How Airbnb-ing in Japan Changed How I Run My Stateside Airbnbs

Running Airbnbs in another country completely changes how you look at the way people live at home.

And I’m not here to pretend that every single thing about Japanese homes is better than how we do things in the US, that’s obviously not true. There’s a lot I genuinely love about how we design and style homes in the States. But there are some things the Japanese just flat-out do better.

After designing and managing a few homes in Japan (and traveling there constantly), I’ve found a handful of things I now bring back to my Vermont Airbnbs to make guest stays better. And at the same time, there are a few very American ideas I keep bringing with me to Japan.

Shoes Off. Always.

This one sounds small, but it changes everything.

It’s harder to enforce in Vermont, of course, but I’m committing to it. Entryway signs, reminders in booking messages, and slipper stations right at the door. The more time I spend in Japan, the grosser shoes inside a house feel.

Indoor slippers are now standard in both my Japanese and Vermont homes. Once guests get it, they love it.

Japan Taught Me to Fear Moisture

In Japan, every bit of moisture inside a house is treated like a real problem — and they’re right. So finding ways to eliminate it became a priority, and it’s led to some really practical upgrades I brought back to Vermont.

When a full group of ski guests comes in with wet gear, it’s basically like releasing a bucket of water into the air all at once. If you don’t deal with that immediately, you pay for it later.

We added a big electric drying station right at the front of the house for boots, gloves, and jackets. It’s been huge for both guest experience and long-term maintenance. And guests mention it constantly in reviews.

The U.S. Taught Me That Comfort Is King

This is where the American influence really shows. In the US, we’re spoiled with climate control, central air, forced hot air, radiators, perfectly regulated indoor temperatures. We take it completely for granted.

So the very first thing we now tell our Japan clients is simple: heat pumps in every room.

I’ve stayed in too many Japanese Airbnbs with one heater in the main living room trying to heat an entire house. Half the time it’s a kerosene heater that barely gets the job done and actually adds moisture to the air while it runs.

And it makes sense. Most of those homes are owned and operated by locals, and that’s how they personally live. They’re used to temperature swings, so they assume their guests won’t mind either.

But with split units, you kill two birds with one stone:
better comfort and better moisture control, since heat pumps naturally dehumidify while heating.

Hinoki Wood Is a Awesome

Hinoki is one of those materials you don’t fully appreciate until you live around it. It’s naturally fragrant, water-resistant, and beautiful.

Add a hinoki stool to a bathroom or inside a shower and suddenly you’ve got:

• a functional piece of furniture
• a spa-level smell
• a detail guests always comment on

Your bathroom smells good, looks good, and gives guests a place to sit in the shower. Triple threat. I’m adding these to my Vermont Airbnbs this winter.

What I’ve Brought From Vermont to Japan

Games. 100%.

This one shocked me. I’ve stayed in countless Airbnbs across Japan, and I almost never see board games.

In the US, a stack of games in an Airbnb is totally normal. And it’s awesome. When you stay with a group of friends, games bring everyone together and create memories that last way longer than the trip itself.

I limit my Airbnbs to one TV max and design the spaces to encourage people to actually hang out together. Watching TV is great — but I’d much rather people stay up too late playing cards, laughing, and talking trash in the kitchen.

So in our Japanese Airbnbs, we now stock:

• Popular English-language games
• Traditional Japanese games
• Bilingual instructions for everything

That way Japanese guests discover new Western games, and foreign guests get introduced to Japanese ones. Everyone ends up playing something they’ve never played before.

An Interesting Trend I’ve Noticed in My Japanese Homes

This one feels like common sense, but it’s honestly not something you really notice until you’ve actually done it in both places.

In my Vermont Airbnbs, almost every single guest cooks. It’s rural, there aren’t a ton of restaurants nearby, and most guests are driving in from major hubs like NYC, Montreal, and Boston. So kitchen gear really matters and it needs to be replaced often because… sorry Americans… you guys do not treat cooking stuff with much respect.

When I first started in Japan, I assumed kitchen utensils wouldn’t be that important. I never cook when I’m in Japan. My friends don’t cook when they travel to Japan. We’re on vacation, we want to go out, eat, and experience the food. And honestly, Japan has the best food on earth, so why would you stay in and cook?

And that is true for foreign guests.

But here’s the thing I underestimated: 30–40% of your guests will be domestic Japanese tourists. And they do cook. Regularly.

So your kitchen set up needs to reflect a traditional Japanese home. This is where simple things like rice cookers, proper knives, and decent cookware really pay off. And Japanese guests treat your kitchen gear like it’s their own. (Obviously there are outliers but on average it’s not even close.)

Running Airbnbs in both countries, it’s night and day how much better my Japanese guests treat my cooking equipment compared to my American guests in Vermont.

Not a judgment, just a very real hosting lesson you only learn the hard way.

The Big Picture

Running Airbnbs in both Japan and the US has reshaped how I think about hosting. Japan made me focus more on cleanliness, moisture, and intentional details. The US reminded me that comfort and social spaces are what people actually remember.

Now every property we touch is just a mash-up of the best ideas from both places.

And honestly it shows in the guest experience.

Browse opportunities yourself: Check out current listings at Nipponhomes.com

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This content is for informational and educational purposes only and reflects my personal opinions and experience. I am not a licensed financial advisor, tax advisor, or attorney. Readers should conduct their own due diligence and consult qualified professionals before making any investment decisions.

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