UNTAPPED HOSTEL, a guesthouse in Sapporo, began operating as a shelter for needy people after the spread of the new coronavirus. This place that used to be a haven for travelers is now being transformed into a facility with more of a public character than ever before.
We are currently seeking to develop a "new public place" in a sustainable manner by continuing to operate the shelter and turning part of it into a bookstore.
We believe that there is still hope to be found through this book. Why don't you support us?

The Corona Disaster has turned the guesthouse around, and the guesthouse is now on a new path.

UNTAPPED HOSTEL is a guesthouse that opened in 2014 in Kita-ku, Sapporo. It is a place like a lodgings tree where travelers from various parts of Japan and abroad, from inside and outside of Hokkaido, visit and fly back to their next destination.

The innkeeper is Mr. Teruya Kami. He and his friends renovated a five-story building that was once an eel restaurant, and in 2016, an old private house on the same site was added as an annex. In addition to sleeping quarters, the house has hosted joint events with restaurants, mini-concerts, exhibitions and sales, wedding parties, and other events, and many people have interacted and made new connections with each other.

When I was in high school, there were probably a lot of small independent stores like clothing stores and record shops all over the country. And I had the impression that these people made the town lively. I thought it was cool, it was nice, and I wanted to be like that. In addition, I also wanted to have my own place, so I started a guesthouse where people could gather.

Kami's former dream was gradually taking shape, but the situation changed drastically with the onslaught of the new coronavirus infection in 2020: after the Sapporo Snow Festival in February, people stopped coming and going compared to previous years, and in March, the first state of emergency was declared in Tokyo, resulting in a 90% drop in sales at the inn. With the future uncertain, how could the guesthouse continue to operate? Mr. Kami wondered how to keep the guesthouse going in the face of an uncertain future.

Then, a friend shared on SNS the news that "Internet café refugees are increasing rapidly in Tokyo," and more and more people were being evicted from Internet cafes that were no longer open 24 hours a day and had no home to go back to. Mr. Kami felt that Sapporo was no stranger to this crisis, and began to wonder if he could open the UNTAPPED HOSTEL to needy people.

I had a gut feeling that this situation would not last long," he said. So, I didn't want to do something that seemed like a temporary thing. I felt as if I was being questioned about my way of life in this predicament.

A Sudden Donation Leads to a New Step in Support

Until now, Hokkaido's tourism industry had been booming, thanks in part to inbound demand. Whenever a vacant lot became available, a hotel would be built immediately. However, Mr. Kami says, "Even if things are good now, they will probably go bankrupt at some point. He says he always felt a sense of discomfort, "Is this what I wanted to do when I started the inn?" He always felt a sense of discomfort.

That's why I felt at home supporting the needy. If someone falls down, I want to lend a hand. There is no human being on earth who does not receive care from someone other than themselves, so I think it is better to be able to say 'help' when I fall down. For that reason, I wanted to do what I could do now."

Nevertheless, welfare is uncharted territory. Although he had no idea what to expect, his thoughts led him to contact the "Hokkaido Association for Labor and Welfare," which provides support for homeless people, which in turn led him to the "Sapporo Homelessness Support Center JOIN. With the support of various organizations, we were able to open an annex as a shelter with three meals in May 2020.

This activity was reported in the Hokkaido Newspaper and spread through social networking services, and became known to many people. Then one day, a turning point came. One day, while Mr. Kami was away, a staff member received a pack of bottled gum filled with 500-yen coins from someone.

Someone who had read about the shelter's activities on social networking sites donated the 500-yen savings to us, saying, 'I want it to be used for something. I was very surprised and discussed with the staff about putting this money to good use. I think the person must have entrusted us with something invisible...with a little bit of hope.

What we have learned from the "Big Meal" soup kitchen

The donation prompted Kami to organize a soup kitchen titled "Big Table," and when he announced the need for assistance on social networking sites, he received many donations and supplies from supporters.

On the day of the event, he was able to give supplies and boxed lunches to a total of 150 people, including people who had lost their jobs due to the Corona disaster, university students, and international students. Not only that, we were able to create a space where many people could rest their minds by giving haircuts and listening to piano performances at the venue.

The artist Yomoya Shiratama was especially helpful. She called on various friends, gave us detailed ideas, and worked hard at the site on the day of the event. Thanks to Mr. Hakutama, we were able to realize haircuts and piano performances. I feel as if he gave us a margin of creativity in our regular soup kitchens.

There should be creativity in the area called welfare. In fact, there should be creativity in the area called welfare. Mr. Kami says that the event made him realize once again that there should be creativity even in the area called "welfare.

Books connect us to each other. And the light of hope that books light up.

UNTAPPED HOSTEL has become more public, from hosting travelers to shelters and soup kitchens, and now Mr. Kami is trying to create a "new public place" that combines culture and welfare in a sustainable manner. He has decided to convert part of the first floor of the annex, which is currently used as a reception facility, from a lodging facility to a bookstore that mainly sells new books, and operate it as a "bookstore + shelter. The shelter will continue to use the second floor.

I had a sales job at a publishing company, so it was easier than starting from scratch. Books can connect to all kinds of places, things, and people, and I think that by selecting books ourselves from one to ten, over time we will create a bookstore that is uniquely UNTAPPED HOSTEL. We will be able to connect with people in all kinds of places and people. I hope we can also play a role in sending out proactive messages such as, "This is the kind of world we want to live in," and "Isn't the current political situation wrong?

The project is currently undergoing crowdfunding until the end of September. The project has already received support from many people who agree with this activity, and the amount of money raised far exceeds the goal. Returns include an UNTAPPED HOSTEL accommodation plan, meal tickets for "Gohan-ya Haruya" on the first floor of the main building, tickets that can be used at the bookstore, and a unique "shelf owner system" (currently sold out).

The idea is to have the shelves not only with recommended books that are the personal belongings of the owners, but also with books that they have created themselves, and other books that they have freely placed on the shelves. Naturally, the owner's individuality will come out, and a wide variety of spaces will be created. It may bring unexpected encounters to visitors.

Kami hopes to make the bookstore particularly appealing to young people, as Kita 18-jo, where UNTAPPED HOSTEL is located, is a student area centering on Hokkaido University. With the Corona disaster limiting what students can do because they are students, I am concerned that they may be deprived of the opportunity to experience the diversity of ways of life.

When you buy a book on the Internet, there is a system that recommends books to you based on your purchase. That is very convenient, but I wonder if there are any chance encounters there. If you go to a bookstore, through the physical experience of finding interesting things on your own, you may arrive at a path that you do not know. In the process, you may find something you like. The most important message I want to convey is, "Let's be passionate about what we love. I hope this place, including the bookstore, will be a catalyst for that.

A light that was born under the harsh circumstances of the Corona disaster, UNTAPPED HOSTEL invites visitors to light a small beacon of hope through books.