I took a spontaneous trip to Hokkaido this month to mix things up. Summer was getting to be a bit warm, and Hokkaido seems to be an easy escape. It was also a nice chance to get to know the folks at Hokkaido Hobby Homes.
My little tour started in Sapporo, then continued up to Ashibetsu, which is a small, depopulated town near Furano (famous for lavender fields and skiing). There, I met one of the HHH members, Suzuki-san, who is in the process of renovating a three-story inn in the downtown area.
Suzuki-san runs a business called ShigMa Group with HQ in Niigata and an office in Sapporo, and it seems that they operate as a general contractor for construction, renovation, and a myriad of other services. It was in Date (pronounced dah-tay) in the southern part of Hokkaido that I was able to see one of his recently completed akiya design projects.
Date is near Uchiura Bay, a little over an hours’ drive from New Chitose Airport – the main Hokkaido airport. There are onsen, natural waterfalls, and rich history of local Ainu people.
This house was an akiya that Suzuki-san miraculously acquired for next to nothing and renovated into a short-term rental. The house is complete with automated check-in, parking, and has a perfect five-star average for cleanliness. Suzuki-san engaged locals from the senior home for cleaning services. I love how the project turned out, but I also love the fact that the home is embedded into the community, employing locals. ❤️
Date Dream Date Home official site →
Let’s take a look…
The main space has an open kitchen and living room, nicely integrating the warmth of wood.
A Japanese-style room features iconic Hokusai ukiyo-e mural art.
Now an active vacation rental, the house sleeps up to 7 guests with a charming kids’ room.
And a perfectly refreshed bath area with adjacent laundry suite.
A lovely retreat in Hokkaido, or inspiration for those interested in renovating an akiya into an AirBNB in Japan.
This akiya renovation design project is even more satisfying when observing the previous state of the house…
