The founder of PlanetDao shares her vision for a community of shared co-owners through innovative heritage investment strategies.
Japan faces a significant demographic challenge with a rapidly aging population and a declining birthrate. This has led to a notable increase in abandoned temples and homes, known as akiya, particularly in rural areas as younger generations migrate to cities for work. Consequently, many smaller cities and towns are experiencing population decline, struggling to maintain infrastructure and community vitality.
The increasing number of elderly citizens strains social security and healthcare systems, while the shrinking workforce creates labor shortages. Experts predict that the number of akiya could rise dramatically in the coming years, posing challenges for urban planning and potentially impacting the aesthetic and safety of some regions. This demographic shift necessitates innovative solutions to revitalise local economies and support the aging population.
I first got to know more Tamaki Nishimura’s project called PlanetDao from my ex-colleague Chia Fang, when the latter moved to Tokyo and began working on this start-up. In a nutshell, Planet Dao aims to revitalise Japan’s cultural heritage by transforming abandoned properties into unique rentals. It operates as a Decentralised Autonomous Organization (DAO), allowing global investors to co-own these properties. Leveraging blockchain for transparency, Planet Dao seeks to preserve historical buildings and foster community engagement, offering investors unique cultural and potential financial returns.
Tamaki-san, who has start-up experience (she worked on building a Japanese version of Airbnb with NTT Docomo) was keen on the DAO concept and connecting individuals to work on the same goal together.
Share with us what is your background in studies and what jobs did you hold before you decided to be an entrepreneur?
I started my career at Gaiax, a startup studio in Japan. I worked directly under the founder and CEO, who had led the company to an IPO at just 30 years old. Being surrounded by start-up founders and CEOs every day, it felt natural—even expected—that I would one day start something of my own.
My first venture was a cultural experience platform in partnership with Japan’s largest telecom company, NTT Docomo. It was similar to Airbnb Experiences. I also organised large-scale events like geisha performances in Hakone, working with Odakyu Group.
Beyond building the platform, I hosted many of the experiences myself—welcoming over 2,000 international travelers. Seeing people fall in love with Japan firsthand made me realise how powerful cultural connection can be, and I absolutely loved being a part of that journey.
How did the idea for PlanetDao start?
Through my last venture, I discovered a powerful insight: what’s considered “too ordinary” for many Japanese people can be deeply meaningful to people from overseas. That gap held so much potential.
I saw how Web3 and DAO models could help bridge that gap—connecting people who love Japan with the cultural properties at risk of being forgotten, while also giving them a real stake in preservation. That’s how the idea of PlanetDAO was born: to combine blockchain technology with cultural preservation and shared ownership.
I wrote more about how it all began here: It All Starts With a Scribble
Was it difficult to convince people of your business model? And was it hard to raise funds?
Yes—especially in the beginning. Before launching our first fundraising round, we spent months doing groundwork. We interviewed at least 20 people who we thought might be interested, and honestly, we received a lot of tough feedback. Some questioned the use of the word “investment” when talking about cultural heritage. Others asked how we planned to reach overseas audiences or navigate the complex legal landscape around investing in Japanese property.
The legal structure was the biggest hurdle. I wrote about this in my Substack as well, but Japan’s strict regulations on crypto and securities—shaped by past incidents like Mt. Gox and Coincheck—forced us to abandon the idea of incorporating blockchain at the early stage. We had to build an entirely compliant legal and financial model from scratch.
The first 10 million yen was the hardest to raise. I didn’t come from a finance or real estate background, so I was starting from zero. We were fortunate that friends believed in us and helped spread the word. One pivotal moment was when Shogo, a YouTuber with over 1 million subscribers who creates content on Japanese culture, became our first major supporter. He invested 1 million yen and featured us on his channel—which helped us build our first real fan base.
After that, things began to shift. People started talking about us, and those who resonated with our mission came forward to invest. But gaining credibility—especially with overseas investors—was still a challenge. We were a small, unknown startup backed by another small, unknown company.
To build trust, we opened up our personal calendar so anyone could book a session and speak with me directly. That openness and transparency helped us gradually grow the community that is now PlanetDao.
Why did you want to work on Japan’s abandoned temples and onsens? Is preserving heritage an important value to you?
Spending time with people from overseas constantly made me reflect on how Japan can remain competitive on the global stage. Although Japan was once one of the world’s largest economies, it has been losing ground. Still, we have so many unique strengths—our pop culture, natural beauty, craftsmanship, infrastructure, and rich historical heritage.
Yet, that historical and cultural heritage has been largely overlooked since the rapid post-war economic growth. I realised it just needs to be “produced”—shared and presented—in a way that resonates with today’s global economy. My past work connected people to Japanese culture, and I realised that’s the value I bring: being a bridge between local heritage and global community.
How can members of the public start to get involved with your projects?
When fundraising is open, you can sign up as an investor by clicking the “Become an Investor” button on our website.
When it’s not open, you can subscribe to our newsletter to stay updated on upcoming locations and future opportunities.
How many team members are working with you now and what are their responsibilities?
We’re a small but diverse core team of five, with members from Japan and others who have worked across Asia in fields like hospitality, marketing, education, and tech.
We operate in a lean and agile way — supported not only by our core members but also by part-time collaborators, local partners, and experts who join us on specific projects.
In addition, we work closely with Gaiax, our lead investor, who provides us with valuable support in areas like finance, accounting, and design.
Here are the 4 core members and what they do:
- Wassan handles local community relations.
- CF leads our marketing and PR strategy.
- Monika is focused on building PlanetDAO’s international fan base.
- Toyo manages location sourcing across Japan.
What are some of the prerequisites for the properties you choose? Must they have heritage or cultural value?
Yes, cultural value is a key factor, but it’s not the only one. We look for:
- A story and intention to preserve – We prioritise properties whose owners care about preserving them, especially if they are already registered as cultural heritage.
- Accessibility – Properties should be reachable from major cities like Tokyo or Osaka (especially for international investors), or be in uniquely attractive rural areas worth visiting.
- Local partnerships – We only take on properties where we can work with trusted local partners. Since we operate across Japan, it’s critical that each location has a reliable team on the ground who understands the community and can help run the site sustainably.
Could you share where some of these properties are located? And what other prefectures will you be targeting in the future?
Right now, we have two properties that are fully funded and currently in the planning and design phase:
- A 170-year-old temple in Nachi, Wakayama—part of a UNESCO World Heritage pilgrimage route, and we plan to welcome guests around Q1 2026.
- A seaside traditional home in Hayama, Kanagawa—just south of Tokyo and a popular summer getaway for locals.We are aiming to open it in Q4 2025.
Coming soon, we’re working on 重要文化財(important cultural heritage): government-registered cultural properties in Shiga and Niigata. These places are full of untapped beauty and history, and we’re excited to open them up to a wider global audience.
For travelers coming to Japan, I would encourage you to go beyond the big cities. Some of the most meaningful experiences come from exploring quieter, lesser-known places where local stories and traditions are still very much alive.
Through PlanetDao, you can help preserve those stories — either by investing in our projects or by staying in the properties we renovate and bring back to life for future generations.
Where can we find Tamaki-san when you’re not working?
In the park, in the mountains, or at a campsite—especially in summer! I have two very energetic little kids, so weekends are all about letting them run wild in nature.
My next big personal goal is an ultramarathon. I’d love to run it in one of our PlanetDao locations—maybe Nachi or Sado Island!
