People Say the Nicest Things
US Worldschoolers
We absolutely loved our stay at GP Mura in the fall of 2025. Our family of four, with kids ages 8 and 5, stayed for just over a month, and it was the first place during our year of travel where we truly felt at home.
From the start, our house felt warm, comfortable, and thoughtfully designed for real daily living—a cozy living room, dining space, and kitchen that made it easy to settle into a rhythm and feel grounded. GP himself was an incredibly knowledgeable and helpful host, always available with thoughtful guidance, local insight, and recommendations that truly enhanced our time in Japan.
GP also did an amazing job curating meaningful, non-touristy experiences within the community. Glass blowing, pottery, Japanese lessons, school lessons for our kids, cooking classes, onsen visits, and restaurant recommendations all felt authentic and deeply connected to local life.
What made GP Mura truly special, though, was the sense of community GP fostered. We met fellow travelers from all over the world, and our kids formed genuine friendships with another family—connections we’ve continued to cherish and stay in touch with as our travels continue.
We can’t recommend GP Mura enough for families or travelers looking for a beautiful place to stay in Japan with a strong, welcoming community. We also fell in love with Otaru, a wonderful town in Hokkaido that we likely wouldn’t have discovered if not for GP Mura. It will always hold a very special place in our family’s year abroad.
HK Lady Shredders
GPs fun and welcoming personality immediately made us feel at home, and he introduced us to hidden snowboarding spots that we’d never have found on our own! It’s clear that GP puts a lot of thought and care into making the place inviting and community-focused. What really stood out, though, was how much GP’s connection to the area enriched our experience. From snowboarding advice to cultural tips, he helped us get the most out of our time there. By the end of the month, it felt like we were leaving a second home!!!
German Volunteer
What else can i say than "WOW". I stayed for 6 weeks and it was by far the best time I had in Japan. They are heartwarming people that will do everything to make your stay as nice as possible. Through the community building project I was not only able to learn something about Japanese culture, but also about French, Swedish, American and Chinese culture. In addition I made a lot of friends as well. GP taught me a lot about construction work, showed me how to snowboard and always brought us to the best places in the area.