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The Sunday Review
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He’d spent years backpacking around the world, and Japanese Daisuke Kajyama, a traveller from Japan, was ready to go home. home To pursue a long-held goal Open your dream up a guesthouse.
Kajiyama and his Israeli partner Hila returned to Japan in 2011. who The two met up in Nepal. They then set off to search for the best location possible for their future endeavor.
There were however a A couple of big obstacles stood in the way. Kajiyama was very poor after spending years in places such as Korea, Taiwanese, India, Nepalese, Guatemala, Cuba, and Canada.
The man also had his eyes set on a Traditional Languages Japanese Commonly known as “kominka”, the house is a typical example of a traditional Japanese home., These are typically passed down through the generations.
“I wanted to have a traditional house in the countryside,” Kajiyama, speaking to The Sunday Review Travel, explains that his goal was to find houses that were next to eachother, where he could and Hila live, with the other being rented out. a guesthouse that they’d run together. “I had a vision.”
Kajiyama expanded his search when he couldn’t find anything to meet his specifications. abandoned Home in the Country
As younger people ditch rural areas in pursuit of jobs in the city, Japan’s countryside is becoming filled with “ghost” Houses or “akiya.”
According to the Japan Policy Forum, there were 61 million houses and 52 million households in Japan in 2013, and with the country’s population expected to decline from 127 million to about 88 million by 2065This number will likely increase.
Kajiyama drove through Tamatori. a The small village was located between Kyoto (prefecture) and Tokyo. It is surrounded with green tea fields and rice paddies. an We approached the elderly woman farmer.
“I said ‘Do you know if there are any empty houses around here?’ And she just pointed,” He recalls.
He looked over at the area that she was signaling to and spotted two neglected houses side by side – a The former Green Tea Factory an old farmer’s home – located close to a river.
Two properties that had not been occupied for seven years or more were in need of repair. a A lot of work. Kajiyama asked the woman to contact the owner to find out if they’d be interested in selling.
“The owner said that no one could live there, as it was abandoned,” “He says” “But he didn’t say ‘no.’ Everybody was always saying ‘no.’ But he didn’t. So I felt there was a small chance.”
Kajiyama went to the houses around five times to inspect them before negotiating with the owner. an The agreement would allow him to use the green tree plantation as a workspace. a home, and convert The following are some of the ways to get in touch with us. farmer’s house into the guesthouse he’d always envisioned.
He explains that he wanted to buy both homes but was hesitant because of the local traditions. home ownership in Japan mean that he is unable to do so until it’s passed down to the son of the current owner.
“They said ‘if you take all the responsibility yourself, you can take it.’ So we made an agreement on paper,” “He says”
He and Hila both knew that they were a couple. a The couple has a lot to do, who They were excited to have their first child. guesthouse The following are some examples of how to use an Ideal spot
“It’s a very nice location,” says Kajiyama. “It’s close to the city, but it’s really countryside. There are still people who live and work here. [in the city].
“The house is also in front of the river, so when you go to sleep you can hear the sound of the water.”
Kajiyama says that the most difficult part of renovating the 90-year-old house was the clearing of all the stuff. Kajiyama was able repurpose a few of the objects.
He spent the first year of his life in education. a Lots of time spent connecting with locals and learning about the homeFor the first couple of years we helped local farmers to start farming.
Although he wasn’t hugely experienced with renovation work, he had spent some time farming and completing building while he was backpacking, and had also taken odd jobs fixing peoples homes.
He finished much of his work in the guesthouse He replaced the floor and added in a He claims that the toilet he was using was a Wedding present from parents a Around $10,000 is the cost.
“I’m not really a professional,” he says.” I like to do carpentry and I enjoy creating things, but I have no experience in my background.
“From my several years of backpacking, I saw so many interesting buildings, so many houses of interesting shapes and I’ve been collecting those in my brain.”
Kajiyama wanted to make the house look as authentic as it could by using old materials.
The wood he collected from the building company was traditional. who We are in the process tearing down traditional homes.
“They need to spend the money to throw it away,” “It’s not a problem,” he says. “But for me, some of the stuff is like treasure. “So I went and took the material I wanted.
“The house is a very, very old style,” “He says” “So it wouldn’t look nice if I brought in more modern materials. It’s totally authentic.”
The house had been very poorly maintained, which was unusual. a home It was built many years ago.
“It’s totally authentic,” “He says” “Usually, with traditional houses, some renovations are made to the walls, because the insulation is not so strong. So you lose the style.”
He said he had received financial help from the government. This allowed him to earn a living. a Carpenter and also benefitted from Japan’s working holiday programWhen he was in need of extra help, he used a program that allows travellers to work for free and receive food and lodging.
After doing some research into Japanese guesthouse He discovered that registering the property would be the easiest way to obtain one. an Agriculture guesthouse.
The area has a lot of bamboo forest, so this was a good idea. a Kajiyama knew that it was a no-brainer and decided to study bamboo farming in order to combine both businesses.
“This is how I started farming,” “He says”
Two years after starting to renovate the home, in 2014 the couple was finally able welcome their very first guests.
“It was a beautiful feeling,” says Kajiyama. “Of course, this was my dream. But people really appreciate that it was abandoned and I brought it back to life.”
His former life has been reconnected through hosting international guests. a backpacker.
“I stay in one place, but people come to me and I feel like I’m traveling,” “He says. “Today, it’s Australia, tomorrow it’s the UK and next week South Africa and India.
“People come from different places and they invite me to join them for dinner, so sometimes I join someone’s family life.”
Hila died of cancer in 2022. Kajiyama insists that Hila was a vital part of his life. a The support he received from the team was crucial in helping him to realize his dream. a guesthouse and says he couldn’t have done it without her.
“We were really together,” He adds. “She created this place with me. Without her it would not have been like this.”
Three-bedroom homes are available in a variety of sizes. guesthouse, which measures around 80 square meters, has been open for around eight years, Kajiyama is still working on it, and says he has no idea when he’ll be finished.
“It’s never ending,” He confesses. “I’m halfway, I feel. It is beautiful already. But it started off abandoned, so it needs more details. And I’m getting better at creating, so I need time to do it.”
He explains that he’s unable to complete work on the home While guests are present. He spends the two winter months at the house while it is closed. a The bamboo farmer spends a lot of money. a month traveling, which doesn’t leave him much time for renovations.
“Sometimes I don’t do anything,” He confesses.
Yui valley, with its activities like bamboo weaving workshops and other events, has brought many tourists to Tamatori in the past.
“Most of the guests come after Tokyo, and it’s such a contrast,” “He says. “They are really happy to share the nature and the tradition in our house.
“Most people have dreamed of coming to Japan for a They have been around for a long time. a This is a very brief time.
“So they have such a beautiful energy. I’m happy to host in this way and join their holiday time. It’s very special [for me].”
Kajiyama estimates that he’s spent around $40,000 on the renovation work so far, and if the feedback from guests, and locals, is anything to go by, it seems to have been money well spent.
“People appreciate what I’ve done,” He adds. “So that makes me feel special.”
Hiroko was a very interesting woman who The house was pointed out to him by the other a decade ago, Kajiyama says she’s stunned at the transformation, and is amazed at how many international travelers are coming to Tamatori to stay at Yui Valley.
“She cannot believe how much more beautiful it is 1685259500,” “He says” “She didn’t think it was going to be like this. So she really appreciates it. She says ‘thank you’ a lot.”
Yui Valley, 1170 Okabecho Tamatori, Fujieda, Shizuoka 421-1101, Japan
