Kanako Harada: The Local Scene is Exciting Right Now!

Just as there are Disney hotels at Disneyland or mountain huts in the mountains, why shouldn't there be an udon inn in the "Udon Prefecture"? "UDON HOUSE" was born from that very idea.

After graduating from university, I joined Rakuten Travel. I traveled all over the country while working on consulting for inns and hotels and supporting promotions for local governments, meeting many people along the way. I began to wonder: is what I'm doing truly leading to regional revitalization? It was then that I was moved by the sight of people working on businesses within their local communities. Seeing them take risks and take on challenges made them look more radiant and cool than anyone else, and I felt certain that this was the path I should take. I left Rakuten after nine years, moved to Mitoyo City in Kagawa Prefecture in June 2018, and launched the hands-on lodging facility "UDON HOUSE" in October of the same year.

At "UDON HOUSE," when you check in, you are handed a rolling pin instead of a key, and a six-hour udon class begins. While the dough is resting, you learn about the history and culture of Sanuki udon and its broth, harvest seasonal vegetables at a nearby farm, and eat them together with the udon you made yourself. All guests must take this udon class to experience the culture of Sanuki udon and the daily life of the region.

What I wanted to achieve was not conventional tourism, but rather touching the culture rooted in the land and standing as much as possible from the same perspective as the locals. I hope "UDON HOUSE" can become that kind of presence.

Just over a year has passed since the opening, and we have been featured in articles by The Japan Times, CNN Travel, Lonely Planet, and NHK World, welcoming guests from about 20 countries so far. People who say, "I was looking for an experience like this!" visit us one after another.

What I want to work on next is creating a system for hosting guests where the entire town becomes a single lodging facility. By actually diving into the community and taking on the challenge, many people have lent their strength and supported me. There are many peers of my generation in this region taking on new challenges, and an incredible variety of projects have been born over the past year. It has only just begun, but I feel a great sense of fulfillment in the tangible feeling of creating the future of the town ourselves while working hard alongside my colleagues.