Type: Wellness Tourism & Sustainable Development

Location: Futo, Ito City

Size: Approx. 17,190㎡ (≒ 5,200 tsubo / 4.25 acres)

Concept:

A rare sea-view property offering expansive potential for the development of a next-generation wellness destination in Izu. Still in its early planning phase, this project is deliberately open-ended and welcomes visionary collaboration. Preliminary assessment suggests geothermal potential, with a landscape well-suited for regenerative design and international appeal.

Gipango is exploring several concept directions in conversation with stakeholders:

• A Luxury Wellness Senior Community designed for active, health-conscious retirees with villa-style residences, onsen facilities, and integrated medical support.

• A Destination Wellness Resort offering trial-stay-to-retire packages, member-based wellness programs, and nature-immersive living for global high-net-worth individuals.

• A Nature Tech Park & Innovation Campus serving as a testbed for wellness and sustainability technologies, with integrated lodging and corporate demonstration infrastructure.

Status:

Concept stage. Landowner is open to sale or co-development (approx. 150 million JPY).

Initial planning and partner discussions are underway.

Opportunities:

• Co-development with visionary investors or family offices

• Strategic public-private partnerships in wellness tourism and longevity innovation

• Showcase project for regenerative architecture, green energy, and tech-enabled care

• Integration with Japan’s medical tourism and inbound relocation strategies

Keywords:

wellness real estate, hot spring potential, regenerative development, sustainable aging, longevity investment

Type: Urban Renewal + Senior Living + International Collaboration Center

Location: Yukawa, Ito City (directly across from Ito Station)

Size: Approx. 650㎡ total floor area (5-story steel-frame building)

Status: Site analysis completed; current owner open to full vacancy and sale

Concept:

Positioned at the symbolic gateway to Ito City, this station-front building is envisioned as a strategic redevelopment opportunity into a multi-functional facility that integrates luxury senior living, inbound entrepreneurship, and international wellness services. With rare commercial zoning and high-density development potential (FAR 400%), it offers unmatched urban flexibility in a seaside hot spring town.

Historically, this location was part of the route used by horse-drawn carriages that brought upper-class travelers to the hot springs of Ito. The family of the current building owner once operated a carriage company, a legacy now reflected only in the name of their business. While the physical traces have vanished, this history offers a unique narrative layer to inspire the site’s transformation.

The redevelopment seeks to reinterpret that spirit of dignified arrival and cultural hospitality through a modern “vertical village” — a place that nurtures wellness, connection, and legacy.

Key components under consideration include:

• High-end independent senior residences with wellness integration

• Multilingual support center for foreign entrepreneurs and medical tourists

• Co-working, cultural exchange, and event spaces

• Rooftop retreat with garden and view lounge

• Flexible zoning allows for retail, hospitality, or care services

Opportunities:

• Urban flagship for longevity innovation in Japan’s super-aging society

• Integration with national strategies in medical tourism, startup visas, and foreign direct investment

• Anchor facility for Gipango’s local-global business infrastructure in Izu

• Rare mixed-use redevelopment opportunity in a high-visibility, high-accessibility location with limited premium supply

Keywords

transit-oriented development, station-area revitalization, aging society innovation, international entrepreneur hub, wellness infrastructure

Type: Regional Innovation + Practical AI Integration

Location: Izu Peninsula & Online

Status: Pilot phase underway, full rollout from September 2025

Concept:

In response to Japan’s growing need for digital innovation beyond metropolitan centers, Gipango is launching a hands-on initiative to help regional small businesses and professionals adopt AI in practical, accessible ways. This project includes tailored consulting, sector-specific prompt design, and community-level workshops—focusing on real business problems, not theoretical tools.

Our vision is not to impose generic tech solutions, but to build digital confidence and competence within the region. The first seminar series will launch in Ito in Fall 2025, with plans to expand throughout the Izu Peninsula and partner municipalities.

Key areas of focus include:

• AI literacy for business owners and freelancers

• GPT-based automation (e.g., document drafting, translation, marketing content)

• Workflow integration using no-code tools

• Industry-specific prompt engineering (real estate, tourism, renovation, healthcare)

• Long-term support for AI ethics, governance, and data security

Opportunities:

• Upskilling of the local workforce through accessible, business-relevant tools

• Partnership with chambers of commerce, local governments, and training institutions

• Model for rural AI implementation replicable across Japan

• Foundation for an Izu-based “Human-AI Collaboration Hub” in the future

Keywords:

AI adoption, regional innovation, SME transformation, prompt engineering, digital upskilling

Type: Cultural Event Design + International Music Diplomacy

Location: Ito City

Target Launch: 2028 (First Edition)

Concept:

The Izu Global Sound Festival (IGS Festival) is a bold cultural initiative that reimagines the Izu Peninsula as a platform for musical diplomacy and global connection. Unlike typical commercial music events, IGS places its focus on non-Western music traditions—celebrating the richness and diversity of sonic cultures across South Asia, Southeast Asia, East Asia, West Asia, Africa, Central and South America, and the Pacific Islands — regions whose musical traditions are often underrepresented in mainstream global circuits.

Set against the scenic backdrop of coastal Izu, the festival aims to attract both domestic and international visitors, while also nurturing local participation, cultural education, and regional economic activation. More than a stage, IGS is designed to become an annual convergence of artists, scholars, communities, and visionaries, engaging with music as both performance and social practice. IGS is not just a festival — it is a movement.

Status:

Concept finalized; branding and partner outreach ongoing.

Pilot events and international artist dialogues to begin from 2026.

First full-scale festival scheduled for 2028.

Opportunities:

• Cultural soft power platform grounded in diversity and inclusion

• Sponsorship and co-branding with global music, design, or hospitality companies

• Artist and curator exchange programs

• Educational partnerships with universities and cultural foundations

• Long-term anchor event for Izu’s creative economy and international visibility

Keywords:

non-Western music, cultural diplomacy, artist mobility, global festival, creative placemaking, Izu regeneration

Type: Midscale Hospitality Redevelopment + Successor Matching

Location: Toi City, Shizuoka, overlooking the Pacific Ocean

Status: Owner open to sale (~600 million JPY); strategic partner search ongoing

Concept:

The hotel is a well-established seaside ryokan in Tohi City, offering sweeping ocean views, multiple guest floors, and onsen facilities. While not currently positioned as a highly luxury property, its location, scale, and structural integrity present a compelling opportunity for visionary redevelopment.

Rather than merely continuing operations or preserving the status quo, this project seeks to reimagine the ryokan as a next-generation retreat for wellness, art, or international lifestyle tourism. The aim is not to erase its past, but to elevate its value and identity in line with emerging travel trends and cultural storytelling.

Potential directions include:

• A seaside retreat with redesigned suites, integrated wellness programs, and chef-led dining

• A base for regional cultural exchange, artist residencies, or music & nature programming

• A hybrid facility catering to international digital nomads or semi-permanent residents

Opportunities:

• Turnkey hospitality asset with scalable infrastructure and ocean view positioning

• Strong potential for inbound market repositioning through renovation and brand redesign

• Local workforce retention and skill-up through re-training and new service models

• Integration into Gipango’s broader regional revitalization platform

Keywords:

ryokan redevelopment, regional hospitality strategy, wellness travel, soft repositioning, successor matching, inbound tourism