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Vacation Rental Business Unlocking Hokkaido’s Tourism Potential

With the goal of “Creating Sustainable Spatial Assets,” Kukan Inc. (Headquartered in Sapporo, CEO: Kentaro Yamamoto, hereafter referred to as “our company”) has officially renewed its comprehensive service site for vacation rental investors, “JANKEN.”

Vacation Rentals Supporting Hokkaido’s Tourism

Hokkaido’s Strength as a Tourist Destination

In 2024, Japan welcomed a record-breaking 36.87 million inbound visitors, surpassing the pre-pandemic peak of 31.88 million. This milestone signifies not just a recovery from the pandemic but a new phase of growth for Japan’s tourism industry.

Among Japan’s most renowned tourist destinations, Hokkaido consistently stands out. With its abundant natural beauty, Hokkaido offers a variety of attractions, making it a highly popular travel destination.

Hokkaido’s Unique Appeal

• Food: Fresh, high-quality seafood, meat, and vegetables
• Scenery: Breathtaking views of Shiretoko Peninsula, Hakodate’s nightscape, Kushiro Marshland, Daisetsuzan, and Mount Yotei
• Leisure: Skiing in winter with premium powder snow, golf and water sports in summer

However, how popular is Hokkaido compared to other regions in Japan? Let’s analyze some statistics.

Hokkaido’s Position in Tourism Rankings

According to the 2023 ranking of top 15 prefectures visited by foreign tourists, Hokkaido ranked 9th—a high position but still behind Tokyo, Osaka, Chiba, Kyoto, and Fukuoka.

However, in terms of foreign visitor nights by region, Hokkaido ranked 4th after Kanto, Kansai, and Kyushu, outperforming areas like Chubu and Hokuriku-Shinetsu.

Unlike major metropolitan regions like Tokyo and Osaka, which benefit from multiple interconnected tourist attractions, Hokkaido is geographically isolated and relies heavily on air travel. Despite this, Hokkaido maintains high inbound visitor numbers, proving its strong standalone appeal as a tourist destination.

Hokkaido’s Thriving Vacation Rental Market

Hokkaido is one of Japan’s leading regions for vacation rentals. The latest statistics (October–November 2024) on Japan’s Private Lodging Business Act show that Hokkaido has the second-highest number of vacation rental stays in Japan.

While Tokyo and Osaka also have high vacation rental usage, Hokkaido surpasses Osaka despite Osaka receiving more foreign visitors overall. This suggests that vacation rentals are not only widely used in Hokkaido but also account for a higher proportion of total accommodations compared to Osaka.

“JANKEN”: Supporting Vacation Rental Investment in Hokkaido

JANKEN is a comprehensive service platform designed for investors interested in vacation rentals in Hokkaido.

Since its launch in 2023, JANKEN has provided key information on available vacation rental properties, market trends, and tourism insights in Hokkaido.

Following the transfer of JANKEN’s operations from Worldwide Base Inc. to Kukan Inc., we have completely revamped the website to enhance usability.

Explore the New JANKEN Website

Kukan Inc. inherited vacation rental expertise from Worldwide Base Inc. However, as a young company (just over two years old), many projects were still in development at the time of acquisition. The website update now clearly reflects the three main services we offer:

① Property Purchase Service

JANKEN introduces investors to ideal vacation rental properties and also provides consultation for those looking to sell.

② Vacation Rental Investment Service

With extensive experience in Hokkaido’s vacation rental market, JANKEN offers strategic consulting based on factors like property location, unit size, and amenities to ensure a realistic, data-driven investment approach.

③ Renovation & Remodeling Service

To maximize rental occupancy, JANKEN provides end-to-end support from renovation planning to execution, helping investors enhance property value.

Enhanced Website Navigation

To help users find information quickly and easily, we have restructured our website categories:

① “Vacation Rental Properties” Category

Users can browse available properties and filter results by:

• Keywords
• Property Type (Single-family, Apartment, etc.)
• Location (Sapporo, Niseko, Furano, etc.)
• Status (For Sale, Sold Out, etc.)
• Price Range

② “Real Estate Information” Category

This section provides detailed explanations of our services, including:

• Property Purchase Service
• Vacation Rental Investment Service
• Renovation & Remodeling Service

Additionally, we offer a simplified guide to help beginners understand the property purchase process.

③ “About Us” Category

This section introduces Kukan Inc. and provides an overview of Hokkaido’s tourism industry. It also highlights the investment potential of key areas like Niseko and Furano.

④ “JANKEN Magazine” Category

JANKEN Magazine delivers valuable insights for vacation rental investors, covering:

• Investment strategies
• Business operations
• Market trends
• Hokkaido tourism updates

Leading Hokkaido’s Vacation Rental Market

The revamped JANKEN website now offers clearer, more comprehensive information for vacation rental investors. However, our ultimate goal is to become the go-to platform for anyone investing in vacation rentals in Hokkaido.

To achieve this, we are committed to:

1. Continuously improving our vacation rental operations in Niseko and Furano.
2. Gaining extensive market experience and incorporating insights into JANKEN’s services.

Although we still have a long way to go, JANKEN is determined to lead Hokkaido’s vacation rental industry and provide unmatched support for investors.

Kukan Inc. & JANKEN will continue striving towards this ambitious vision.

Company Overview

Company Name
Kukan Inc.

Established
November 29, 2022

Capital
1,000,000 JPY

Representative
Kentaro Yamamoto

Head Office
〒062-0904
4-3-1-1 Toyohira, Toyohira-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan

Branch Office
〒076-0023
4-7 Sakae-machi, Furano, Hokkaido, Japan

Business Activities

① Vacation Rental Investment Business

• Planning and operation of JANKEN
• Support for vacation rental investment projects in Hokkaido

② Store Operation Business

• Planning and operation of 24 Sweets Shop Sapporo Teine

③ Creative Business

• Business development, branding, and marketing solution planning

Related Links

• Kukan Inc.: https://kukanhokkaido.co.jp/
• JANKEN: https://janken-hokkaido.com/
• 24 Sweets Shop Sapporo Teine: https://kukanhokkaido.co.jp/24-sweets-sapporoteine/
• Real Estate Buying Specialist “Goen”: https://goen-hokkaido.jp/