noun
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).
彼は本郷に帰って、両親と暮らすことにした。
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'.