Preservation of Good old wisdom and culture with traditionaL scenery.
We help to preserve the unique beauty and fascination that can only be found in traditional Japanese houses, while preserving as much as possible the beauty that has accumulated over the long history of the house. We propose plans and promote projects for the renovation and use of traditional Japanese houses to create high quality, comfortable spaces.
YAMAURA STAY/Chino City, Nagano Prefecture
What is the fascination of using traditional Japanese houses?
No.1
Time-honored beauty and strength.
The landscape of traditional Japanese houses unique to the region is disappearing as they are replaced by newer and newer houses. The wood is known to increase in strength as it dries, the stronger it becomes, which is very different from new construction materials that lose strength over time. The wood that has become stronger through natural drying is now covered with soot and shining black, the pillars and beams are bent, and the house is now being replaced by new houses. These are precious beauties that cannot be created by trying to make new ones today.
No.2
Crystals filled with life wisdom
Traditional Japanese houses are designed to fit the lifestyle of the region and make it easy to live in. They are built according to the local industry and climate, and each region has its own unique characteristics. The wisdom of our ancestors has been crystallized and preserved in the form of traditional Japanese houses. We can add modern wisdom to them and bring them back to life as a place to live.
No.３
One of a kind.
The design of each house is different from region to region, each with its own “unique” fascination. If we can pass on the townscape and the wisdom of rural life, the pride and culture of the people who live there will be passed on, and the experience and realization that the village and the environment become a fascination like no other. Traditional Japanese houses can serve as a bridge between people who want to leave the city and find a place to settle down with a local community.
To make it sustainable
My experience as a volunteer after the Great East Japan Earthquake made me question the homogenization of local cities and town landscapes. There is a roundabout in front of every train station, and pansies that have nothing to do with the area are blooming. There are national chain restaurants, and houses built by a developer are lined up a short walk away. I began to wonder, “Is this Japan?” I began to wonder. I wanted to contribute to solving social problems through community development by using vacant traditional Japanese houses, and was given the opportunity to conduct a project in Chino City, Nagano Prefecture. When I talked to the carpenters who were actually renovating the traditional Japanese houses on site, I also discovered a new social problem. The number of carpenters in Japan as a whole is decreasing, and the number of carpenters with the skills to renovate traditional Japanese houses is even smaller. There is no place for young people to pass on their skills, and because there are fewer construction sites requiring high technical skills, there is no need to pass them on. If this situation continues, there will be no carpenters with the skills and knowledge to maintain and renovate traditional Japanese houses before the townscape is preserved and vacant traditional Japanese houses are used. In order to maintain an environment in which traditional Japanese houses can be renovated, we hope to continue to create jobs related to traditional Japanese houses.
Achievements and Career
YAMAURA STAY Project
2020 / Chino City, Nagano Prefecture
Some vacant traditional Japanese houses over 100 years old were renovated into a hotel for rent. Mr. Alex Kerr, a leading expert in Japanese culture and traditional Japanese house renovator, supervised the project. The pillars and walls that had accumulated over the long history of the house were left as intact as possible and renovated to create a high quality, comfortable space. Not just old, but truly relaxing and luxurious, these are the four buildings of Yamaura Stay.
The traditional Japanese house, HINATAKE
2019/ Chino City, Nagano Prefecture
We supported the client in finding a house. The house was too big for a family of three, so we suggested using part of the house as a guest house. The previous owner also visited the house and decided to move to Chino City.
Miyuki Sasaki
Bachelor of Architecture,Faculty of Engineering,Tokai University-Kanagawa,Japan.
Real Estate Transaction Specialist
GSTC Professional Certificate in Sustainable Tourism
After graduating from university, I worked for a real estate developer and a design firm in project planning and design supervision. After the Great East Japan Earthquake, I questioned the homogenization of local towns and cities, and went to Italy to study urban development initiatives at the Slow City Association and Albergo Diffuso in Italy. Since 2017, as a project manager at the Chino Tourism Organization (DMO), I have been promoting the “Yamaura Stay” project, which uses vacant traditional Japanese houses in the city of Chino, Nagano Prefecture. The origin opened in 2023. Provides consulting services regarding vacant houses and the use of old private houses.
Services Offered
・Business Development Project Manager
I have been involved in many development projects as a business owner, and as the project manager of the Yamaura Stay project, I promoted the project from the finding of vacant houses to the opening of the business. With these experiences, I can share the goals envisioned by the business owner and promote the business.
・Proposing and coordinating the use of traditional Japanese houses
With regard to vacant houses in municipalities and the use of traditional Japanese houses, we will propose specific use plans, drawing on our experience in tourism urban planning and sustainable tourism in a DMO. In addition, we coordinate the selection of building materials to bring the house closer to the ideal condition, taking into account the progress of the site and costs, and facilitate communication and coordination with carpenters who use specialized terminology.
・Hotel Business Consulting
Utilization of real estate of traditional Japanese house, including a single building rental business
・Furniture and Equipment Selection (FFE)
YAMAURA STAY will propose furniture and fixtures to be installed in the Japanese traditional houses, taking advantage of our experience.
・Online Consultation
Consultation on the use of vacant traditional Japanese house, etc. For those who are not sure where to start, we also offer a short 30 minute online consultation.
・Accompanying the client in the search for vacant houses and Japanese traditional houses
We are not looking for investment purposes, but for people who want to settle down. Based on our experience in brokering traditional Japanese house. we will help you find the Japanese traditional houses that meets your needs.
・Migration Consulting
We will answer your questions about migration based on our experience of moving to Chino City, Nagano Prefecture, and visiting 21 municipal migration offices and 36 local offices in about 18 months of searching for a place to settle.
*We will provide you with an estimate of the various fees.
Contact Us
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