A Must-See for Aspiring Guesthouse Owners! 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 the pandemic, many people probably traveled for the first time in a while.
Furthermore, the number of people who want to host travelers is increasing, and some may be aspiring to open a guesthouse.
This article will discuss "opening a guesthouse 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 includes the story of the vacant home itself.
If you've ever thought, "I want to run a guesthouse in the future!", please read on.
A guesthouse is a type of accommodation that has its own unique charm, different from traditional hotels or resorts.
It often attracts a diverse range of travelers, including those seeking interaction with the local community beyond pure tourism, and address hoppers who move from place to place.
Guesthouses have the following characteristics:
Owners value interaction with guests and local residents, creating 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.
There are often options for private rooms that 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 experience the local charm firsthand.
Unlike hotel stays, you can enjoy your trip more deeply by experiencing local cuisine and culture, and interacting with local people.
Facilities such as shared kitchens, lounges, and free Wi-Fi are well-equipped to ensure guests have a comfortable stay.
Since some guests stay for extended periods, the design often ensures that daily life is convenient.
Meeting other travelers is one of the greatest pleasures of staying at a guesthouse.
It's common to become friends during a trip and then meet again at another destination, so you'll steadily gain travel companions while staying at guesthouses.
Next, we will introduce the attractions and benefits of opening a guesthouse using a vacant home.
Some readers might find some points surprising.
As many people might imagine, the biggest advantage is that costs can be kept lower compared to building a guesthouse from scratch.
Even combining property acquisition and renovation costs, it is often cheaper than building a new one.
There is also the option of leasing a vacant home for use, which allows for a lower-risk start than outright purchase.
Furthermore, some municipalities offer subsidies for vacant home utilization, which can significantly reduce startup costs if used effectively.
Depending on the condition of the vacant home and the vision for renovation, utilizing the existing layout or keeping shelves and doors as they are can reduce the effort involved in design and construction.
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 integrate into the local community.
Local residents might talk to you during renovations, or the landlord of the vacant home might introduce you to the community.
Vacant homes themselves have history, so utilizing them 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.
Located in Yakumo Town in southern Hokkaido, 'SENTŌ' is a guesthouse where you can feel a distinct 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 experience the history and charm of the region and the property, offering agricultural and dairy farming experiences, and dining at a restaurant converted from the bathhouse itself.
Address: 30 Suehirocho, 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, making it perfect as a base for long-term stays.
can be used by anyone for 3,000 yen per month, and events are often held there for exclusive use.
U's official website also has a page titled "How U was Made," which records the renovation process, making it a must-see for those who want to start a guesthouse using 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, is a guesthouse that opened in 2022, warmly welcoming 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.
Address: 1-3-3 Saiwaicho, Kesennuma City, Miyagi Prefecture 988-0026
Parking: Available
Access: 5 minutes by car 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 for exclusive use of a whole room.
Various events are held in 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 accommodation but also as a rental property for living, offering the advantage of accessing local jobs and communities by first staying at GATE.
In fact, there has been an increasing number of cases in recent years where people who temporarily moved into GATE as a trial for relocation have then moved to Mitoyo City.
It is also used as a co-working space for local companies, truly serving as a "local community hub" where travelers, residents, and local people can interact on an equal footing.
Address: 282-10 Niootsu, Niocho, Mitoyo City, Kagawa Prefecture 769-1404
Access: 15 minutes by bus 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 remove partitions for group stays, like a training camp.
With the concept of "a secret base where everyone plans together," locals and travelers gather daily, and exciting "plans" are constantly being born.
Address: 2187 Mukainada, Yawatahama City, Ehime Prefecture 796-0001
Parking: Available
Access: 25-minute walk from JR Yawatahama Station
Official HP:https://codateru.com/
Many guesthouses are also found within Roopt, which renovates and utilizes vacant homes.
This article will also introduce examples from Roopt.
'OGAWA', which opened in Ishinomaki City, Miyagi Prefecture in 2020, acquired a vacant house and land, renovated it, and operates it as a guesthouse.
A house built approximately 70 years ago (as of 2023) was revitalized with minimal renovation, while ensuring its functionality as a guesthouse.
It is also a guesthouse that embodies the spirit of "using what's available," such as making tables from discarded materials generated during renovation.
It is close to Ishinomaki city center and is particularly popular for group use during the summer.
Address: 1-2-2 Izumicho, 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 hybrid of a share house and a guesthouse, utilizing one room of the share house as a guest room.
It is a property that utilizes a former company dormitory of an insurance company, and while retaining some of its original character, the private rooms and guest rooms have been beautifully renovated.
By combining a share house and a guesthouse, the awareness of cleanliness is heightened, 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 summit of Hiyoriyama, one of Ishinomaki City's symbols, and a short walk to the summit offers an expansive 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 "inner" part of Matsushima, one of Japan's three most scenic views, also operates as a share house × guesthouse.
It utilizes a renovated 9LDK house, an unusually large property, where relaxed interactions between share house residents and guesthouse guests occur in the spacious living room and community spaces.
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 and garage, there are also cases of long-term stays for activities like surfing.
Address: 1-3-3 Shintomei, Higashimatsushima City, Miyagi Prefecture 981-0413
Check-in: 15:00
Check-out: 10:00
Parking: Available
Access: 12-minute walk from JR Tomei Station
Roopt Shiogama Kaigandori 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 Kaigandori, where waste materials from other properties have been utilized throughout for a unique renovation.
An automatic lock has been installed at the entrance, allowing guests to enter and exit freely even when residents are not present.
Address: 5-7 Kaigandori, 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 likely thinking, "I want to run a guesthouse!"
Utilizing vacant homes is an attractive option, so if this article has piqued your interest, we encourage you to research vacant homes.
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