Ryokan Homeikan, a historic inn in Tokyo's Hongo district, will host a talk event on July 11, 2026, exploring what comes next for the building as it prepares for renovation work. The event is co-hosted by narrative Inc., which works on old-house town revitalization projects nationwide, together with Homeikan Co., Ltd. and the Hongo Architecture Design Institute.
The same day will also bring the results of a photo contest held this past spring, with an awards ceremony and an exhibition displaying all of the submitted entries. Attendance is by invitation, extended mainly to those with past ties to Homeikan.
A Ryokan with Roots Back to 1898
Ryokan Homeikan traces its origins to a Hongo boarding house founded in 1898, later rebuilt into a ryokan after the war. Its Main Building, a registered tangible cultural property, is joined by the Daimachi Annex, converted from a private residence, and the Morikawa Annex, originally built as a group ryokan. Together, the three buildings have weathered the Great Kanto Earthquake and the Tokyo air raids, carrying forward the long history of Hongo's ryokan district to this day.
Talk Event: Homeikan's "What's Next"
With renovation work now planned to maintain and make use of the buildings, the talk event will bring together two people closely involved in Homeikan's revival:
- Naoshi Hosomi, Representative Director of the Hongo Architecture Design Institute, who is involved in the project's architecture and design
- Taisuke Okubo, Representative Director of narrative Inc., which is leading the project's planning, design, and operation
The two will discuss how Homeikan, while preserving its value as a cultural property, can continue to serve as a space open to the local community.
Photo Contest Awards Ceremony and Exhibition
Ahead of the renovation, Homeikan ran a photo contest this spring inviting memories connected to the ryokan. With the winning entries now decided, an awards ceremony will be held to thank everyone who entered as well as those who have visited Homeikan over the years. All of the submitted photos will be on display at an accompanying exhibition, offering a look at Homeikan through the eyes of each contributor, alongside the winning works.
Event Overview
Date: July 11, 2026 (Saturday), 10:00 AM (doors open 9:45 AM)
Venue: Homeikan Morikawa Annex, 6-23-5 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo
Access: 15-minute walk from Hongo-sanchome Station, 12-minute walk from Kasuga Station (no parking on site; public transportation recommended)
Schedule:
- 9:45 AM: Doors open
- 10:00 to 11:00 AM: Photo contest awards ceremony
- 11:00 to 11:40 AM: Talk event, "Homeikan's What's Next," with Naoshi Hosomi (Hongo Architecture Design Institute) and Taisuke Okubo (narrative Inc.)
- 12:00 to 4:00 PM: Photo exhibition
Official website: https://www.homeikan.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ryokanhomeikan/
