided before while organizing all of family's laundry, peacefully.

However, I had a worry thing. I was not sure whether they come because we missed the contact 3 days ago. Surely I wrote " let's meet up at my nearest station at 7 pm", but they didn't response to it. I believed they had just lost WiFi for 3 days but, on the other hand, I remembered that some bad rumors I read on internet, some surfers no show without any contact, some surfers appears very late night... I was worried what should I do if they like that.

Then, the things happened.

My wife was starting to cook but she seemed was in a bad mood from the begging and 4 kids started the fighting,crying, screaming. She started to punish them with "devil face". This time her angriness was looked stronger than usual.

Oh....This is not good...
This is not good atmosphere at all as welcoming the guest.

I tried to calm down her, but before that, I considered "Why my wife turned the devil ? " She is not a type of lady in usual, and I noticed it.

She is not tired only by her job, she is not irritated only by this noisy, she is tired to continue the host. I have repeated to accept the guests constantly in very short term without her agreement.

She had a lot of task in a day, full time job from 8:30 am to 5 pm, then go to pick daughters up to kindergarten, then go to shopping for the dinner, and cook as soon as she got back to home, plus we had almost 2 couple of guests per week.　

Yap, it seems too much, indeed.

I didn't care of my wife at all and I took priority of my pleasure... So she was in a bad mood...

I couldn't say anything to her.

Um, it's not easy to continue couchsurfing as well.

I left my house stealthy to check my guest if really came to the station.
Actually, I was already late the meeting up time.

Meeting up!

I went to the station having anxiety, but I found them as soon as I arrived. They were on time! I'm sorry..I was late for 15 minutes.
After greetings, they asked me " Did you have a busy day? " .
Yeah, Leave it at that. It seems happier than true. I answered " Yes ".

I was worried my house situation right now but when we arrived my house, my kids and wife turned in a good mood somehow. It seems the fighting is over. So now, everything is normal, I'm relieved.

Kids forgot the fighting and punishing already because they played with my kids as soon as they arrived. Nice!

Then, we had dinner.
While having dinner, we talked some interesting topics, what is our daily life like, about jobs, and why they came to Japan. They said that they had plan to go to Turkey in first but one day they met their friend who have been to Japan. They heard some good things about Japan then got interest and changed the plan.
Oh～I'm glad to hear that. Although I'm not interested in Japan, I'm glad to hear when someone get to be interested in Japan.

They seemed already enjoyed some place in Japan, Osaka, Nagoya, Tokyo, and Asakusa. Asakusa! I used to live there couple of years! Very nice city which you can feel real old Japanese atmosphere with rich history. I recommend Asakusa to anybody! They did really good choice.

My son and I played UNO with them with a special rule,they have to use Japanese and we also use English when we say colors like after put " Draw 4" or "Color card".
Blue is Ao, Yellow is Kiro, Red is Aka, Green is Midori. This rule seemd pretty tough for them and my son, except me:) They were not able to say the colors with each languages easily, of course. So, I won!

Anyway, I hope this was good opportunity to learn Japanese for them.

The special day

Second day, guests and I were talking about what do we do. I have to go to sales so I can't join them. I suggested to visit Arima onsen since you are in here.
They said " yeah, not bad".

My oldest daughter is standing by me look like she want to say something.
By the way, my oldest son (9 y.o) and daughter (7 y.o) is in summer vacation.

Also, I suggested to visit Mt.Rokko because they can see the great scenery of Kobe and top of mountain is really cool, it's a good place to escape from hot and humid.

They said " It's also not bad".

My oldest daughter (7 y.o) is standing by me look like she want to say something.

My guest couple said that actually they want go to the beach and they heard Kobe has a beach called Suma. Yeah, Indeed, that's right.

My daughter (7 y.o) is still standing by me, she is saying something with small voice. I ignored it, and kept talking. But she said again with small voice, so I asked her " What do you want to say? ", then she said " I wanna go with them.."
What?! No, no. It's impossible. I have to go to my job.
Is there a father who allow his small daughter hang out with someone, without parents in the world? Nothing. First of all, it's too much trouble for them.

But the couple had an interest what my daughter said.
" Yeah! It's great idea!! Sounds very fun!! "

Are you sure?! but it's too much...

" NO! It's really good idea! "
They said so...

Hmm, it might be good opportunity for great experience. Yeah, it must be.
In Japan we have a saying "Let your pretty child travel alone"
OK! So, it's a deal. I prepared my son's and daughter's swim suits, some money and " kids cell phone", just in case.

Have a fun and take care! I brought all of them to the station, then went to work.

After brought them, I had regret my mistake.
I should have passed my memo or something paper to prove the guest and my children is going to the beach with my agreement, just in case, Otherwise, some people might misunderstand my children is kidnapped,
or at least they never look parents and their kids. White adults and Japanese kids, this is very strange couple in Japan. If someone call the police...oh, it's not good.
But I had nothing I can do after I noticed it, just have to wait they come back.

I couldn't concentrate to my job at all in that all of day.

Around 7:30 pm they came back to here with tanned well.
I apologized to my guest first about I didn't pass them my memo or something as showing you guys are not strangers.
Actually, they said that they were worried same thing:) It looks really weird at least in Japan, the combination white person and Japanese kids.
So, they did very much care to be seem they have nice relationship with my kids.
Oh... I'm sorry to bother you.

I heard "one day trip story" while having dinner.
In the beginning they were lost during changing the train, so my guest asked the way to old lady but she couldn't understand English at all. Then, my son found a guy and asked him the way so that they could find the way! Good job!
In the train, they spend the time doing some games and listening the music through their iPod.

In the beach, they did, catch balling, diving to against the waves again and again, eating ice creams, just relaxing under the tree... they seemed enjoyed the beach a lot.
I asked my son to take some pictures with my old iPhone before they leave my house. He took some indeed, but there is no human, just scenery. Hmm, I wanted him to take pictures more enjoying one with my guest, but yeah, he is just kid, you know.

Here are some pictures he took.

Anyway, this is really great experience for my children!Hang out with other country people, and moreover, without their parents.What a great !!
If we didn't Couchsurfing, they never get such a great moment.

I was relieved to hear that they said they also had great time and did make nice memories with my kids. I hope it was not too much trouble for them.

My guest were exhausted by this experience so they went the bed at very early night :)

Thank you for everything!!!