Planet Labs Inc. (headquartered in Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo), which provides and operates fractional investment frameworks for the preservation of historic properties, is pleased to announce the launch of the Nachikatsuura Fund, the fourth project under its regional cultural investment initiative “PlanetDAO.”
This new fund targets Hokoji, a temple located in Nachikatsuura, Wakayama Prefecture, along with several other vacant temples in the region. The Nachikatsuura Fund aims to restore and activate these temples—many of which no longer have a resident monk—by creating sustainable ways to utilize them through accommodation, cultural programming, and community engagement.
A temple along the UNESCO World Heritage Kumano Kodo trail, restored as a lodging and cultural hub
Hokoji sits along the historic Kumano Kodo pilgrimage route, a spiritual and cultural path with over a thousand years of history.
The project aims to restore Hokoji as a stay-and-experience hub, enabling both the preservation of cultural heritage and the revitalization of local tourism in a sustainable manner.
More details about the project can be found here:
https://planetdao.world/properties/hokoji-temple/
Since 2024: Over 200 investors from 23 countries contributing to the preservation of temples and traditional homes
Through PlanetDAO, Planet Labs has previously supported the fundraising and revitalization of a 170-year-old temple in Wakayama Prefecture and a kominka (traditional home) in Hayama, Kanagawa. Each project successfully raised approximately 40 million yen, backed by more than 100 global co-owners.
Historic properties such as these serve as cultural anchors for their communities. However, transferring ownership or receiving private funding often involves significant risk, making it difficult for small local communities to maintain these buildings on their own.
PlanetDAO offers a new model that enables both domestic and international investors to collaborate with local stakeholders, providing sustainable preservation through fractional investment and shared governance.
* Detailed documents about the project can be downloaded from the PlanetDAO website.
Background: The growing challenge of vacant temples in Japan
Kumano Kodo is one of Japan’s most important spiritual heritage sites, recognized globally as a UNESCO World Heritage property. However, many temples along the route have lost their resident monks and now face deterioration as “vacant temples.”
* Japan has over 77,000 temples, and it is estimated that roughly 30% (approx. 20,000) are currently without a resident monk. (Source: Hidenori Ukai, Temple Extinction, Nikkei BP, 2015)
High demand for temple lodging: Over 70% occupancy, driven by international travelers
Hokoji is located just two minutes by car from Daitaiji, a nearby temple lodging whose occupancy rate has exceeded 70% (FY2023: 71%, FY2024: 66%). Despite its prime location, Hokoji has long remained unused. Now, it is expected to serve as an annex to meet the strong accommodation demand in the Kumano region.
Notably, over 80% of guests at Daitaiji are international travelers—primarily couples from the U.S., France, Germany, and other Western countries—whose stays contribute to the consistently high occupancy rate. This demonstrates the strong global demand for cultural and spiritual tourism near Kumano Kodo.
Hokoji itself was founded over 200 years ago as a sub-temple of Daitaiji and has long served as a spiritual center for the local community. Despite its modest size, its handmade Japanese nails, hand-crafted beams, and preserved mud walls exemplify exceptional historical craftsmanship.
However, due to demographic decline and a shrinking local parish, maintaining the temple has become increasingly challenging. In response, PlanetDAO’s model is now being introduced to secure both cultural preservation and economic sustainability.
Voices from Daitaiji guests
“We had a deeply meaningful stay at the temple—from viewing Buddhist statues to joining morning prayers, meditation, and even ringing the evening bell. The insights we received from the head monk enriched our understanding of Buddhist practice. The facilities were wonderful, and the hospitality from the local community made us feel truly welcome.” — Norway
“Our time here was wonderful. The head monk is extremely knowledgeable and speaks excellent English. The experiences offered were fascinating, and the area is beautiful.” — Canada
“An amazing place to stay. The temple experience is highly recommended—it’s worth hearing the detailed explanations about the building and temple life. The guesthouse is spacious, traditional yet modern and comfortable. We wish we could have stayed longer.” — Netherlands
Temple restoration through a corporation-based DAO model
PlanetDAO revitalizes historic properties across Japan—such as temples and traditional homes—by converting them into sustainable accommodation and cultural venues. Investors from around the world not only receive potential financial returns but may also participate in governance through voting rights tied to their share classes.
The model democratizes cultural preservation:
- Enables participation through fractional investment
- Ensures transparent governance through structured voting rights
- Protects cultural values through condition-based share classes (e.g., continued temple use, public accessibility for locals, etc.)
Even if ownership changes in the future, the share-class structure ensures that community-agreed cultural values remain protected.
Comments from Key Stakeholders
Toumi Nishiyama, Head Monk of Daitaiji
Buddhist culture in Japan brings a sense of calm and tolerance into everyday life. As a Zen monk, I teach inner peace and the spirit of acceptance through zazen meditation. And the place where such experiences can truly happen is, of course, the temple.
However, many temples today are facing a crisis. With the declining population, both monks and the local parishioners who traditionally support temples are decreasing. It is said that there are more than twenty thousand temples nationwide without a resident priest. I myself am already responsible for four temples concurrently. Ensuring the future sustainability of these temples is a major regional challenge, yet at the same time, temples are extremely important cultural tourism assets that draw visitors to rural areas.
International visitors to Japan continue to increase, and many of them wish to learn about Japanese culture. At the foundation of Japanese culture lies Buddhist philosophy. For example, even the word “greeting” (aisatsu) originally comes from Zen. For travelers from abroad who want to understand Japanese culture more deeply, temples are truly the most suitable place to stay and experience it.
While temple preservation is an ongoing issue, it is also true that many temples are still well maintained thanks to the efforts of local communities. Transforming these increasingly uninhabited regional temples into tourism resources is essential. If we are to spark real change, there is no better time than now. I believe that this Hokoji project will become the catalyst for such a transformation.
We sincerely look forward to your support.
Tamaki Nishimura, CEO of Planet Labs / Founder of PlanetDAO
PlanetDAO began with a temple in Nachikatsuura, the same region where Hokoji stands. When we first met Chief Priest Nishiyama three years ago, he also introduced us to Hokoji, and we hoped that one day we could help carry this temple into the future through a preservation project. We are truly delighted that this vision has finally taken shape.
The moment you step inside, you can feel the care given to every corner — the spotless surroundings and the healthy, well-kept condition of the buildings. It is immediately clear that this is a place lovingly protected by the local community.
From here on, we hope to carry Hokoji into the future together with all who resonate with this mission and choose to support it.
Company Overview
- Planet Labs Inc.
- Founded: November 2023
- CEO: Tamaki Nishimura
- Address: MIDORI.so NAGATACHO, 2-5-3 Hirakawacho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
- Business: Restoration and operation of historic buildings
- Parent Company: Gaiax Co., Ltd. (Nagoya Stock Exchange Next Market, Code 3775)
- URL: https://planetdao.world