Space for Change

Yoshino Cedar House Nara, Japan

Yoshino is a little district in Nara prefecture that, like most rural communities in Japan, has seen its young people leave in droves for the big city, leaving behind stagnating industry and economic uncertainty.

But initiatives like Airbnb's Samara studio, which designs spaces that promote "rural revitalisation", could help rejuvenate the area known for its cherry blossom trees and mountainous terrain.