My dream once was to go to America.

Now, my dream is to welcome the world here.

Thank you so much for the incredible kindness and support we have already received.

I currently run a small cafe in Kushiro, Hokkaido.

One day, I hope to turn this place into a guesthouse cafe —

a warm, welcoming space where travelers from around the world can feel at home,

share stories, and experience the true spirit of Kushiro.

If possible, I hope to convert the building into a five-room guesthouse cafe, and offer one of the five rooms to a guest for free,

as a way to welcome travelers from around the world.

In addition, I plan to create a Kushiro Community Club —

a place to make Kushiro more welcoming for people from abroad,

to learn and share culture, and to connect with the local community.

Our hope is to bring new life to Kushiro

and help make the city an even better place for everyone.

This project is about sharing culture, stories, and connection —

and creating a place where people truly feel at home.

A glimpse of what this place already is with CouchSurfing Experience

My daughter and I used to co-manage a Couchsurfing account, where we welcome international travelers into our home for free. In return, we share stories, cultures, and sometimes explore the area together.

Although Kushiro is a quiet, rural town, we have been surprised to receive requests from two to three travelers every week.

In just a few months, my father has already hosted several guests from different countries.

Some guests have stayed only a short time, yet left incredibly heartfelt reviews, describing him as an “exceptional host.”

Seeing how deeply people felt welcomed reminded us that this place already has the spirit of a guesthouse.

This experience has shown us that there is a real need — and a real desire — for a warm, welcoming home for travelers in Kushiro.

A life shaped by journeys

My story began far from Kushiro.

In 1976, I moved to New York with very little.

I bought a motorcycle, memorized every street in Manhattan without any navigation tools,

and worked day after day as a Yellow Cab driver, learning the city by heart. I also worked at the first US location of teppanyaki restaurant Benihana as a chef.

My journey later took me to Florida, where I attended a diamond school

and studied how to mine and evaluate diamonds.

After that, I moved to Hawaii, where I eventually became the manager of a surfboard shop

and spent much of my time surrounded by the ocean and surfing culture.

During that time, I was caught in a powerful wave, suffered a serious back injury,

and was diagnosed with a herniated disc.

To undergo surgery and recover, I made the difficult decision

to return to my hometown of Kushiro, Hokkaido.

Creating connection in Kushiro

When I returned to Kushiro, there wasn’t a single English conversation school in the city.

Wanting to share what I had learned abroad and connect Kushiro to the wider world,

I opened Kushiro’s very first English conversation school,

helping many locals take their first steps toward international communication.

Over the years, times have changed.

Today, many young people study English online,

and the number of students has gradually declined.

Eventually, I shifted my focus and opened the café —

creating a new place for connection, just as I have always done throughout my life.

The reality today — and why we need help

The building itself is over 40 years old

and now requires major renovations.

There are issues with the ceiling, walls, and overall structure,

and a large remodel is necessary before this dream can move forward.

Also, like many small, independent cafes in rural Japan,

it has become increasingly difficult to sustain the cafe alone

due to rising costs and changing times.

Transforming it into a guesthouse cafe is not only a dream —

it is the next step to protecting this place

and allowing it to continue welcoming people for years to come.

With gratitude

I will share updates throughout the remodeling process

and keep you posted on our progress.

If you travel to Japan someday,

please make my home a part of your journey.

Fumio Funaki