A must-see for those who want to open a guesthouse! 6 examples of guesthouses utilizing vacant homes
With the COVID-19 pandemic settling down, travel demand is recovering both domestically and internationally.
Especially in 2023, which marked the first year after COVID-19, many people probably traveled for the first time in a while.
Also, more people are looking to host travelers, and some may be aspiring to open a guesthouse.
This article will discuss "opening a guesthouse by utilizing vacant homes," which we highly recommend for such individuals.
We believe that this not only offers economic benefits but also allows you to open an attractive guesthouse that incorporates the story of the vacant home itself.
If you've ever thought, "I want to run a guesthouse in the future!" even a little, please read on.
A guesthouse is a type of accommodation that has its own unique charm, different from traditional hotels and resorts.
It often attracts a diverse range of travelers, including those seeking interaction with the local community in addition to pure travel, and those who stay as address hoppers moving from place to place.
Guesthouses have the following characteristics:
Owners value interaction with guests and local residents, which creates a homely atmosphere.
Even first-time guests are warmly welcomed into the community.
Many guesthouses offer reasonable prices, making them an attractive option for budget-conscious travelers.
Many also offer private rooms for those who prioritize privacy, allowing guests to stay in various types of rooms.
One of their characteristics is that they are often located near tourist spots and local community hubs, allowing guests to feel the local charm up close.
Unlike hotel stays, you can experience local cuisine and culture, and interact with local people to enjoy your trip more deeply.
They are equipped with facilities such as shared kitchens, lounges, and free Wi-Fi, ensuring guests have a comfortable stay.
Since some guests stay for long periods, they are often designed to allow for convenient living.
Meeting other travelers is one of the greatest pleasures of staying at a guesthouse.
It's common to become friends during a trip and meet again at another destination, so you'll find your travel companions growing as you stay in guesthouses.
Next, we will introduce the attractions and benefits of opening a guesthouse by utilizing vacant homes.
Some readers might find some points surprising.
As many of you might imagine, the biggest advantage is that it costs less compared to building a new guesthouse.
Even combining property acquisition and renovation costs, it is often cheaper than building a new one.
There is also the option of renting a vacant home for use, which allows you to start with lower risk than outright purchase.
Furthermore, some municipalities offer subsidies for utilizing vacant homes, so if used effectively, you can significantly reduce the costs until opening.
Depending on the condition of the vacant home and the vision after renovation, it is possible to reduce the effort for design and construction by utilizing the existing layout or keeping shelves and doors as they are.
In the case of a vacant home in good condition, it can sometimes be used immediately after just cleaning and tidying up.
This might be surprising, but there's also the benefit of finding it easier to join the local community.
Local residents might talk to you while you're renovating, or the landlord of the vacant home might introduce you to the community.
The vacant home itself has a history, so utilizing it means inheriting that history, and many people are happy about that.
Now, let's introduce 6 examples of guesthouses across Japan that utilize vacant homes.
Each has its own unique character, so I hope you'll take your time to look at each one.
In Yakumo Town, southern Hokkaido, there is 'SENTŌ,' a guesthouse where you can feel a distinctly Japanese atmosphere.
As the name suggests, 'SENTŌ' is a guesthouse converted from an old public bathhouse, with a history dating back to the Taisho era.
It offers both dormitory and private rooms, and you can relax in the tatami-matted shared lounge.
This guesthouse allows you to fully enjoy the history and charm of the region and the property, offering experiences like farming and dairy farming, and dining at a restaurant converted from the bathhouse itself.
Address: 30 Suehiro-cho, Yakumo-cho, Futami-gun, Hokkaido 049-3112 Access: 10-minute walk from JR Yakumo Station Parking: Available URL:https://yakumo-village.com/guesthouse/
View this post on Instagram A post shared by Guesthouse & Cafe SENTŌ [Yakumo Town, Hokkaido] (@sento_kominka)
'Koagari to Uraniwa to Dogu U' (hereinafter 'U') in Tono City, Iwate Prefecture, is a guesthouse and local shared space operated by Next Commons Lab Tono.
The guesthouse on the second floor, renovated from a private house, offers comfortable private rooms, perfect as a living base for long-term stays.
can be used by anyone for 3,000 yen per month, and it's not uncommon for events to be held there through private bookings.
U's official website also has a page called "How U was made," which records the renovation process, so it's a must-check for those who want to start a guesthouse by utilizing a vacant home.
Address: 5-32 Chuo-dori, Tono City, Iwate Prefecture 028-0523
Access: 5-minute walk from JR Tono Station
Parking: None
'SLOW HOUSE' in Kesennuma City, Miyagi Prefecture, opened in 2022 and warmly welcomes guests with the concept of "slow life."
The renovation funds for the vacant house were raised through crowdfunding, and the renovation itself was done DIY.
It has gained popularity as a guesthouse open to the community, with guests and locals gathering for breakfast in the guesthouse's cafe space.
SLOW HOUSE's Instagram posts are unique and interesting, so be sure to check them out too.
Address: 1-3-3 Saiwai-cho, Kesennuma City, Miyagi Prefecture 988-0026
Parking: Available
Access: 5-minute drive from Kesennuma Port Interchange
Official HP:https://slowhouse.mystrikingly.com/
'INN-SECT' in Tsuyama City, Okayama Prefecture, is a complex facility comprising a cafe, guesthouse, and co-working space, operated by a local IT company.
It utilizes a building that was formerly a local credit union, with the second floor serving as the guesthouse.
It offers dormitory rooms with bunk beds and semi-private cabins, and can also be rented out as a whole room.
Various events are held at the cafe on the first floor, making it a popular facility open to the community.
Address: 29 Nikaicho, Tsuyama City, Okayama Prefecture 708-0024
Parking: None
Access: 10-minute walk from JR Tsuyama Station
Official HP:https://inn-sect.com/
'Setouchi Works Residence GATE' (hereinafter 'GATE') is a facility opened in Mitoyo City, Kagawa Prefecture, as a place that provides "work (roles)," "housing," and "community."
It can be used not only as a guesthouse for lodging but also as a rental property for living, offering the advantage that by staying at GATE first, one can access both local jobs and the community.
In fact, there has been an increasing number of cases in recent years where people who temporarily moved into GATE as a trial have relocated to Mitoyo City.
It is also utilized as a co-working space for local companies, serving as a true "community hub" where travelers, residents, and local people can interact on an equal footing.
Address: 282-10 Nio-otsu, Nio-cho, Mitoyo City, Kagawa Prefecture 769-1404
Access: 15-minute bus ride from JR Kanonji Station
Parking: Available
'Kodateru' in Yawatahama City, Ehime Prefecture, facing the calm Seto Inland Sea, is a facility that has been renovated and utilized from a vacant two-story private house.
The co-working space on the first floor is used by local residents and also serves as a learning place for local children, offering programming classes.
The second floor is a guesthouse, where guests can stay in private rooms or in a camp-like setup by removing partitions.
With the concept of "a secret base where everyone conspires," locals and travelers gather, and exciting "conspiracies" are born every day.
Address: 2187 Mukainada, Yawatahama City, Ehime Prefecture 796-0001
Parking: Available
Access: 25-minute walk from JR Yawatahama Station
Official HP:https://codateru.com/
Roopt, which renovates and utilizes vacant homes, also has many guesthouses.
In this article, we will also introduce examples from Roopt.
'OGAWA,' which opened in Ishinomaki City, Miyagi Prefecture in 2020, acquired a vacant detached house and land, renovated it, and operates it as a guesthouse.
A detached house built approximately 70 years ago (as of 2023) has been revitalized with minimal renovation, while fully maintaining its functions as a guesthouse.
It is also a guesthouse that embodies the spirit of "using what you have," such as making tables from waste materials generated during renovation.
It is close to Ishinomaki city center and is a popular guesthouse for group use, especially in summer.
Address: 1-2-2 Izumi-cho, Ishinomaki City, Miyagi Prefecture 986-0832
Check-in: 17:00
Check-out: 10:00
Parking: None
Access: 15-minute walk from JR Ishinomaki Station
Official HP:https://roopt.jp/stay/ishinomaki-ogawa/
Roopt Ishinomaki Hiyorigaoka operates as a mixed-type share house and guesthouse, utilizing one room of the share house as a guest room.
It is a property that utilized a former company dormitory for an insurance company, and while retaining some of its remnants, the living rooms and guest rooms have been beautifully renovated.
By having a mixed share house and guesthouse model, the awareness of cleanliness is raised, keeping the share house tidy, and it also provides opportunities for interaction for guests, making it a beneficial arrangement for both parties.
It is located near the top of Mt. Hiyori, one of Ishinomaki City's symbols, and a short walk to the summit offers a wide-open ocean view of the Pacific Ocean.
Address: 1-21-13 Hiyorigaoka, Ishinomaki City, Miyagi Prefecture
Check-in: 15:00
Check-out: 10:00
Parking: None
Access: 20-minute walk from JR Ishinomaki Station
Official HP:https://roopt.jp/sharehouse/ishinomaki-hiyorigaoka/
'Roopt Okumatsushima,' located in Okumatsushima, the "back" of Matsushima, one of Japan's Three Scenic Views, also operates as a share house × guesthouse.
It utilizes a rarely seen large 9LDK detached house that has been renovated, and in the spacious living room and community space, relaxed interactions are born between share house residents and guesthouse guests.
Guest rooms can accommodate multiple people, and it is frequently used by families visiting Matsushima and Ishinomaki for sightseeing, as well as international tourists.
Due to its spacious parking lot and garage, there are also cases of long-term stays for activities such as surfing.
Address: 1-3-3 Shintona, Higashimatsushima City, Miyagi Prefecture 981-0413
Check-in: 15:00
Check-out: 10:00
Parking: Available
Access: 12-minute walk from JR Tona Station
Roopt Shiogama Kaigandori, located in Shiogama City, Miyagi Prefecture, within walking distance of Shiogama Shrine, utilizes the 2nd to 4th floors of a 4-story building as a renovated share house.
One room at the back of the 2nd-floor living room is a guest room, and due to its proximity to the living room, residents warmly welcome guests.
The spirit of "using what's available" is also reflected in this "Roopt Shiogama Kaigan-dori," where waste materials from other properties are utilized throughout for a unique renovation.
An auto-lock system is installed at the entrance, allowing guests to freely enter and exit even when residents are not present.
Address: 5-7 Kaigan-dori, Shiogama City, Miyagi Prefecture 985-0002
Check-in: 15:00
Check-out: 10:00
Parking: None
Access: 1 minute walk from JR Hon-Shiogama Station
Official HP:https://roopt.jp/sharehouse/shiogama-kaigandori/
This time, we introduced guesthouses across Japan that utilize vacant homes.
With inbound demand on the rise, many people are probably thinking, "I want to run a guesthouse!"
Utilizing vacant homes is an attractive option, so if you're interested after reading this article, we encourage you to research vacant homes.
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