故郷(ふるさと)

ふるさと
noun
hometown; birthplace; native place
geographyculture
1. hometown; birthplace; one's native place
The place where one was born or grew up; one's home region, carrying strong emotional and nostalgic connotations.
故郷(ふるさと)が恋(こい)しい。
I miss my hometown.
夏休(なつやす)みに故郷(ふるさと)に帰(かえ)る予定(よてい)です。
I plan to go back to my hometown during summer vacation.
何年(なんねん)ぶりかに故郷(ふるさと)を訪(おとず)れたら、駅前(えきまえ)の景色(けしき)がすっかり変(か)わっていた。
When I visited my hometown for the first time in years, the scenery around the station had completely changed.
2. spiritual home; place of origin
A place that feels like home or is the origin of something, used figuratively.
京都(きょうと)は日本文化(にほんぶんか)の故郷(ふるさと)だ。
Kyoto is the spiritual home of Japanese culture.
彼(かれ)にとって、あの山(やま)は心(こころ)の故郷(ふるさと)だ。
For him, that mountain is a spiritual home.
この地域(ちいき)は日本(にほん)ワインの故郷(ふるさと)として知(し)られ、多(おお)くの観光客(かんこうきゃく)が訪(おとず)れる。
This region is known as the birthplace of Japanese wine, and many tourists visit.

The most emotionally resonant word for "hometown" in Japanese. While 故郷(こきょう) (the on'yomi reading) is more formal and literary, 故郷(ふるさと) is the everyday word carrying deep nostalgia and warmth. It often evokes images of rural landscapes, childhood memories, and family ties.

Common collocations

Similar words

  • 故郷(こきょう): hometown — same kanji, on'yomi reading; more formal and literary
  • 地元(じもと): local area — where one currently lives or is from; less emotional than 故郷(ふるさと)
  • 田舎(いなか): countryside — emphasizes the rural character, can be slightly negative
  • 出身地(しゅっしんち): place of origin — neutral, factual term used on forms and in introductions

Cultural note

故郷(ふるさと) is one of the most beloved words in Japanese culture. The song "故郷(ふるさと)" (1914) is known by virtually every Japanese person and is often sung at school graduations and community events. The concept of ふるさと納税(のうぜい) (hometown tax donation) allows people to direct part of their taxes to their home region.

Related Words

Related: 故郷(こきょう) (variant reading (on'yomi); more formal)
Compare: 地元(じもと) (local area)
Compare: 田舎(いなか) (countryside)
Compare: 出身地(しゅっしんち) (place of origin)
Compare: 実家(じっか) (parents' home, family home)
Compare: 母国(ぼこく) (motherland)
Compare: 郷里(きょうり) (hometown)
Compare: 親元(おやもと) (parents' home)
Compare: 祖国(そこく) (homeland)
Related: 演歌(えんか) (enka (Japanese ballad))
general
Added 2026.4.25 23:12 · Revised 2026.9.3 9:27
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