Private Lodging Project: Canadian Lumber and OSB Create Visually Appealing Interior Design Environment
We recently visited an innovative renovation project in Kuroiso, Nasushiobara City, where a wide range of Canadian wood products is being used. Located about 90 minutes north of Tokyo by Shinkansen and local train, Kuroiso is known for its retro streets, relaxed atmosphere, striking libraries, beautiful handcrafted goods, and thriving coffee culture. That reputation began with the opening of 1988 CAFE SHOZO in the late 1980s. Its owner transformed an abandoned two-storey apartment building from Japan’s bubble era into a stylish café, creatively reusing materials found on site and incorporating wood into the interior design and furniture.
The project we visited is located in a vacant, 50-year-old, three-story steel-framed building. The owner, Mr. Naito, who operates a photo studio nearby, is working with carpenter Mr. Hasegawa of Mokkyo Hasegawa Workshop to transform the third floor into a private lodging facility with two rooms, blending Japanese and Western design elements.
Inspired in part by the wooden renovation and recycling culture pioneered by Café Shozo, Mr. Naito collaborated closely with Mr. Hasegawa to incorporate Canadian wood throughout the interior. The result is a pair of beautiful, simply designed rooms that thoughtfully combine natural materials with a contemporary interpretation of traditional Japanese and Western aesthetics.
In one room, Canadian OSB panels (9 mm, 3 × 8 ft) line the walls, with Yellow Cedar battens concealing the joints. The materials’ warm yellow-brown tones complement each other while contrasting attractively with the recycled wood used for the shoji-style window screens. Yellow Cedar is also featured in the flooring (120 mm wide × 23 mm thick) and ceiling battens (11 mm × 11 mm), creating a warm interior.
In the other room, Douglas fir lamina (38 mm × 140 mm) was used for the flooring and loft bed, while Hem-Fir posts and horizontal load-bearing members support the bed. Recycled Yellow Cedar railway ties were cut into blocks and used as decorative accents in the narrow exit area above the loft. Japanese species such as Hinoki and Sugi were also considered, but Mr. Hasegawa, who has extensive experience with Canadian lumber, particularly values its warmth, beauty, durability, and workability—especially those of Yellow Cedar.
The building’s second floor is being converted into a photography studio for guests staying on the third floor. Mr. Naito hopes the private lodging and studio will support the Nasu area’s economic and cultural development while complementing its natural environment. Although modest in scale, the project aligns with Canada Wood Japan’s recent focus on the accommodation market and demonstrates how sustainable Canadian wood products can create warm, attractive interiors.