You can stay at Art! Homestay using vacant houses opens in Otemachi, Joetsu City (Joetsu City, Niigata Prefecture)

2025.2.13

Joetsu CityLodgingaccommodationsarchitectNiigata Prefecture

A must-see for fans! Accommodation in a building designed by architect Hiroshi Hara

Wallpaper with an image of clouds.

And bird ornaments are installed throughout the room.

This residence, which looks like a work of art, is located in Otemachi, Joetsu City, Niigata Prefecture. The house had been vacant for about 10 years, but since February 1 of this year, it has been used as “Floating House,” a private accommodation facility for tourists and other visitors.

Floating House is located 80 meters south of the traffic light in front of Otemachi Elementary School in Joetsu City.

The theme is “floating”. The house is two stories high, and the living room is covered with cloud-inspired wallpaper.

Some of the doors and walls have rounded windows, which are designed to connect with the wallpaper design.

In addition, bird ornaments are installed on the balustrades and windows of the atrium.

In addition, houses in areas with heavy snowfall, such as Takada, tend to be dark inside the rooms due to snow accumulation, so multiple windows are provided to let outside light in.

Some of the windows have frosted glass designs with bird illustrations. Because the bird is white in color, it becomes invisible when snow piles up, and is visible when the snow melts, incorporating a playful sense of springtime.

It was designed by architect Hiroshi Hara, who also designed the Umeda Sky Building in Osaka City and the Echigo-Tsumari Exchange Center Kinare in Tokamachi City. Built approximately 40 years ago for Mr. Hara’s father-in-law, the house had been vacant for about 10 years.

Ryo Kuno, 28, who moved here from Tokyo last year, decided to use the house as a guest house for tourists and other visitors. I studied architecture at the University of Tokyo.

When Mr. Kuno was a student, he was interested in “gangi,” or wild geese, and visited Joetsu City many times, which is said to have the longest total length of gangi in Japan. After that, I decided to move to Joetsu City because I liked the gangi of the city. In an effort to find a place to live, I consulted with the General Incorporated Association “Gangi no Machi Saisei,” with which I had a connection since my student days, and was told about this residence managed by the “Gangi no Machi Saisei.

When Mr. Kuno thought about how to utilize the house, he said, “A guest house is like a guide for the town. We want to be a base where people can experience Mr. Hara’s artwork and guide them through Joetsu,” he said.

Although the hot water heater has been replaced for use in private accommodations, the rest of the building remains largely unchanged from the time of construction. Accommodation is available for up to 4 people in a single building. The price starts at 40,000 yen per night with no meals.

Mr. Kuno is a Tokyo-based company employee who is involved in area development, etc. He will live in this housing and manage it while working remotely. As for the future, he said, “I would like to contribute to the local community by promoting the good qualities of Joetsu while having people who love Mr. Hara’s work and culture use the facility.

Already, a skier from China has stayed three nights. After this, more inbound use is expected, including tourists from the U.S. Mr. Kuno was enthusiastic about promoting the good qualities of Joetsu to the visitors by preparing local sake as a welcome drink.

Reservations and updates can be made through social networking sites and a dedicated home page.

Previews for the community will be held in February and March of this year.