Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Are you a charity or a for-profit Company?
A: Inaka Home is a stock company and therefore must generate a profit for its share holders. However, we believe that we can build a sustainable business, that also generates benefits for society and its surrounding environment. For example, we renovate and operate old buildings that would otherwise be ripped down to make space for a new plastic houses. From a community perspective, our activity helps to vitalise the rural economy that often suffers from shrinking and aging population trends.
Q: Why should I stay at Inaka Home rather than in a Hotel or Ryokan?
A: Many hotels and especially Ryokan are of a very high quality in Japan. However, they have various disadvantages compared with our homes:
1. Often they charge per person rather than per room,
2. They include large but often somewhat standard meals
3. They are often not children/pet/family friendly
4. The rooms are small despite the high price
5. Many rules and formalities exist, and the guest's activities are constrained by hotel schedule (e.g. time for meal)
On the other hand, our homes have the following advantages:
1. We charge for the entire house irrespective of number of guests
2. You can spontaneously eat out, or use our well equipped kitchen to cook with local ingredients
3. Children and pets are welcome
4. You will have a large space of house and land
5. We provide everything you need to take a break (stereo, nice kitchen, bar-b-q)
6. You determine your own schedule
Q: If you modernise the interior, will you not destroy the character of the house?
A: Many "restoration" projects bring the house to its original condition. In that sense it may provide only basic comforts and feel more like a museum exhibit rather than a place for living. When we "renovate" we keep the structure, beams and posts of the original building, but mitigate some of the deficiencies of the old house: the cold in winter, smoky air and and poor hygene. We use proper insulation and heating to improve the energy efficiency of the house and provide clean and welcoming toilet and bath facilities. Also in modern times, the way space inside a house is used has undergone change. In order to cater for todays generation, we therefore divide the house into sleeping and living spaces and furnish the rooms to support the respective uses.
Q: I would like to help your company, is there anything I can do?
A: Thank you so much! You can help in various ways:
1. Become a guest and stay in our homes.
2. Join the Inaka Home community, make suggestions, recommend us, and join volunteer activities
3. Help us find new houses, or let us manage your house
4. Help us finance new acquisitions and renovations
5. Become a sponsor or product partner
