Abandoned Hillside Homes Become Community Hub in Japan
In a Japanese port town, century-old abandoned houses 150 steps up a hillside are getting a second life as a global collaboration center. The six-year transformation is bringing new energy to a quiet neighborhood while preserving its historic charm.
In Onomichi, a port town clinging to steep slopes above the Seto Inland Sea, empty century-old wooden houses are becoming gathering places for neighbors and visitors from around the world.
The cluster of abandoned homes sits 150 steps above street level in the Higashitsuchidocho district. For the past six years, volunteers and urbanists have been carefully renovating the buildings into what's now called Labyrinth House, a community center where people eat, talk, and create together.
Samuel Holden, a 36-year-old American urbanist and translator, joined the project in 2020. He's been leading the second phase of renovations for the past four years, transforming what locals call akiya (abandoned homes) into spaces that bring people together.
The transformation happened in stages, respecting the buildings' history while adapting them for modern community use. Rather than tearing down structures that had stood for over a century, the team saw potential in preserving the neighborhood's character while giving it new purpose.
Onomichi's steep hillsides and aging population have left many traditional homes empty as younger generations move to flatter, more modern areas. The renovation project offers a creative solution to a challenge facing communities across Japan.
The Ripple Effect
The Labyrinth House project shows how abandoned buildings can become assets instead of eyesores. By creating a space focused on collaboration and connection, the renovations are drawing visitors to a neighborhood that might otherwise be forgotten.
The approach combines preservation with innovation. Old wooden structures stay standing, maintaining the area's historic feel while serving entirely new functions as meeting spaces and creative hubs.
Projects like this could offer a model for other Japanese towns struggling with empty homes and aging populations. Instead of watching neighborhoods fade, communities can reimagine these spaces as opportunities for gathering and renewal.
Labyrinth House proves that sometimes the best way forward involves breathing new life into what's already there.
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Based on reporting by Japan Times
This story was written by BrightWire based on verified news reports.
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