The Luxury of Whole-House Rentals | A Guide to Spending Special Journeys in Your Private Space

What is Whole-House Rental | Freedom and Luxury Not Found in Hotels

Whole-house rental is an accommodation style where you rent an entire building such as a residential house, villa, or traditional farmhouse. In English, it's called "Vacation Rental" or "Whole House Rental," and while it has long been a popular accommodation style in Europe and the West, in Japan it rapidly proliferated after the enactment of the Housing Accommodation Business Law in 2018.

The greatest appeal of whole-house rental is the "private space." Unlike hotels or traditional inns, you don't encounter other guests in hallways or lobbies. The living room, kitchen, bathroom, garden—everything is a space just for you. Families with children can relax without worrying about their children's cries, friend groups can chat late into the night, and couples can fully enjoy time together.

Another appeal is the experience of "traveling as if you're living." Cooking with local ingredients in the kitchen, barbecuing in the garden, leisurely sipping coffee on the veranda. The essence of whole-house rental is the ability to experience the "everyday" of that place, something you can't taste in the uniform services of a hotel.

The market size is also growing rapidly. According to an announcement by Rakuten LIFULL STAY, reservations for whole-house rentals have increased more than threefold compared to 2019. In addition to increased demand for private spaces during the COVID-19 pandemic, the driving force for growth is the continued emergence of attractive properties nationwide, such as renovated traditional farmhouses and designer villas.

Appeal by Property Type | From Traditional Farmhouses to Villas

Whole-house rental properties can be broadly classified into 5 types. Learn about the appeal of each and choose an accommodation that suits your purpose.

The "traditional farmhouse" type is emblematic of whole-house rental in Japan. These are renovated buildings such as farmhouses and merchant houses over 100 years old, where you can experience Japan's traditional architectural beauty with thick beams, earthen floors, sunken hearths, and storehouses. Famous examples include "Kurashi no Yado" in Okayama Prefecture, affiliated facilities of "Satoyama Juppo" in Niigata Prefecture, and whole-house townhouse rentals in Kyoto. The typical price range is approximately 20,000 to 60,000 yen per night (per property).

"Designer Villas" are modern whole-house rental properties designed by architects and designers. An increasing number of properties are equipped with luxury amenities such as living rooms with spectacular views from large windows, infinity pools, and saunas. They are frequently found in resort areas such as Okinawa, Hakone, Atami, and Awaji Island, and there are also high-class properties priced at 50,000 yen or more per night. They are extraordinary spaces befitting anniversaries and special trips.

"Villa" type properties are common in resort areas such as Karuizawa, Nasu, and Tateshina, with relatively reasonable prices of approximately 15,000 to 40,000 yen per night. "Traditional townhouse" type properties, centered in Kyoto, utilize traditional townhouse architecture and allow you to experience charm such as lattice windows and courtyard gardens. "Cottage and Log House" type properties allow you to enjoy BBQ in nature and are family-oriented with prices around 10,000 to 30,000 yen per night.

Reservation Tips and Pricing Structure

Reserving a whole-house rental has different points from hotel reservations. First, regarding the pricing structure, whole-house rentals typically use per-property pricing. In other words, whether you stay with 2 people or 6 people, the base rate is the same (though additional guests may result in surcharges). In group travel, the cost per person often becomes significantly cheaper than hotels.

For example, if 8 people stay at a traditional farmhouse for 40,000 yen per night, it works out to 5,000 yen per person. This is far more economical than booking 8 single rooms at a hotel in the same area, and you also get to enjoy a private space with a kitchen, living room, and garden.

We recommend checking multiple reservation sites. In addition to major platforms such as Airbnb, Rakuten LIFULL STAY, Ikyu.com Vacation Rental, and STAY JAPAN, many properties also have their own websites. Since direct booking may be cheaper than booking through a platform by the amount of fees, be sure to also check the official site for properties you're interested in.

When making a reservation, be sure to check the following: check-in and check-out times and methods (in-person or self-check-in), whether cleaning fees are included (they may not be included in the price), cancellation policy (often stricter than hotels), trash disposal methods, availability of parking and parking space limits, and any considerations for neighbors.

During peak seasons (Golden Week, Obon, year-end/New Year's, fall foliage season), popular properties may be booked up 3 to 6 months in advance, so early reservation is essential. Conversely, weekday and off-season periods often feature discount plans, and by utilizing coupons and early-bird discounts on reservation sites, you can save even more.

How to Use Whole-House Rentals for Group Trips

Whole-house rentals truly shine during group trips. The experience of staying under one roof with a large group—such as three generations of a family gathering, a commemorative trip among friends, or a club retreat—creates a sense of unity not found in hotels.

Another major benefit of whole-house rental is the expanded ways to enjoy meals. You can have potluck parties using the kitchen, utilize local catering services, or have BBQ parties on the grill. Recently, "private chef" services are also popular, where local chefs come to your property, allowing you to enjoy authentic multi-course meals for approximately 5,000 to 10,000 yen per person.

When making reservations for large groups, it's smooth if the organizer sets house rules in advance (how to use common spaces, bedtime, cleaning duties, etc.). In particular, since trash separation and disposal must follow municipal rules, be sure to confirm these at check-in.

Consideration for noise toward neighbors is also very important. Many whole-house rental properties are located in residential areas or communities. After 10 PM, refrain from conversations and music outdoors, and it is courteous to keep windows closed even indoors. Neglecting this can result in complaints to the owner and even cause the property to be shut down.

Points to Note When Choosing Whole-House Rentals and Tips to Avoid Disappointment

Whole-house rentals offer high flexibility but you can't expect full service like in hotels. After check-in, it's basically self-service, and in most cases you can't request additional towels or amenity replenishment. List necessary items in advance and bring them with you. Consumables such as seasonings, plastic wrap, detergent, and sponges may have limited quantities provided.

Be careful of discrepancies between photos and reality. Photos taken with wide-angle lenses appear larger than in reality, so carefully read reviews and compare evaluations across multiple sites regarding "cleanliness," "condition of facilities," and "owner responsiveness."

Confirming access is also essential. Whole-house rentals in attractive locations often are in places that are difficult to reach by public transportation. Check the driving time and distance to the nearest supermarket or convenience store. For properties in mountainous areas, roads may freeze in winter, requiring studded tires.

A whole-house rental trip is a new experience that transforms accommodation into "stay" and brings travel closer to "living." This style enriches the time you spend with family and friends—please try it once. Information on whole-house rental properties nationwide can also be found in the accommodation category of SOROU.JP.