Nanakamado: Renovated Public Housing for New Residents in Niikappu Town
The housing features three distinct interior patterns to suit different lifestyles. Pattern A focuses on a spacious living room for family gatherings. Pattern B, which is available in the current recruitment for Building No. 2, is characterized by a counter kitchen, allowing parents to keep an eye on children while doing household chores. Pattern C offers ample storage space and generous room in the bathroom and other wet areas. All units are single-story wooden structures of 63.76 square meters (approximately 19.25 tsubo). Key equipment includes all-electric appliances, a unit bath, a system kitchen, a washbasin with a shower, a storage heater, and an electric water heater. The entire home is barrier-free. Additional amenities include a storage shed and space for a home vegetable garden.
The rental terms are straightforward: a monthly rent of 30,000 yen with no security deposit (敷金なし). Occupancy is granted for a maximum of ten years from the move-in date under a fixed-term building lease agreement, with no option for extension. The housing's charming nickname, 'Nanakamado' (Rowan tree), is deeply symbolic. A rowan tree has long been planted in front of the housing, and the name plays on the words for 'seven households' and the tree's legendary toughness—said to survive being put in a hearth seven times. The town hopes the seven families who move in will build strong, resilient homes and put down roots in Niikappu.
Niikappu Town is situated in the picturesque Shiribeshi region of Hokkaido. The area is renowned for its natural beauty and outdoor activities, including the famous Niseko United ski resorts approximately an hour's drive away, offering some of the world's best powder snow. Closer to home, residents can enjoy the serene coastline and the local equestrian culture, as Niikappu is known for its horse ranches and the historic Banei horse races.