Photo/Illutration A kominka property in Iida, Nagano Prefecture, that is registered with Airbnb Japan Inc. and will be used as a “minpaku” private lodging facility (Provided by Airbnb Japan Inc.)

Literally translated “kominka” means old traditional Japanese house, but think massive wooden beams, lots of interior space covered in tatami mats ... and generally in the middle of nowhere.

Some properties, decades or even centuries old, are in urgent need of repairs and can be purchased for a song, which helps explain growing interest in turning them into private lodging facilities, mainly for foreign tourists fascinated by Japanese culture.

Airbnb Japan Inc., the Japanese arm of Airbnb Inc., a major American firm offering an online platform to rent out accommodation in private homes, has announced plans to rejuvenate kominka in the Japanese countryside for use as “minpaku” private lodging properties.

The Asahi Shimbun interviewed Yasuyuki Tanabe, an Airbnb Japan manager, to find out why kominka are becoming popular and his expectations of demand for staying in such traditional settings.

Question: Why are kominka so popular among foreign tourists?

Answer: Travelers are excited when they get a surprise in their travel destinations ... from sitting on the floor and being seated around an “irori” (traditional Japanese sunken hearth), to sleeping in a futon and shoveling snow. Things you can do at kominka are quite different from foreign tourists’ daily lives. I believe visitors will be able to enjoy themselves simply by experiencing a stay at a kominka, even if they don’t do anything special.

Q: What benefits do the increase in foreign tourists bring to local areas?

A: One example would be the so-called digital nomad who can work anywhere remotely with a laptop, such as IT engineers. If such people come, it will provide an opportunity for local people to learn about different workstyles and technology. Communicating with people from faraway places can be stimulating.

Q: Is the number of minpaku users increasing with the recovery of foreign tourist numbers (now that the COVID-19 crisis has abated)?

A: We have received many bookings since the lifting of border controls was announced in September. The return of demand for minpaku is starting in the so-called “golden route,” which includes Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto. We are short of minpaku properties in urban areas.

Q: How do you view demand for a stay at kominka in the countryside, where there are plenty of old properties?

A: Users can decide their destinations by choosing types of buildings they want to stay in, such as “log houses,” on the Airbnb platform. This way, they can discover areas that they had never considered as travel destinations. We are thinking about ways to promote areas to people who want to know about Japan more deeply by working closely with local authorities.

Q: The tourism ministry has decided to relax its rules on the registration of minpaku administrators to bolster the number of people who manage minpaku properties. What effect has this had?

A: I think it’s a good policy that will enable local people to take advantage of the minpaku system, in tandem with supporting local administrators. The tourism sector is suffering from a staff shortage, but I believe the relaxed policy may encourage more people to join the industry.

Q: Some people are not happy with the increase in minpaku properties in their areas.

A: Just increasing the number of minpaku properties is not good. Our company thinks about how to utilize minpaku in a way that is appropriate for local areas in cooperation with local authorities and tourism organizations. It is important to lay the groundwork to welcome foreign visitors through the minpaku system. This means working with an entire local area so that everybody supports the idea.

(Taken from an interview by Go Takahashi)

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