*I lived here for 1 year*
Quick summary: for the price, and if you prefer a safe, quiet area, and do not mind being a bit far from the main city, then I think this is great for you! You also get to be in a non-touristy/ more local feeling area.
The hosts:
Aya and Yoko picked me up in a taxi when I first came. We had tea and talked for some time, then they took me out. They really care about what their guests think so they will treat you well (-:
They would often come to the house throughout my stay and would often cook and invite me to join them. Sometimes they would also treat me out to dinner. They also checked in on me often to make sure I was okay and there were no problems. They always responded to my messages quickly as well. For the most part, I have many good memories with them and I'm sure you will too c:
The house:
The house is old, but it has it's charm. The rooms are quaint, and so is the location. Great for short stays!
If you stay anywhere for some time you begin to notice some things that may get on your nerves. Such as the breaker constantly going out because the house is old. You can simply go and turn it back on, but it was annoying, especially in the winter. Some people were annoyed they had to clean the bathtub themselves before they used it, but I never used it so I didn't mind. The kitchen is large, so it's great if you want to make your own food, or have a place to eat your pre-made meal ^^ The door to the house is ectronic, so you never have to worry about getting locked out!!! There is also a laundry machine and places to dry your clothes if you want to wash anything. Also, there is a fridge you can keep food in. They also have shampoo and conditioner, but I lived here for a year so I used my own. They even have some bikes if you want to bike around the area!
More about the area:
The convenience stores and grocery store is within about a 10 minute walk. And the station is a 20 minute walk away. There are tons of restaurants near the station c: Lots of good local places to try as well as chains~ There's also a gorgeous park. Kokubunji is awesome~