The highlight of the tour for me was the farmstay. After a long day of touring the Aizu region, we were split into three groups, and each group went to stay with a local farming family. Soon after we arrived at the farmhouse we were treated to an amazing dinner with a,
Of the many dishes we were served, one was ‘kozuyu’ a traditional soup of the Aizu region. It is made with mainly dried scallop holdfasts, carrots, mushrooms, konnyaku noodles, and seasoned with salt and soy sauce. It was very delicious.  
This was probably the best meal I have had since coming to Japan.Hot pot =)
The next morning we awoke, only to be welcomed by a massive breakfast, just as magnificent as the dinner from the night before. The breakfast included fresh fish, eggs (soaked in Miso), fresh vegetables such as tomatoes and a delicious pumpkin salad.
Having heard that we like Tempura, we were served also a treat of sweet potato tempura and manjuu tempura. Our family really went to every extent to entertain us. This is something that I am constantly impressed with since I ever came to Japan and Fukushima. Everyone is incredibly nice, and go out of their way to help you, and make sure you have a good time. It is my hope that many of you can come to Fukushima and enjoy this famous Japanese ‘Omotenashi’. Along with all the wonderful food, we also got to try our hands at farm work. Unfortunately as it rained on the second day, we were unable to go potato digging, but instead we got to work deseeding cotton. Using a traditional machine, we each took turns deseeding the cotton.
 
This soon turned into a team effort, with one person feeding the cotton into the machine, one turning the handle, another pulling the cotton out of the other side, and another preparing the cotton to feed into the machine. All in all it was a lovely experience, we got to experience life on a traditional Japanese farm, enjoying Japanese food and helping with the farm work. It really was a once in a lifetime experience. I give my biggest thanks to Ito-san and his wife who took us into their home and entertained us just like we were part of their family.
  Bonus Photo: Aki makes a new friend 
（Posted by：William） |
