OKAERI — A House in the Miracle Village | Fudai

OKAERI PROJECT — Site #2 · Fudai, Iwate

A House in the Miracle Village 奇跡の村の家

2 min walk from Horiuchi Station. A Showa-era fishing village house, close to the Pacific.

Fudai, Iwate · Sanriku Railway, Horiuchi Sta. 2 min
scroll

The Property

Built in 1975.
A fishing town life,
preserved in time.

Horiuchi, Fudai. A 2-minute walk from the Sanriku Railway station. This house stands on a hill overlooking the Pacific.

Built in 1975, two stories. Kitchen, bath, and toilet included. Multiple tatami rooms. Traces of a fisherman's life remain throughout the house.

Not a complete renovation — but a gradual restoration while living. This house has enough story to deserve that.

LocationHoriuchi District, Fudai, Iwate
AccessSanriku Railway, Horiuchi Sta. 2 min walk
Built1975 (Showa 50)
StructureWooden, 2 stories
1F Area122.99㎡
2F Area45.54㎡
FacilitiesKitchen, bath, toilet included
Layout6-mat, 8-mat, 4.5-mat tatami rooms (multiple) · Entrance · 2nd floor

The House

Take a look inside.

Exterior

Along the national road, beside the Sanriku Railway tracks. A two-story house with white walls and black tiled roof. Built in 1975, standing quietly at the heart of a fishing town.

外観

Tatami Room & Tokonoma

Hanging scrolls, tokonoma alcoves, carved ranma transoms. The craftsmanship of Showa-era artisans remains throughout. Multiple tatami rooms — a lodging, a studio, or a base for life.

床の間

Spacious Tatami Rooms

Multiple tatami rooms: 8-mat, 6-mat, 4.5-mat. Rain shutters, shoji screens, and fusuma doors remain. With some work, a space fully capable of welcoming guests.

和室

Corridor

A long corridor connects the rooms. Light filters through curtains. A quiet, unhurried flow — very much a Showa-era home.

廊下

Entrance

A solid entrance, as befits a fishing town. A decorative iron-lattice sliding door greets you. The earthen floor atmosphere — best left as is.

玄関

Kitchen

A wide L-shaped kitchen. Green trees visible through the window. Stove and sink remain. Polish it up with some DIY work — a fully functional kitchen.

台所

Bath & Toilet

Bath and toilet included. Unlike the Yoshino property, the facilities are already in place. The basic conditions for use as a lodging are already met.

浴室
普代浜
普代浜の岩

The Miracle Village

Fudai was the village that survived.

March 11, 2011. Many coastal communities along the Sanriku coast were swallowed by the tsunami. But the center of Fudai village was almost completely unharmed.

One reason. The 15.5-meter Fudai Floodgate — built by Mayor Wamura Kotoku who pushed construction forward despite fierce criticism. "A gate that high is unnecessary," they said. He did not yield.

"I may not live to see it completed. But I build it for the people of this village, 50 years from now. 100 years from now."

That gate protected the village. Zero flooding in the town center. Zero deaths. And so people still live here today. The air of a Showa-era fishing town remains.

This house stands in that village.

Iwate · Japan · 40°00'N 141°53'E

The village & its surroundings

Click any spot to explore
🏠

OKAERI Property
History & Culture
Nature & Scenery
Sea & Beach

When you don't have money,
you use your head. You bring people in.
You keep putting it out there.

Foreign Capital Moving In

A few years ago, I started seeing news about Japan's vacant houses being bought up by foreign capital. Every vacant property in the countryside — swept up. If left unchecked, the face of Japan will change. But too few people are doing anything.

The Reality of Having No Money

I'm part of Japan's "ice age" generation — one of those who couldn't navigate it well. I saw the problem, but had no money to act. I told myself "someone needs to do something" — while believing that someone couldn't be me.

Moving Anyway

I kept posting on social media. Eventually, a property owner reached out. I discovered the idea that you don't have to fix everything. I realized you can start without money.

MISSION

If this works,
more people might do the same.

What one person can do is small. But if more people share the same vision, the story changes. OKAERI is an experiment: proving you can tackle Japan's vacant house problem without money.

01

Starting From Zero

No savings. No loans. Moving only with crowdfunding, ingenuity, and connections. A real experiment.

02

Keeping Houses in Local Hands

Before foreign capital moves in, create a purpose with local people. One house at a time, carefully.

03

Building a Replicable Model

If Yoshino works, then Ishikawa, Iwate, Niigata. The same structure, spreading to vacant houses across Japan.

04

Showing Others It Can Be Done

The ice age generation. People without money. People who still want to act. Showing that you can do it too — that itself is the goal.

CROWDFUNDING

Will you start this with us?

Joining the crowdfunding moves this experiment forward. Sharing the project is just as powerful as a financial contribution.

¥3M〜
¥5M
Target Amount

Funds go toward minimum renovation costs, equipment, and operational preparation. We will open the Fudai property as a lodging facility and complete this "proof of concept" — so others can follow.

※ Crowdfunding launch date is currently being finalized. Follow our SNS for updates.

Support

Support the restoration of this house.

OKAERI operates through crowdfunding and sponsorship. Your support transforms this house into a place where people gather.

Support · ¥500

Your name on the site

Your name listed as a supporter on the official website.

Support · ¥5,000

Listed in large font

Your name in large font on the site. You'll receive updates on the restoration process first.

Support · ¥50,000

Engraved inside + 1 free night

Your name permanently engraved inside the building. Invited for 1 free night after opening.
※ Via OFUSE: ¥11,000 × 5 times

MESSAGE

Support the Project

Send a message to cheer on the project. Even the price of a coffee makes a real difference.

── Messages from supporters
── Leave your message of support

COLLABORATORS

People who support this project

Those who have supported the OKAERI project.

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SUPPORTERS

Our Supporters

Those who have supported us. Thank you.

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OKAERI PROJECT

For those who want to start something here.

Those who want to live at their own pace in a fishing town. Those who want to create near the sea. Those who want to try living in rural Japan.

Get in Touch
OKAERI PROJECT Fudai, Iwate, Japan