A casual chat breaks the ice between strangers.

In the dining room, the table was heavy with seafood dishes like sashimi and fried items. As well as that, salt-baked sea bream was brought to the father and son next to me. And I was given an extra bowl of steamed rice with red beans. I was told this was my share of the food from the father and son's celebration dinner. Apparently, they'd taken this trip to commemorate the father's retirement. I offered them beer in return, and as we continued to refill each others' glasses the conversation soon grew lively.
After dinner, the son went to the kitchen to help out with the dishes and then came back and said, "Dad, they said they can make rice balls for our breakfast tomorrow as we have to leave early in the morning"
That's another good thing about guest houses - if you have to leave early the next morning, they can soon change things to accommodate your needs. And if they look busy, you're more than welcome to give a hand in the kitchen after dinner. You can act just as though you're visiting your relatives' house.
As I helped put the dishes back into the cupboard, I complimented the landlady on the appetizer of boiled peanuts and the delicious fresh fish. She beamed and said she'd like to show me the peanuts at harvest time.
Whether because of this conversation or not, a visit to the vegetable field the guest house was so proud of, and a trip to the fishing port early in the morning to see freshly caught fish were planned before I noticed.

Just staying there, you sense a feeling of nostalgia far from daily life.

Following the landlady's advice, I left the guest house at 7 o'clock the next morning and went to the nearby fishing port.
Seagulls flew ahead of the boats coming into port. Watching the huge cranes unload the fish was quite a sight. My eyes were drawn to the freshness of the fish, but I also found the brisk, economical movements of the port workers fascinating. Watching a scene full of so much energy really raised my spirits.
I liked the look of the town surrounding the port, too. There were cats relaxing here and there, waiting for their share of the harvest. Elsewhere, there was a gentle slope, and a shrine standing on high ground looking down on the port. You could see the day to day life of the people living nearby.
When I returned to the guest house, I was given broiled dried horse mackerel for breakfast. For some reason, even a common fish like that suddenly seemed somehow special. After eating, the high spirited landlady led me to her vegetable field.
The leaves of the peanut bushes were pea-like, with a cute, round shape. When you pull the plant out of the ground, you can see the familiar shape of the peanut shells. It was such a strange sight I let out a little cheer.
Looking up, I had the feeling the sky was very close to me. The wind sweeping past, the sun shining down, the soft earth beneath my feet - I could sense the warmth of the people raised in this peaceful environment spreading through my heart.
I felt I knew more about Minami-Boso than I had the day before. Guest houses are great because they bring people closer together. Even with people you may only meet once in your life, their heartfelt kindness is truly moving, particularly if you're used to traveling. It's something that's priceless, a source of unforgettable memories you'll cherish for years.
Once again I was captivated by the kindness and hospitality of people raised in the midst of nature. This is probably the main reason why I keep coming back to Minami-Boso.