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Special request of my sister-in-law: Photos of the house. So a somewhat belated post about our house here:

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We got lucky. The house we finally found isn’t a typical rental house, but a family residence, thoughtfully designed and built by a family whose name still hangs on the gate. Even without any furnishings, the house still felt like a home. The two daughters left handprints in the cement steps to the handkerchief-sized patio, and the lease agreement forbade us to cut down the olive tree in the front yard. Even our real estate agent looked a little surprised at that!  Someone in this family is a little like Heidi’s custom-builder father – organized, highly efficient, and aware of small details which generate disproportionate convenience and/or luxury. Multiple electrical outlets in every room - including the tiny finished storage attic. (Alex has claimed this as his home office/man-cave. “Cave” being a literal descriptor of its height, he outfitted it with a Japanese-style ground-height leather armchair and low desk.) 

Hamling Medical Service's Home Office!

There are built-in storage cabinets in all the right places, plus a large entry area for shoe-changing. Light switches that have a small green light when they are off – so you can see them to turn them on.  Roll-down metal wind-screens have an “automatic” switch. Most commonly, these are opened and closed by hand…most places we looked, it was a 5-step process. The automatic switches give you privacy when needed, and light when wanted.

The bathroom has a deep-soaking tub, which can be controlled via a panel in the bathroom OR from the kitchen. Let your hot water fill up while you finish cooking/the dishes.

There's a classic Japanese "tatami" room, with lovely grass matting, that we've outfitted with a futon as our bedroom.

The living room/dining room is long and narrow. We brought in a comfy couch, more grass matting, and a low-to-the-ground Japanese tea table.

The kitchen is narrow, larger than many Japanese kitchens, and with a connecting bar counter through to the dining room.

Since the master bedroom is also long and narrow, we re-purposed it to be Heidi's Home Office on one half and the Yoga room/Guest bedroom on the other half.

Heidi's Home Office.

We moved in with not much - clothes, mostly. Since the stay isn't long-term, we didn't want to fuss about furniture.  Furniture was second-hand, or from Nitori (the Japanese Bed-Bath-and-Beyond meets Ikea). Since we're lacking certain non-essential furniture, and since the batterie de la cuisine is somewhat less extensive as when I (Heidi) was in college, there is a certain back-to-basics feel.

On the whole, loving it! Thank you, Hosue family, for renting a house that lets us enjoy Japanese home life, with a few little luxuries.