Couple breathes new life into an abandoned Japanese house, turning it into a guesthouse

After years of backpacking, Daisuke Kajiyama, a Japanese traveler, was ready to return home and fulfill his dream of opening a guesthouse.

In 2011, Daisuke returned to Japan with his Israeli partner, Hila, whom he had met in Nepal. Together, they began searching for the ideal spot to start their new venture.

But they faced some significant challenges. First, Daisuke had very little savings after traveling through places like Korea, Taiwan, India, Nepal, Guatemala, Cuba, and Canada.

Moreover, Daisuke was determined to restore a traditional Japanese house, known as a kominka, which are typically passed down through generations.

“I always dreamed of owning a traditional house in the countryside,” Kajiyama shares with Dinogo Travel. He was determined to find two adjacent houses: one for him and Hila to live in, and the other to be converted into a guesthouse they could run together. “I had a vision,” he explains.

The Dream of a Guesthouse

Unable to find properties that matched his vision, Kajiyama expanded his search to include the increasing number of abandoned homes scattered across Japan.

As younger generations flock to cities for work, Japan’s rural areas are increasingly dotted with 'ghost' houses, or 'akiya,' left abandoned.

In 2013, Japan had 61 million houses and 52 million households. With the nation's population projected to shrink from 127 million to 88 million by 2065, the number of abandoned homes is expected to rise.

While driving through the small village of Tamatori in Shizuoka Prefecture, nestled between Kyoto and Tokyo, surrounded by lush green tea fields and rice paddies, Kajiyama encountered an elderly woman working on a farm and decided to stop and speak with her.

He asked her, 'Do you know if there are any empty houses in the area?' to which she simply pointed in the direction of the properties.

Following her gesture, he saw two abandoned houses side by side—a former green tea factory and an old farmhouse—situated near a river.

Both properties had been empty for at least seven years and were in desperate need of renovation. Kajiyama asked the woman to reach out to the owner to see if they might be willing to sell.

The owner explained that no one had lived there for years and it was abandoned. 'But he didn’t outright refuse,' Kajiyama recalls. 'Everyone else would just say 'no,' but he didn’t. That gave me hope.'

The Ghost House

Kajiyama visited the properties about five times before finally meeting with the owner to negotiate an agreement. The plan was to use the old green tea factory as their home and transform the farmhouse into the guesthouse he had always dreamed of.

Though eager to buy both properties, Kajiyama explains that Japanese traditions around home ownership prevent him from purchasing them until they are passed down to the son of the current owner.

'They told me, 'If you take full responsibility, you can have it,' so we formalized the agreement in writing,' Kajiyama recalls.

Both Daisuke and Hila knew they had a lot of work ahead, but they were excited to be one step closer to their dream of owning a guesthouse. The couple, who married in 2013, felt they had found the perfect location.

'It’s a wonderful location,' says Kajiyama. 'It’s close to the city, but still feels like the countryside. Plus, people live here and commute to the city for work.'

'The house is right by the river, so when you fall asleep, you can hear the soothing sound of the water,' Kajiyama shares.

According to Kajiyama, clearing out the 90-year-old house before starting the renovations was one of the most challenging parts, mainly due to the sheer amount of belongings that needed sorting. However, he was able to repurpose some of the items.

In the first year, Kajiyama dedicated a lot of time to connecting with the local community, learning about the house's history, and assisting local farmers with their work.

A True to Tradition Approach

Although Kajiyama didn’t have much formal experience with renovations, he had spent time farming and working on construction projects while traveling, taking on odd jobs to repair people’s homes.

'I’m not really a professional,' he admits. 'I enjoy carpentry and creating things, but I don’t have formal training in the field.'

'During my years of backpacking, I came across so many unique buildings and homes with fascinating designs. I’ve stored all those images in my mind,' Kajiyama reflects.

Kajiyama was determined to preserve the house’s authenticity by using traditional materials throughout the renovation.

He saved money by collecting reclaimed wood from building companies that were dismantling traditional homes.

'They would have to spend money to dispose of it,' Kajiyama says. 'But for me, some of these materials are like treasures. So I would go and collect what I needed.'

'The house is built in a very traditional style,' he explains. 'It wouldn’t look right if I used modern materials. I wanted to keep it completely authentic.'

Kajiyama notes that very little had been done to the house in terms of renovations, which is quite rare for a structure that’s over 90 years old.

'It’s completely authentic,' he says. 'With most traditional homes, some renovations are made, especially to the walls, because the insulation isn’t very strong. That’s when the original character starts to fade.'

The Long Road to Renovation

Kajiyama mentions that he received some financial support from the government, which allowed him to hire a carpenter. He also benefited from Japan’s working holiday program, which lets travelers work in exchange for food and lodging when extra help was needed.

After researching the necessary permits for running a guesthouse in Japan, he learned that one of the easiest ways to get approval was to register the property as an agricultural guesthouse.

Since the area is known for its bamboo forests, this seemed like a perfect fit. Kajiyama decided to immerse himself in bamboo farming to combine it with his guesthouse business.

'This is how I got started with farming,' Kajiyama shares.

In 2014, two years after beginning work on the house, the couple was finally ready to welcome their first guests.

'It was an incredible feeling,' says Kajiyama. 'This was always my dream, but people really appreciate that it was abandoned, and I was able to breathe new life into it.'

He shares that hosting guests from all over the globe has allowed him to stay connected to his past life as a backpacker.

'I may stay in one place, but people come to me, and it feels like I’m still traveling,' he explains. 'Today, it’s visitors from Australia, tomorrow it’s the UK, and next week, it could be South Africa or India.'

'Guests come from all over, and they often invite me to join them for dinner. Sometimes, I get to be part of their family moments,' Kajiyama says.

Tragically, Hila passed away from cancer in 2022. Kajiyama emphasizes that his beloved wife played a vital role in helping him realize his dream of opening a guesthouse, and he believes he couldn’t have done it without her.

'We were truly a team,' he adds. 'She helped create this place with me. Without her, it would never have turned out the way it has.'

Though the three-bedroom guesthouse, covering around 80 square meters, has been in operation for about eight years, Kajiyama continues to work on it, uncertain of when it will be fully completed.

'It’s a never-ending process,' he admits. 'I feel like I’m halfway there. It’s already beautiful, but it started as an abandoned place, so there are still many details to refine. And as I improve my craft, I need more time to get it just right.'

Total Revamp

He mentions that he can’t work on the house while guests are staying. During the winter when the property is closed, he spends two months working as a bamboo farmer and typically takes a month to travel, leaving little time for renovations.

'Sometimes I just take a break and do nothing,' he confesses.

Yui Valley, which offers activities like bamboo weaving workshops, has been a major draw for travelers visiting the village of Tamatori over the years.

'Most guests arrive after spending time in Tokyo, and it’s such a striking contrast,' Kajiyama says. 'They’re thrilled to experience the nature and tradition of our home.'

'For many, visiting Japan has been a dream for years, and their time here is always so limited,' he notes.

'They bring such positive energy. I feel privileged to host them and be part of their holiday experience. It’s truly special for me,' he adds.

'People really appreciate what I’ve created here,' Kajiyama says. 'That makes me feel valued and special.'

As for Hiroko, the woman who first pointed out the house to him over ten years ago, Kajiyama says she is amazed by the transformation and astonished by the number of international visitors now coming to Tamatori to stay at Yui Valley.

'She can’t believe how much more beautiful it is now,' Kajiyama says. 'She never imagined it would turn out like this. She’s so grateful and keeps saying ‘thank you.’'

Yui Valley, 1170 Okabecho Tamatori, Fujieda, Shizuoka 421-1101, Japan