City in Japan near Mount Fuji turns empty commercial spaces into lodgings for tourists
In Shizuoka, Japan, commercial spaces are being turned into guest accommodation to draw more visitors and help revitalise the city’s economy
Vacant commercial spaces are being turned into guest accommodation in the central Japan city of Shizuoka, offering visitors an alternative to conventional lodgings and helping revitalise the local economy.
The idea was conceived by Takahito Kojima, 53, president of CSA Real Estate, as the number of the company’s unleased properties around the city’s central railway station increased, raising concerns about urban decline.
Working with a local shopping district association, the company launched the initiative in 2020 and has since readied 12 rooms in seven locations within a 15-minute walk of the station, with each room capable of accommodating three to seven people.
