Found a Host Family

So, I've decided where I'm staying. Using the LA PROVINCE website (linked at the bottom of my blog), I've snagged a host family that's apparently in high demand. I've paid the 15,000 JPY; or about $170USD for the registration fee and I've been given my host family's contact information. It will cost me 70,000JPY, or approximately $800USD, for 28 days from July 21st to August 18th. Wish me luck on raising that sort of money in two months!

Apparently, I will be staying with the Tanaka family, located somewhere in the middle of Tokyo by the Yamashina (Zarai Station [whatever that means]) railway station. They live within walking distance of the train station, which is good since I don't think I'll have to get a bike or anything to roam around the country.

None of the family are smokers, according to LA PROVINCE. They live in a very large house as well, by Japanese standard. My room will be 6 tatami large (approximately 9x12 ft). They also have Internet access, which I'm hoping is wifi.

Finally, the person whom I'm in contact with from my host family mentioned that Japan is nice and hot during the summer, and that there is a large lake called Biwa that's nearby. I'll have to remember to pack some swimming trunks!

I'm really looking forward to getting to know my host family better. Unfortunately I don't have any pictures of them as of yet. So instead, I've enclosed a picture of the lake Biwa aqueduct, linking back to the Kyoto University website where there's quite the informative article about the lake.

Lake Biwa and Kyoto University