Updated by "Forest Circular Economy" Editorial Board on October 09, 2025, 9:13 PM JST
Editorial Board, Forest Circular Economy
Forestcircularity-editor
We aim to realize "Vision 2050: Japan Shines, Forest Circular Economy" promoted by the Platinum Forest Industry Initiative. We will disseminate ideas and initiatives to promote biomass chemistry, realize woody and lumbery communities, and encourage innovation in the forestry industry in order to fully utilize forest resources to decarbonize the economy, strengthen economic security, and create local communities.
More trees and Rakuten Group's "Rakuten STAY" have collaborated for the first time as part of the Forestry Agency's "Wood Change" initiative, and in conjunction with October's "Wood Use Promotion Month," the "WOOD CHANGE × Rakuten STAY Collaboration Rooms" where guests can experience the appeal of domestic timber through a lodging experience.
The purpose of this project is to communicate more deeply the appeal of domestic timber and to encourage behavioral change toward the use of timber through the special experience of being surrounded by products made from domestic timber in the extraordinary space of a stay.
The concept is "to have a special moment surrounded by domestic wood. The "WOOD CHANGE x Rakuten STAY Collaboration Room" was created at the Hakone Resort's "Rakuten STAY Terrace Hakone-Kowakudani" to allow guests to experience the appeal of domestic wood. The room features interior furnishings, amenities, toys, and other items made from domestic wood, and is designed to allow visitors to experience the warmth and aroma of wood products and the possibilities of wood use through actual use.
In addition to the "WOOD CHANGE GUIDE BOOK," a leaflet introducing the purpose of the WOOD CHANGE PROJECT, the room also contains a collection of wood-related magazines, picture books, and photographs to help visitors learn about the forest issues facing Japan and how to utilize domestic wood.
The current situation of forest deterioration due to poor management and the sluggish use of domestic timber due to the influence of inexpensive imported timber are major issues facing Japan. An overnight experience that exposes visitors to these issues and the importance of using domestic timber through the use of wood products will contribute to increasing awareness and promoting the use of domestic timber, and will provide a valuable opportunity to think about sustainable forest management.
Reference Links
Rakuten STAY x WOOD CHANGE collaboration room
