Wakayama: Historic house being rented out as workspace

The Yomiuri Shimbun

16:46 JST, July 16, 2022

SHINGU, Wakayama — A historic building registered as a national cultural asset is being rented out as a workspace in Shingu, Wakayama Prefecture.

In June, the Shingu city government began a project to rent out Chapman House, the former residence of U.S. missionary E.N. Chapman. Designed by renowned Shingu-born architect Isaku Nishimura (1884-1963) and completed in 1926, the two-story wooden building has been open to the public as the city’s tourist exchange facility since 2019.

The city’s aim is to revitalize the local economy, which has been declining, by utilizing cultural assets. The municipality is offering as workspaces a 17-square-meter room that used to be a study and a 23-square-meter room that used to be a main bedroom. Both rooms face south on the second floor, with space for up to two and four people, respectively. In addition to Wi-Fi, the rooms have desks and other furniture in a relaxed environment.

Reservations are required. Fees are ¥1,010 for the 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. periods and ¥1,520 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. The house is closed on Mondays.