[Curated] A Collection of Success Stories: Turning Vacant Homes into Profit

A vacant house that does nothing but accumulate property taxes—a persistent source of worry. But by shifting your perspective and finding the right way to put it to use, that dormant asset holds the potential to be reborn as a “money tree,” revitalizing the local community and generating stable income.

“Is something like that really possible?”

Let us share the conclusion of this article right up front.

What all successful vacant-home utilization stories have in common is this: they don’t simply restore a building—they deeply understand both the appeal of the land and the needs of their target customers, and in doing so, create a truly one-of-a-kind “experiential value.”

In this article, we’ve carefully selected three distinct types of success stories—cases where strategic vacant-home utilization, not mere improvisation, built a genuinely profitable business model. We hope you’ll discover the untapped potential hiding within your own vacant property.

Why Can a Mere “Vacant House” Now Become a “Mountain of Treasure”?

Before diving into the success stories, let’s understand the background of why vacant-home utilization has become such a significant business opportunity today.

• Shifting Traveler Values: Travelers’ priorities are shifting dramatically—away from staying in generic hotels and toward “experiential tourism” that immerses them deeply in a region’s culture and daily life. The unique atmosphere of an old house, along with interactions with local residents, is precisely the kind of content that meets this need.
• Recovering and Diversifying Inbound Demand: Foreign tourists visiting Japan are no longer confining themselves to the “Golden Route” of Tokyo and Kyoto. They’re increasingly venturing into rural areas in search of Japan’s undiscovered original landscapes.
• Strong Government Support: The growing number of vacant homes is a serious social issue for both national and local governments. As a result, numerous **non-repayable subsidies** are available for renovating and repurposing vacant properties, providing powerful backing for operators’ initial investments.

[Success Story 1] A Small Urban Vacant House → An Inbound-Focused “Whole-House Machiya Rental”

Before: A “Negative Asset” in Central Osaka, Ineligible for Rebuilding

Located right in the heart of Osaka, this property had a narrow frontage that failed to meet the road-access requirements under the Building Standards Act, making it a “non-rebuildable property.” Left neglected for years, it had become a true “negative asset,” accumulating nothing but property taxes.

After: A Popular, High-Occupancy Inn Exceeding ¥1 Million in Monthly Revenue

• Secret to Success #1: Obtaining a “Ryokan Business Act (Simple Lodging)” License. To enable year-round operation, the owner partnered with architects and administrative scriveners to carry out a major renovation that preserved the existing structure while meeting strict fire safety and building code requirements—ultimately securing a simple lodging license.
• Secret to Success #2: A Thorough “Japanese Modern” Concept. The target market was set as “foreign groups wanting to experience traditional Japanese living.” The interior preserved the original beams and pillars while completely modernizing the plumbing and fixtures. A bath with a view of a small tsuboniwa garden through snow-viewing shoji screens, along with minimalist Japanese-style rooms, created the “Zen” aesthetic that overseas guests envision.
• Secret to Success #3: A High-Price Strategy Through Large-Group Capacity. Taking advantage of the three-story structure, multiple bedrooms were secured, allowing accommodation for up to 8 guests. This enabled the owner to set a per-night rate exceeding ¥50,000, perfectly meeting the group-travel demand common among inbound tourists and maintaining high occupancy throughout the year.

[Success Story 2] A Rural Kominka (Traditional Farmhouse) → An “Experiential Farm-Stay Inn”

Before: A Vast, Unattended Kominka Nestled in the Satoyama

Situated in a beautiful rural satoyama landscape, this 100-year-old traditional farmhouse had become difficult to maintain as its owners aged. The expansive fields and woodlands surrounding it had also fallen into neglect.

After: A Popular Auberge That’s Nearly Impossible to Book

• Secret to Success #1: Experiential Content Built Around “Food.” The owner, formerly a chef working in the city, relocated to this rural area as an “I-turn” migrant. On-site, he built a restaurant (auberge) that serves only one party per day, featuring pesticide-free vegetables he grows himself in the property’s fields along with fresh local ingredients. Beyond mere accommodation, “a culinary experience unavailable anywhere else” became the property’s greatest value proposition.
• Secret to Success #2: Building a Fanbase Through Social Media. Using Instagram, the owner shared daily farm work, the beautiful satoyama scenery, and the journey from freshly harvested vegetables to exquisite dishes—all through beautiful photography and storytelling. Without spending a cent on advertising, he built a nationwide fanbase drawn to his lifestyle, generating direct bookings from guests who specifically wanted “to stay at that inn and taste that chef’s cooking.”
• Secret to Success #3: Maximizing Subsidy Use. By fully leveraging local government “vacant home renovation subsidies” and “migrant entrepreneur support grants,” a portion of the tens of millions of yen in large-scale renovation costs was covered, significantly reducing the initial investment burden.

[Success Story 3] A Former Company Dormitory in the Suburbs → A “Shared House for Long-Term Stays”

Before: A Corporate Retreat and Dormitory Built During the Bubble Era

Following corporate restructuring, this suburban retreat facility fell out of use. Despite having numerous private rooms, its outdated interior and inconvenient location far from the station made it difficult to find either a buyer or a tenant.

After: An Income Property Achieving Stable, Full Occupancy

• Secret to Success #1: A Shift in Target Audience. Rather than targeting “tourists,” the focus shifted to “people who need to stay in the area for several months at a time.” Specifically, the property targeted doctors coming for training at a nearby university hospital and engineers dispatched for large-scale construction projects.
• Secret to Success #2: Conversion into a “Shared House.” While preserving private rooms as personal spaces, the aging communal bath and dining hall underwent major renovation into modern, comfortable shared shower rooms, a kitchen, and a co-working space. Furnished, equipped with appliances, and offering complete Wi-Fi, the property offered the convenience of moving in with nothing more than a single suitcase.
• Secret to Success #3: Stable Revenue Through Corporate Contracts. By directly approaching the general affairs departments of nearby companies and the university hospital, the owner secured corporate contracts positioning the property as lodging for “business travelers and trainees.” With pricing set higher than standard rentals but lower than hotels—a sweet spot—the property maintained a stable stream of tenants year-round, minimizing vacancy risk to an absolute minimum.

In Summary: What “Story” Does Your Vacant House Hold?

The cases we’ve introduced here are merely the tip of the iceberg. There are as many forms of success as there are vacant homes—and as many as there are owners with passion to spare.

What they all have in common is this: rather than simply agonizing over “what to do” with a vacant house, these owners deeply examined the property’s unique character, the appeal of its location, and the needs of the people it could attract—continually asking themselves, “What value can only be created in this place?”

Your vacant house, too, surely holds a wonderful “story” waiting to meet someone’s needs. Why not turn to the first page of that story yourself?

Shall We Turn That “Story” Into a “Business Plan” Together?

“Maybe there’s some potential in my vacant house too.”

“But I can’t judge on my own what use would be best, or whether it could really work as a business.”

If that resonates with you, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us for a consultation.

We at Stay Buddy Inc. are not just a vacation rental management company. We are real estate utilization professionals who specialize in unlocking the maximum potential of dormant properties and producing them into profit-generating “businesses.”

We will:

• ① Thoroughly analyze the unique character of your vacant house alongside the market needs of its area, then propose the most profitable use—whether as a vacation rental, shared house, or long-term stay facility—based on solid data.
• ② Translate that vision into a precise “business plan” convincing enough to satisfy financial institutions, supporting you through subsidy applications and securing financing.
• ③ Walk alongside you through every step of the process—from obtaining complex licenses and permits, to producing the physical space, to attracting guests once operations begin—providing full, one-stop support as your vacant house transforms into a “profitable asset.”

A vacant house is no longer merely a “negative asset.” It’s a “golden egg” brimming with potential to enrich your future.

Why not hatch that egg together with us? We’d love to hear about the untapped potential your vacant house holds—potential that no one else has yet discovered.