Muslim couple welcomes locals to historic Japanese farmhouse in Shimane
A Moroccan-Japanese family has opened their century-old farmhouse in rural Shimane to neighbors for tea, meals and cultural exchange.
In the mountainous Hakuta area of Yasugi, Shimane Prefecture, Fatih Ymran and his wife Nanami have transformed their more-than-century-old farmhouse into a welcoming space for the community. Dressed in kimono, they serve matcha tea and guide guests in preparing seasonal treats such as bamboo-leaf-wrapped glutinous rice. The couple, who met while Fatih studied in Kobe and Nanami worked for the Kobe city government, moved to the region in 2020 and purchased the house in 2023, now living there with their son Sami.
Their home also hosts short stays for foreign residents from Saudi Arabia and Bangladesh, fostering daily cultural sharing. Local resident Sachiko Omichi described the venue as ideal for meeting new people, and the family says they have faced no discrimination in the village, contrasting with reports of online abuse elsewhere in Japan.
Why it matters
The story shows how personal hospitality can bridge cultures in a rural Japanese setting.
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