Japanese firm offering couples vacation rentals to prevent divorce

Japanese firm Kasoku are offering unused hotel rooms to stressed-out couples to prevent a surge in divorces in the country.

The owner of the company, Keisuke Arai, got the idea after he started wondering how couples across Japan were coping under lockdown, as they adjusted to being together all the time under the same roof.

Also read: Japan PM Shinzo Abe extends lockdown till May 31

Arai had switched to working from home after an emergency was declared in the country due to the coronavirus pandemic 

As a result, he began bickering more with his long-term girlfriend.

While scrolling through social media platforms he came across a trending hashtag called corona divorce, where people largely ranted about their partners.

In response, Arai's company, Kasoku, started advertising hundreds of empty vacation rentals to stressed-out couples.

"We wanted to prevent people from divorcing," says Arai. "The objective behind the vacation rentals is so that married couples can gain some much-needed time and space to think about their relationships." 

The company offers 500 fully furnished rooms in hotels and inns across Japan.

Guests can stay for a duration from one day to six months. A unit costs just over 4,000 yen per day and up to 90,000 per month.

Kasoku has received over 140 inquiries, overwhelmingly from women in their 30s to 40s, who are either looking for a quiet place to telework, who want time away from their spouse. 

Japan hasn't had a sudden spike in divorces yet, unlike other countries worldwide.

However, the venting on social media indicates people's growing frustration amid the pandemic.