Our Story

My grandmother lost her husband in her 40s. From that day on, she raised three daughters, cared for her parents-in-law, continued the family farming, and protected this home on her own. In those days in Japan, society was still strongly male-dominated, and for a woman to carry all of this alone was not easy. She worked tirelessly every day—leading the cows up the mountain, cutting grass in the fields, and carefully maintaining the house. She never missed the village events either. When I was a child, she was a very strict grandmother. If she got angry, she could be quite scary. But she was also incredibly strong and dependable. In 2016, the Kumamoto earthquake struck. The Minamiaso area suffered significant damage, and many residents had to evacuate to the community center. Even during that time, she worried about this house more than anything. My grandmother passed away in December 2024. In her final years, the strict grandmother I had always known became softer, playful, and very lovable. Today she leaves behind ten grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren—the family she protected throughout her life. This house still holds the life she protected for so many years. Her name was Haruko. With the hope of sharing this place with people from around the world, I named this house HARU, after my grandmother.

After my grandmother passed away, this house became empty. My cousins had all moved away and started their own lives elsewhere, and we struggled with what to do with this place. In Japan today, the number of vacant homes continues to grow. Especially in rural areas, depopulation and aging communities are accelerating, and along with that, local culture and traditional ways of life are slowly disappearing. Through my own experiences living abroad, I came to realize something. While many people from around the world are interested in Japanese culture, traditions, and daily life, most tend to visit only major cities like Tokyo or Kyoto. But I began to feel that the true charm of Japan still quietly remains in places like this. Here, there is wisdom in living by valuing what you already have. People support one another, and life flows gently alongside nature. I wanted to protect this home and share this way of life with people from all over the world. That is why I opened this house as “Grandma’s House HARU.” I hope that for everyone who visits, this will feel like a place you can return to— your own grandmother’s home.

Minamiaso is a village that changes its expression beautifully with each season. Located at the foot of Mount Aso, home to one of the world’s largest calderas, this area is where many people live by farming, carrying on a way of life that is deeply connected to nature and rooted in mutual support. These magnificent landscapes have been preserved for centuries through the care and dedication of the people who have protected this land. Since I began preparing this home as a place to stay, I’ve had more opportunities to talk with people in the neighborhood. Contrary to my initial impression that the community might be somewhat closed, everyone has welcomed me with genuine warmth. Now, we wave to each other when we pass by, share vegetables grown in our fields, and sometimes even enjoy meals together. I truly love this village and the people who live here—strong, kind, and full of life. I feel very proud of them. When you visit Grandma’s House HARU, I hope you’ll also have the chance to meet the wonderful people of this village.