▲ A container-style hotel in Bihoro, Hokkaido, Japan, operated by Punctual
Container-style hotels, which allow for reduced initial investment and labor costs, are gaining attention as a new accommodation model in Hokkaido, Japan.
Containers, which were previously used as temporary housing at construction sites, are rapidly increasing in number as they transform into eco-friendly private accommodation spaces.
According to the Nihon Keizai Shimbun on October 7, Punctual, a company headquartered in Kochi Prefecture, will open a pilot container hotel equipped with a sauna in Bihoro, Hokkaido, on October 10.
The plan is to attract outdoor leisure tourists by utilizing the surrounding rich natural environment and increase the stay value of Bihoro, which was previously nothing more than a transit stop.
This hotel significantly reduces labor costs by introducing unmanned nighttime operations and a self-check-in system.
It plans to sell packages that include barbecues, drinks, and sauna access.
During the pilot operation period, the rate is about 5,000 yen per person, but after the official opening in April next year, the nightly rate will be set at 18,000 to 20,000 yen.
A shared workspace is also provided nearby to accommodate long-term stayers.
Equipment manufacturer Takahashi Kogyo has also been operating an unmanned container hotel in Nakashibetsu, Hokkaido, since 2022.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, as a large number of branch and sales offices of companies near Kushiro were closed, the demand for accommodation from business travelers commuting to and from eastern Hokkaido actually increased, acting as a favorable factor.
Buoyed by this, the hotel's average occupancy rate last year was about 65%, and it is performing well.
The construction cost per container is about 20 million yen, and its strength is that it can be relocated to other regions according to changes in demand.
Takahashi Kogyo's hotel business revenue last year increased by 25% from the previous year to reach 44 million yen.
By outsourcing cleaning and management tasks to the self-check-in system and minimizing the dedicated staff to just one person, it is achieving a higher profit margin compared to its main construction business.
The company is considering expanding its business to the Chitose and Tomakomai regions in Hokkaido, where Rapidus and large data centers are moving in.
(Photo provided by Punctual, Yonhap News)
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