Refers to the town or area where one was born or grew up. Slightly formal or literary compared to 故郷 (こきょう) or 地元 (じもと).
He decided to return to his hometown and live with his parents.
Compound of 本 (ほん, 'main' or 'original') and 郷 (ごう, 'village' or 'hometown'). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the spelling is conventionally associated with the meaning 'one's hometown'.