Live your Harry Potter dreams at this Airbnb-listed home in Japan
Singapore may have Platform 1094, a Harry Potter-themed cafe, on our small island, but you know Potter fans here have always cast their eyes towards “The Wizarding World of Harry Potter” at Universal Studios Japan in Osaka.
Well, once again, Japan has upped its game, this time with the “Expected Inn” in Fukuoka on Kyushu. And the best part? You can book a stay there through online travel rental site Airbnb.
Based on the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry from the “Harry Potter” films, the inn aims to replicate the feel of being a novice wizard-in-training.
From the brick and marble-like walls to chandeliers and old paintings, the decor in the “Expected Inn” definitely bring to mind the eight-film series that charmed the world.
With two bedrooms, a living room, and a dining and kitchen area, this three-storey home can accommodate up to 16 wizards, witches, and yes, even muggles.
The “Expected Inn” is also conveniently located, being a short 10-minute walk from Hakata JR station, the major railway station in Fukuoka.
It’s basically like Shinjuku JR station in Tokyo, or Orchard MRT station in Singapore. The “Expected Inn” is also pretty good value for money, too, especially if you are travelling in large groups.
The “Expected Inn” is the result of real estate company Reqrea, Inc. deciding to kill two birds with one stone.
For Reqrea, the aim was to tackle the lack of accommodation for tourists, at the same time improving the market value of vacant apartments and rental homes. This was done by converting them and listing them on Airbnb for tourists.
Japan has seen a rise in overseas tourists in recent years, with a record-breaking 24 million overseas tourists visiting in 2016, according to the nation’s tourism organisation.
With an increase in demand for accommodation, Airbnb is slowly but steadily expanding its reach into Japan, following Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s cabinet’s draft approval on limiting home-sharing by private citizens to 180 days a year.
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