one's homeland; one's old home
A somewhat literary word for the place where one was born or grew up, often carrying a nostalgic or emotional tone.
He left his hometown and works in the city.
My elderly father often talks about his old home.
Compound of 家 (house, home) and 郷 (hometown, native place). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the kanji combination directly suggests the meaning of 'home village' or 'homeland'.