The Project Site
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The site is Showa-era shophouse built in 1965 with an extension built in the 1980s. The shop was used as a hairdressing salon for 4 decades, and has been abandoned for 20 years.
The space can be occupied solo or shared with up to 9 people.
The original 1960s shophouse is used for the Untitled (Occupied House) program. This building has a shop area that faces the street, 4 additional tatami rooms and a toilet.
The 80s extension houses a caretaker's residence which has a kitchen, bathroom and 3 western-style bedrooms. Participants in the Untitled project currently share the caretaker’s kitchen & bathroom while we raise funds to build wheelchair-accessible facilities in part of the shop area.
You're welcome to give us a call before you apply, or visit the site if you're in Japan.
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Currently the space is not wheelchair accessible.
However all the facilities and one sleeping area are located on the ground floor.
There is one step between the main hallway and other areas. The sleeping area, kitchen and toilet are all on the same level.
Access ways, including to the toilet, are a minimum of 800mm wide.
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TYPE: Clean working/ sleeping areas
FLOORING: Tatami mats
ACCESS: Not suitable for people with limited mobility, second floor with steep staircase, 800m wide
LIGHTING: Good natural light in street facing rooms, standard room lighting
FACILITIES/ EQUIPMENT: Electric heating, kotatsu table (heated) available, double futon or 2 x single futons + bedding available in each room
SIZE: Overall space is 6.2m x 8.9m, divided by sliding screens
Upstairs middle room: 4.4 x 4.4m, 12 tatami mat/ sleeps 3
South-east room: 2.6m x 3.5m, 6 tatami mat/ sleeps 2
South-west room: 3.5m x 3.5m, 8 tatami mat/ sleeps 2
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The following spaces are shared with the caretaker & Bothie Social Club members. Bookings for exclusive use should be made in advance.
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Occupants are allowed full use of the caretakers kitchen & bathroom. Facilities are simple. Catering or groceries can be provided.
Stove with fish grill
Air dryer (oven replacement)
Sink
Fridge
Dining area (seats 4-5, can be extended to seat 10
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TYPE: Wet working area
FLOORING: Sheet vinyl flooring
ACCESS: Ambulant, ground floor, one step, 900m doorway
LIGHTING: Good natural light, standard room lighting
FACILITIES/ EQUIPMENT: Propane heating (not suitable for sleeping), large table, some original shop fittings in place
SIZE: 5.2m x 3.5m
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Use of the downstairs tatami room can be arranged for occupants who can’t access the upstairs area comfortably.
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Downstairs Middle Room
TYPE: Clean working area/ sleeping
FLOORING: Tatami mats
ACCESS: Ambulant, ground floor, one step, 100m doorway
LIGHTING: Some natural light, standard room lighting
FACILITIES/ EQUIPMENT: Toilet is adjacent. Electric heating, kotatsu table (heated) available, double futon or 2 x single futons + bedding available
SIZE: 3.5m x 3.5m, 8 tatami/ sleeps 2
FAQs
Do I have to stay for the whole season?
No. The space is yours for the defined period of your occupancy. You are the occupant. But you decide what that means.
You might come and stay, but you might decide send someone else to occupy it on your behalf. You might decide to deliberately let it sit empty or stay for a single night. You might share the space with other people or give instructions on how the space is used. You might hold an exhibition or host an activity remotely. How you define what it means to occupy the space is up to you.
Do I have to stay in the house to participate?
No.
Can other people come and stay?
Yes, we have bedding for 5 (futon style), and there is room for 8-9 people assuming 2 people in each tatami room, and 3 people in the largest tatami room.
You decide everything about how your occupancy works, including on who is physically in the space. We ask you to negotiate anything that will affect future occupants, and of course you must obey local laws - but otherwise how you use the space is up to you.
Can I make physical changes to the property?
Yes.
Can I have the whole space to myself?
Occupants have exclusive use on the 3 rooms as described below. Until the wheelchair accessible bathroom & kitchen is built, occupants use the caretakers kitchen & bathroom & share these with the caretakers.
Use of the whole house is sometimes possible on request. The caretakers’ residence is in the 1980’s extension at the rear & includes 3 extra bedrooms. Please note there may be additional costs involved.
Do you have a grant program?
Not at the moment. Accomodation is provided free to all participants.
We support funding applications & we do waive the occupancy fee for utility costs under certain circumstances. Please ask if you’d like this fee waived.
What should my budget be?
The occupancy fee for utility costs will cover all your bills in the house, we’ll provide towels, bedding, household products, wifi etc. There is no charge for accomodation, so remaining costs are day-to-day living expenses such as groceries, personal products, eating out, entertainment & travel.
The cost of living in Japan is likely to be a pleasant surprise, especially in the countryside. In fact we found it cheaper than India or Thailand on a day-to-day basis. It is still possible to eat out for less than ¥1,000 (US$7) per meal, and most other costs are affordable too. Alcohol is cheap.
While staying at the house you can get by on about ¥4,500 (US$30) per day for groceries & sundry costs while eating out occasionally. We have bicycles & the town is walkable, so you don’t really need a transportation budget day-to-day.
Allow additional budget for travelling. Long distance trains are pricey. You can save money by using highway buses, and by using a bus pass. In general transport to places like Kanzawa via Shirakawa-go, Gero Onsen or Nagano and back would be ¥10,000 (US$70), while one-way to Tokyo or Osaka via bus would be about ¥7,000 (US$50), double that for the train. Getting around Hida & Takayama is about ¥500-600 return.
Accommodation in a hostel or local guest house is about ¥4,000 a night, and you can stay in a nice hotel for ¥8,000 - ¥15,000 per night.