Wakatsuki

We are a regional venture company operating in Tsuwano (Kanoashi District) and Yoshida (Unnan City), both in Shimane Prefecture, Japan.

Our parent company, Social Design Partners Inc., is headquartered in Sendagi, Tokyo — a neighbourhood where the culture of old downtown Tokyo still lives on. From this base, we plan, develop and operate locally-rooted hospitality projects, while supporting regional revitalisation across Japan.

Our involvement with Tsuwano and Yoshida began in 2019. The global pandemic of 2020 forced the project to be postponed for an extended period, yet we kept seeking what we could still do as regional challenges and the decline of buildings and townscapes deepened. In November 2022 this led us to establish our local entity, Wakatsuki LLC.

The name “Wakatsuki” is inherited from “Wakatsuki-ya”, a property originally operated in Yoshida. Wakatsuki — also written as Wakazuki (若月) — is another name for the crescent moon, evoking a fresh step, a sign of change, and the very instant when these appear. Our hope is to take a new step in both regions and bring change to the land, while creating experiences in which every visitor — residents and travellers alike — can savour each fleeting moment of wonder.