Using Crowdfunding to Make People Feel
More Familiar With the Project
- This is the first TCD interview with sisters. First of all, could you both please introduce yourselves?
We are sisters from Osaka. Older sister, Aino, went to university in Kyoto, studied in Finland, and worked for a design office. Younger sister, Mone, worked for a major manufacturer and was in charge of advertising and public relations for their products. Before coming to Kyoto, the sisters lived together in Tokyo.
- You decided to start "NINIROOM. Was there a big reason for this?
My father introduced us to an old building in Marutamachi, Kyoto, which we were able to rent. Up until then, both of us had been working in Tokyo in different fields, but as two people who love to travel and talk about our ideal hostel, we decided to leave our jobs and started HOSTEL NINIROOM. There was a great deal of anxiety, but we were also very attracted to the way of working together as sisters who are like best friends, doing work that we love, and we decided to take on the challenge of a new dream.
- I've heard that NINIROOM started with the support of many people through crowdfunding. How do you look back on that time?
Because of the location of the hostel, we wanted to create a place where diverse people could gather and grow together. For this reason, we used crowdfunding as one way to let people know our thoughts and concepts for NINIROOM. As a result, we received 3.55 million yen from 184 supporters. By launching the crowdfunding project, we were able to make friends even before the place was actually built, and at the time of the opening, most of the guests were not from the reservation website but from acquaintances, which is a rare start for an accommodation facility. Through crowdfunding, NINIROOM has been able to meet people who will continue to work together to make this place a great asset for us.
The Ideal Trip Is a Local Routine Spent in a Friend's Room.
- What are the features of the NINIROOM service?
This is a hostel with a cafe lounge, based on the concept of "friend's room living in Kyoto." I think it is characterized by the architectural design by my father, who is an architect, and Aino, the space design including interior coordination, and the friendly staff creating a relaxing place. Our main concept is to "go see friends who live in that town," and we want to express the ideal style of travel for those of us who love to travel. We want to express the ideal style of travel for those of us who love to travel, meeting local people and delicious food, and experiencing things that can only be done there. We would like to provide a memorable trip to Kyoto, not just to visit famous spots, but to spend time in someone's ordinary life.
- What is the area of Marutamachi in Kyoto like?
Marutamachi, while close to the center of Kyoto and tourist spots, is a bit far from the downtown area, and is an area where you can feel the real life of Kyoto with its rich nature such as the Kamo River and Okazaki Park, and traditional stores.
In addition, there are many facilities and places related to culture and art, such as universities and art museums, and this area is where a new culture unique to Kyoto is born, not only sightseeing spots and temple visits.
- There's a lot of interaction between the customers.
The lounge on the first floor also offers a café bar menu, which is very busy at certain times of the day. Guests, especially those from overseas, often stay for a long time, so I often help them with their travel plans, ask them what they think of their trip, and get to know the guests around me. Participating in events such as the regular morning yoga sessions on the green rooftop and cinema nights is also a way for guests to interact with each other that only a lodging facility can offer.
- Has anything changed since you started NINIROOM?
In Kyoto, I feel that there are strong connections among people who are trying to do new and interesting things. Especially since we have an open space called NINIROOM, we have had many opportunities to meet such people, which has led to the birth of new ideas and projects. We have a new project called "Nishijin Cinema" that we are planning and managing, and we are working together with the Nishijin obi manufacturer Watafumi and the Kyoto Film Center, both of whom we met through NINIROOM. It's a chain reaction of starting the next interesting thing with the people we meet, so every day is so happy.
We Want to Convey Our Thoughts by Using TCD Theme.
- How did you know about the TCD theme?
We were introduced to it when we were looking for a way to create a website quickly and sensibly, as we were not familiar with programming.
- What are some of the things you liked about using it? Also, what are your objective impressions of the TCD theme?
I like the simplicity of the design and the ability to create an original atmosphere with images and content. It's easy to use and easy to update, and I feel like I've already done it, even though it's my first time using a website.
ORION, which we are currently using, is attractive because it allows us to effectively use the impressive hero header and directly convey the image of NINIROOM to visitors to the website. I'd like to continue using it in the future, as I can convey the changing appearance of NINIROOM with the seasons and other branding elements simply by changing the image.
- Do you have any specific image in terms of the role you want the website to play?
As it has only been a short time since we opened, most of our reservations are still made through booking sites such as Booking.com and Rakuten, but I think it is the most important tool for conveying the NINIROOM brand image. People who are repeaters or who find out about us through word of mouth from their acquaintances always visit our website, so I want to convey an image that will make them want to visit NINIROOM.
- Finally, please tell us about the future prospects of NINIROOM.
I hope that NINIROOM will become a place where people can easily come to Kyoto and experience various aspects of it. I feel that having NINIROOM as a place for people to gather has helped me meet new people and expand the circle of my projects. We would like to continue to promote our own style of Kyoto through events such as "Nishijin Cinema," which will start from the connections and encounters with people who come to NINIROOM.
編集後記
The sisters use ORION with the intention of sharing their beautiful space and experiences with as many people as possible. When we visited them for an interview, we had a great time talking about NINIROOM and other topics. The stories that develop between the Nishihama sisters and the various people they meet through NINIROOM are also an attraction that I can't take my eyes off. I hope they will continue to use the TCD theme to convey their thoughts to as many people as possible.
NINIROOM
ご活用のTCDテーマ
