OKAERI PROJECT — 2026
Now active in Fudai, Iwate.
Join us in building the next site.
OKAERI in 30 Seconds
GOAL — What success looks like
100 restored properties across Japan, connected by a single membership — so anyone can stay at any of them, anywhere in the country.
STEPS — How we get there
We keep renovation budgets minimal and rebuild each property gradually through DIY, proving the model one site at a time before scaling. Site 1 (Fudai, Iwate) proves the model → crowdfunding builds the community and the budget → expand to 3–5 sites → scale to 100 sites nationwide.
NOW — What we need
Site 1 in Fudai Village signs its formal lease this July. We're preparing a crowdfunding campaign to fund the renovation. If you're interested in supporting or partnering with us, please get in touch.
PROJECT SUMMARY
OKAERI PROJECT regenerates vacant houses across Japan at low cost, turning them into accommodations, long-stay bases, and community hubs.
Conventional renovation projects often require enormous upfront costs, leaving operators burdened with fixed expenses before they even open.
OKAERI does the opposite: as-is handover, ultra-low rent, DIY renovation, local involvement, and multiple revenue streams — a structure that runs lean from day one.
The goal is not a luxury inn chain. It is to build entry points across Japan where ordinary people can connect with rural communities.
1. Our Story — ORIGIN
Vacant houses are multiplying across Japan. According to government statistics, the number has surpassed 9 million — an all-time high.
In rural areas, houses stand empty — inherited but untouched, slowly falling apart. Weeds grow. Windows crack. The decay is quiet but relentless.
Yet each of these houses once held a life — a family's memories, a neighborhood's history.
Meanwhile, more people yearn to connect with rural Japan — to escape the city, start something, create in nature, or try rural living before committing.
Yet despite the desire, most people never find a first place. You need money, connections, experience. Most stop at "I want to."
OKAERI PROJECT bridges the gap between vacant houses that cannot be maintained and people who have nowhere to begin their challenge.
2. The Root Problem — THE PROBLEM
Vacant houses nationwide (2023).
All-time high. +510,000 in 5 years.
Vacancy rate — all-time high.
1 in 7 homes now sits empty.
Average demolition cost.
Too expensive — so houses are left to rot.
The real problem: owners can't sell, can't maintain, can't afford demolition. "I want to keep it — but I can't do anything." Millions of houses sit in exactly this state.
More people want to connect with rural Japan — yet they have nowhere to start. People ready to challenge and houses that need people never seem to find each other.
OKAERI connects the two.
Vacant House Owners × People Ready to Challenge
3. What is OKAERI — CONCEPT
OKAERI is not simply a traditional inn business. Nor is it a typical rural revitalization event project.
What OKAERI wants to create is "a place where people gather quietly, and relationships grow."
Rural revitalization tends to spotlight big events, markets, and festivals. But these often end in exhausted organizers and one-time spending.
OKAERI takes the opposite approach — not big events, but value in everyday atmosphere.
Drinking coffee on the engawa veranda
Slowly fixing the garden together
Eating around the irori hearth
Escaping the city for just a few days
Doing DIY work together
We want to multiply these quiet ways of being part of a place.
4. How OKAERI Differs
| Category | Conventional Approach | OKAERI |
|---|---|---|
| Initial Investment | High | Minimal |
| Renovation | Full renovation | Staged DIY |
| Fixed Costs | High | Minimized |
| Operations | Operator-centric | Distributed locally |
| Revenue | Accommodation only | Multiple streams |
| Value Source | Finished space | The growth process |
| Risk Profile | High occupancy dependent | Low fixed-cost structure |
5. Why OKAERI Doesn't Fail — BUSINESS STRUCTURE
Why Conventional Inns Fail
High acquisition, full renovation, loan burdens, staffing, and occupancy dependency — money runs out before the business stabilizes.
The OKAERI Philosophy
What matters is not maximizing profit quickly, but building a structure resilient enough to survive slow starts.
6. Property Strategy
| Condition | Reason |
|---|---|
| As-is handover, DIY allowed, no restoration | Owner eliminates property tax while earning rent |
| Ultra-low rent | Minimize fixed costs |
| Long-term lease (10–15 years) | Secure time to recoup renovation investment |
| Prioritize pre-licensed properties | Reduce opening costs |
| Prioritize scenery and local character | Enhance stay value |
In property selection, we prioritize stay value, scenery, narrative, and content potential — over mere age.
How a Property Grows
We never open a run-down property as an inn on day one. Each property moves through three stages, and only reaches premium pricing once it's actually ready.
Phase 1 — Zero Risk Period
Start by getting someone living there
Acquire the property as-is. Assess its condition and determine the best path. Rental use — which requires no inn license — is one valid option.
Phase 2 — Fan Building Period
Open inn after DIY completes
The renovation approach varies by property type. For traditional farmhouses, DIY leads to an inn. For ordinary vacant houses, rental use may fit better. The inn opens only after DIY is complete.
Phase 3 — Revenue Maximization
Convert to premium pricing after DIY
Inn license secured, whole-house rental launches. The renovated property and fans built during DIY become the first guest base.
If inn licensing falls through, the property simply continues as a long-term rental. No restoration required, no sunk renovation cost — exit risk stays close to zero at every phase.
7. House Master System
Rather than centralizing all management at HQ, OKAERI creates small local operators in each region.
No training required. Anyone who wants to do it raises their hand. HQ holds the know-how. All we ask of a House Master is to be there.
HQ's Role
HQ handles: reservations, SNS, marketing, incident decisions, complaints, brand management, and manuals. We standardize cleaning protocols, emergency responses, check-in flows, and community rules — making multi-site expansion possible.
On Operational Independence
The answer to "can one person really run this?" is: the House Master doesn't need to do everything. Reservations, marketing, complaints, and SNS are all handled by HQ. The House Master just needs to be on-site for cleaning and checks. Standardized manuals ensure quality even as House Masters change — enabling multi-site expansion.
Residential Rental Type
Not everyone wants to run an inn. OKAERI also subleases properties to people hoping to try rural living. The owner leases as-is — property tax disappears, rental income begins — with DIY allowed and no restoration required. OKAERI pays ¥10,000/month to the owner and collects ¥20,000–30,000 from the resident. The margin is OKAERI's revenue. Residents get affordable rent and full DIY freedom — an entry point for those testing rural relocation.
8. Revenue Model — REVENUE MODEL
¥30,000–40,000/night. One group per day. Core revenue.
From OpeningWorkation, creative residencies, relocation trials. Critical for filling slow seasons.
Month 3+Equipment, goods, and financial sponsorship. Not advertising — participation in rural regeneration.
Pre-OpeningDocument the renovation process itself. The goal is awareness, fan-building, and community — not SNS monetization.
From Opening9. Why We Don't Depend on International Tourism
OKAERI does not build its model around international tourists. Exchange rates, geopolitics, disasters, pandemics, and tourism policy all create volatile demand.
Instead, OKAERI builds on domestic long stays, corporate retreats, creative residencies, workation, and community relationships — a structure that sustains itself in normal times.
International guests are welcome as a result. But we will never build an inn that cannot survive without them.
OKAERI's Priority Demand
Build a structure that sustains itself in normal times — first.
10. Model Cases
The key decision for each property is whether it can operate as a lodging. Both models share the same conditions: as-is handover, low rent (equivalent to property tax), long-term contract, no restoration obligation. The goal is to minimize fixed costs so that even low occupancy or few tenants generates profit.
Ex.) 70-year-old kominka, Yoshino, Nara
A property with no bath, toilet, or septic tank — everything must be built from scratch, making initial investment higher. However, if rent can be kept to the property tax equivalent, fixed costs after opening remain extremely low. Funds and supporters are gathered through crowdfunding, DIY participation, and process documentation, then the property is rented as a whole unit.
| Initial Investment | Est. Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Cleaning / clearing | ¥200,000+ | |
| Septic tank installation | ¥500,000–1,000,000 | ¥300,000 subsidy available |
| Toilet installation | ¥150,000–300,000 | |
| Bath installation | ¥300,000–600,000 | |
| Bedding / furniture | ¥200,000–300,000 | Used / donated items |
| DIY materials | ¥200,000+ | |
| Health dept. application | ¥20,000–30,000 | Simple lodging license |
| Administrative scrivener | ¥150,000–300,000 | Optional; DIY possible |
| Fire safety equipment | ¥200,000–800,000 | Alarm system, emergency lights |
| Fire inspection / filing | ¥80,000–200,000 | Includes inspection attendance |
| Flame-retardant furnishings | ¥50,000–200,000 | Fire-labeled curtains required |
| Insurance | ¥50,000–100,000 | Liability insurance |
| Operating capital | ¥500,000 | Buffer for launch period |
| Total estimate | ¥2M–3M | Reducible with subsidies |
Year 1 (10–15% occupancy · 3–5 nights/mo.)
※ Conservative Year 1 estimate. The low fixed-cost structure ensures profitability even at low occupancy. Initial investment of ¥2M–3M recovered in 3–5 years.
Year 3 (25–35% occupancy · 8–11 nights/mo.)
※ Fan base built through SNS and crowdfunding drives occupancy growth. Cherry blossom season (April) can push occupancy above 50%.
If lodging is not possible (rental)
Paid to owner
¥800–¥10,000/mo.
Property tax equiv.
Rent from tenant
¥20,000–30,000/mo.
As-is, DIY allowed
Monthly profit
¥10,000–20,000
Ready to start, no renovation
Ex.) 1975-built house, Fudai, Iwate
Septic tank already in place. Only toilet and bath renovation required. Significantly lower initial investment than Model A. With rent at property-tax level, the ultra-low fixed-cost structure means profit from just 1 booking per month.
Initial Investment (estimate)
※ No septic installation needed, cheaper than Model A. Fire safety and administrative costs are similar. Reducible through DIY and self-filing.
Revenue (rent: approx. ¥4,300/mo.)
※ Fixed costs under ¥10,000/mo. — even empty months do not strain operations. Initial investment of ¥1M–1.5M recoverable in 2–3 years. Brand awareness grows through the "Miracle Village" story and the famous unmanned station.
If lodging is not possible (rental)
Paid to owner
¥4,300/mo.
Property tax equiv.
Rent from tenant
¥20,000–30,000/mo.
As-is, DIY allowed
Monthly profit
¥15,000–25,000
Ready to start, no renovation
Properties that cannot operate as lodging are rented out instead
No renovation at all. Rented as-is with DIY freedom, at rent equivalent to property tax. As tenants renovate while living, property value improves and owner management costs drop to zero.
Conditions
Monthly Revenue
※ Starts with no renovation costs. Profit compounds as more properties are added. DIY by tenants improves property value over time.
OKAERI subleases properties to tenants. Scalable nationwide model.
A scale-up model for increasing properties alongside the lodging and rental models. OKAERI subleases from owners to people seeking rural relocation or DIY living. All cleaning, repairs, and clearing are the tenant's responsibility. Revenue compounds with minimal overhead.
Conditions
Monthly Revenue (per property)
※ Property tax covered by owner. Ready to start without renovation. Near-zero management. Profit compounds as properties are added. Tenant DIY improves property value upon move-out.
RISK ZERO
Starts without renovation costs — vacancy risk does not threaten operations
VALUE UP
Tenant DIY improves property value upon move-out
SOCIAL IMPACT
Eliminates owner management burden and prevents properties from becoming problem vacancies
11. Risk Awareness & Mitigation
Plumbing Failures
Aging pipes and water heaters can fail without warning. Mitigated by monthly repair reserves.
Roof Leaks
Traditional farmhouse roofs and walls are prone to leaking. Staged renovation prioritizes critical fixes first.
Low Occupancy
Seasonal slumps reduce revenue. Mitigated by multiple revenue streams and off-season programs.
Community Friction
Friction with neighbors or local community. Mitigated by House Master's steady relationship-building.
Cleaning Quality Variance
Quality can vary as House Masters change. Standardized through manuals and checklists.
Staffing Gaps
If a House Master candidate can't be found. Continuously cultivating candidates through SNS and crowdfunding.
Core Mitigation Principles
12. Funding Policy — FUNDING POLICY
OKAERI is not a "borrow big, start big" business.
By assuming as-is handover, ultra-low rent, DIY, and staged renovation, OKAERI is built to start small and scale steadily.
What matters is not "expand as fast as possible" but "stay in the community long-term with a structure hard to abandon."
Not just fundraising — also building supporters, SNS reach, early fans, and House Master candidates. Sponsor companies backing the campaign increase its chance of success.
We offer sponsors not "ad space" but participation in rural regeneration. Furniture, tools, paint, bedding, outdoor goods, and consumables are actually used at the property — providing long-term authentic exposure.
This is not a model that depends on loans. However, for safety requirements, plumbing repairs, and operating capital, public financing may be utilized. The guiding principle: not "borrow as much as possible" but "operate sustainably within repayment capacity."
Value Offered to Sponsor Companies
Lasting Physical Presence
Property name, room names, equipment adoption. Permanently remembered as "the inn supported by [Company]." More durable than SNS exposure.
Part of a National Expansion
Investment in Site #1 seeds a network of 10 sites nationwide. Success means your brand appears at every location, indefinitely.
Discounted Employee Access
Discounted rates for sponsor company employees. "Access to a traditional farmhouse" is a unique employee benefit. Ideal for team retreats and workation.
Rural Revitalization Brand
Sponsoring a project tackling vacant house crisis and rural revitalization builds strong CSR credentials. Crowdfunding returns create new customer touchpoints.
Approach to Initial Funding
Crowdfunding (community + DIY costs) × Sponsor partnerships (equipment + materials) × DIY & labor (compress costs) × Revenue reinvestment (staged renovation) × Public financing only when necessary
13. National Expansion
Yoshino is Yoshino. Niigata is Niigata. Nagano is Nagano. Each site keeps its regional character. What is unified is the philosophy — "turning abandoned places into places where people can challenge themselves" — and a minimum standard of quality.
Phase 01 — Year 1
Yoshino Site
1 site
Phase 02 — Year 3
Multi-Site
3–5 sites
Phase 03 — Year 5
Nationwide
10 sites nationwide
Yoshino, Nara
Quiet mountain retreat
Heavy Snow, Niigata
Creative residency in deep snow
Nagano
Creator retreat hub
Seto Inland Sea
Island long-stay
Fix the place little by little.
Let people gather little by little.
Quietly grow a relationship with the community.
OKAERI will multiply this new way of connecting with rural Japan
— across the entire country.
OKAERI PROJECT ↗
For sponsorship inquiries, House Master interest,
or any other questions about OKAERI PROJECT,
please feel free to reach out.
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