How can I find a host family in Japan?

I would like to travel to Japan this summer. How can I find a host family?

Check out this website. It has links to organizations that arrange homestays and home visits.

http://gojapan.about.com/cs/traveltools/a/homestay.htm

Note: I strongly advise you to study the etiquette of a Japanese visit before going so that you can show the family the proper respect. Examples include (but there are many more):

** Bring a gift -- food or a souvenir from your hometown will work well

**Take your shoes off when entering a Japanese home. You may be offered slippers -- if so, feel free to wear them. (Might want to skip your socks with holes!)

**If you are eating dinner together, there are separate food rules, e.g. don't stick your chopsticks in the rice, don't pour your own drink, etc.

Happy travels!

Host families are usually set up by schools for foreign exchange students. Normally it is very difficult to find one just on your own not organized through an organization.