Episode 565

full
Published on:

20th Mar 2026

Elevating a traditional family-run Japanese Inn to Welcome All Guests | CEO Chizuka Tachibana

How can a traditional Japanese inn survive for many generations? CEO Chizuka Tachibana is following in the footsteps of her family's legacy to run Ryokan Ohana in Fukuoka. As a descendent of feudal lords, Tachibana-san maintains, and continues to elevate an impressive family business legacy.

Tachibana-san did a huge renovation of the buildings in 2025 and won the Grand Prize for the Japan Travel Awards in 2026 for her dedication to excellent, inclusive and accessible hospitality and service. Vegan-Vegetarian and international customer welcoming, they have a very sustainable Japanese business philosophy in hopes of being successful for their staff, locals as well as customers beyond the next 100 years & far into the future.

https://ohana.co.jp/en/

Japan Travel Awards 2026 Winners https://japantravelawards.com/en/winners/2026

- JOIN the Ryokan Ohana Crowdfunding Effort to preserve their beautiful pine trees https://readyfor.jp/projects/ohana1910/announcements/421132

Next Episode All Episodes Previous Episode

Support Seek Sustainable Japan

A huge thank you to our supporters, it means a lot that you support our podcast.

If you like the podcast and want to support it, too, you can leave us a tip using the button below. We really appreciate it and it only takes a moment!
Support Seek Sustainable Japan
A
We haven’t had any Tips yet :( Maybe you could be the first!

Listen for free

Show artwork for Seek Sustainable Japan

About the Podcast

Seek Sustainable Japan
Good people doing Great things
Seek Sustainable Japan is a positive view of sustainable Japan through discussions with "Good People Doing Great Things" as a way to share ideas worth preserving and building on. Everything from community building to Japanese culture, art, crafts, trades, reuse & renovation, farming, entrepreneurship, sustainable business & products, events, organizations, travel & traditions. All of the guests on the show are creating a more sustainable Japan [i.e. better people-planet-profits balance] through their work, projects and way of life.
JJWalsh is founder of the Inbound-Ambassador co. as well as founder & host of the talkshow-podcast Seek Sustainable Japan. JJ is originally from Hawaii, but now a 30 year+ Japan resident. JJ is a sustainability-focused guide, educator and consultant based in Hiroshima Japan.

#inboundambassador #seeksustainablejapan
Support This Show

About your host

Profile picture for jj walsh

jj walsh

Hi I'm Joy (JJ) originally from Hawaii & long-time Hiroshima-jin (jin=person). My work and content is focused on sustainability & how we can make better choices to balance the needs of people, planet and profits in our lives, work and travel. Join me as I talk with wonderful people and visit interesting places in Japan.
Reach out: inboundambassador@gmail.com
InboundAmbassador.com | SeekSustainableJapan.com | All Links: https://linktr.ee/jjwalsh