One of the unique aspects of PlanetDAO is the opportunity for co-owners to engage directly with the people and places connected to the properties they help preserve. In April 2026, PlanetDAO co-owner Bol traveled to Nachikatsuura, Wakayama, to take part…
In the late May 2026, PlanetDAO held a stayover gathering at the Hojo Heritage in Sado. More than 20 people joined us, including co-owners from Japan and overseas, members of the Hojo family, the local partner, and the architect working…
By Monika M.S. First published on PlanetDAO Substack on May 29, 2025. On May 9th, they arrived in Wakayama as strangers to the local community and as a group of co-owners connected by shared ownership, but not much else. Some…
Over the past 20 years, Japan has witnessed a silent crisis—millions of homes standing empty, crumbling in quiet rural towns and even urban suburbs. Known as akiya (空き家), these vacant houses have become a national symbol of population decline, economic…
Japan's tourism sector has surged in the first half of 2025, reaching record-breaking levels of international interest. From Tokyo’s tech-savvy charm to Okinawa’s tropical allure, travelers are flocking to the country in unprecedented numbers. With 21.51 million international visitors arriving…
Japan is facing a mounting crisis of land abandonment, with the issue of unclear inheritance at its core. As rural depopulation accelerates and generational values shift, land once passed proudly through families is now frequently left unclaimed. This phenomenon has…
Introduction: A Hidden Landscape of Abandonment Japan’s countryside, often romanticized for its rice terraces, misty mountains, and time-honored agricultural traditions, is facing a quiet but escalating crisis: farmland abandonment. While urban skylines continue to grow, rural fields are increasingly falling…
Bamboo, with its elegant form and notable resilience, has long been an essential element in Japanese life. Beyond its visual appeal, bamboo symbolizes purity, flexibility, and strength, which are values deeply woven into Japanese tradition. From ancient myths to modern…
Discover how Japan transformed inbound tourism from economic strategy to cultural exchange, focusing on sustainability and regional revitalization.
Japan’s temples face a quiet crisis as danka parishioners decline and priests age, threatening centuries of cultural heritage and local community life.