A Light and Simple New Life in Tokachi After Retirement　Mr. and Mrs. T in Otofuke Town / Mizuno Construction

After retiring, Mr. and Mrs. T built a new home in Otofuke Town, Tokachi.
Leaving behind their large house in the Tokyo metropolitan area, they chose a lighter, more open way of living in the spacious landscapes of Tokachi, where they are now enjoying their second life together.

The husband’s passion is landscape photography. Traveling all across Japan in their camper van, the couple gradually arrived at a clear conclusion: the best lifestyle was one that embraced relocation and a new home suited to the changes that come with life after retirement.

Their home-building journey reflects three key ideas:

• Living simply with only what they truly need for life after retirement 
• A reliable support system that made relocating from far away stress-free 
• Exceptional insulation performance that keeps the home comfortable even through Tokachi’s harsh winters

A Comfortable Home Built Around “Only What We Need”

“Because a camper van is small, you can’t carry unnecessary things,” says Mr. T with a smile. “Once we got used to that lifestyle, we realized it actually felt much more comfortable than living in a huge house filled with belongings.”

The couple chose Mizuno Construction’s “Minimal Style House,” a concept focused on carefully selecting only the right amount of space and equipment while creating a refined and high-quality living environment.

The exterior design — larch wood siding paired with a red flat galvanized steel roof — was the husband’s idea.

“When we traveled through Tokachi’s countryside, the sight of red-roofed houses standing out beautifully against the blue sky really stayed with me. It turned out exactly as I imagined.”

Inside, the living and dining room features solid wood flooring and ceilings made from Japanese larch. Instead of covering the ceiling with wallpaper, they left the wood exposed to fully enjoy the warmth and comfort of natural materials. The flooring also uses locally sourced Tokachi larch.

“We’re at a different stage of life from families raising children and accumulating more things,” they explain. “We didn’t want to be tied to the idea of a ‘typical house layout.’ We decided to strip away anything unnecessary.”

As a result, there is no door separating the living room, and even the shoe storage is open. “Without barriers, the temperature stays even throughout the house, odors and moisture don’t build up, and it’s incredibly comfortable. It also helped reduce costs.”

At the same time, the couple carefully included elements that enrich their daily life. One example is the Belgian-made Dovre wood stove, used as supplemental heating.

“We love watching the flames flicker,” they say. “We simmer red beans, roast sweet potatoes, and enjoy little pleasures that make winter something to look forward to.”

The custom-built kitchen also follows their simple philosophy, featuring open shelving without cabinet doors for easy access and a clean, practical feel.

(Photo left) The kitchen also includes a built-in cooling storage space that draws in cool air from beneath the floor during summer and from outside during winter.
(Photo right) Even the washroom and changing area were designed without doors, separated instead by curtains.

A Stress-Free Design Process, Even from Long Distance
A collaborative approach built on carefully sharing information and design ideas in detail.

Until the house was completed, the couple continued living in Tokyo. Most meetings with Mizuno Construction took place through email and LINE.

“We already shared similar values, and during construction they sent us daily progress photos, so we never felt anxious.”

One of Mizuno Construction’s signature approaches is sharing detailed 3D renderings during the design process. These visualizations allow homeowners to experience the scale and atmosphere of the space as if they were already standing inside the finished home.

After reviewing the renderings, the couple decided they wanted a subtle divider between the living room and kitchen after all. However, they didn’t want to lose the openness of the space, so they chose a wooden louver wall instead. It gently separates the rooms while still allowing light, air, and visibility to pass through — now one of their favorite features in the house.

Mizuno Construction’s Insulation Performance, Refined Through Countless Thoughtful Innovations

Since the couple relocated from Tokyo, insulation and winter comfort were naturally important concerns. Their home meets the demanding standards of Hokkaido’s “Northern Housing 2020” program, achieving top-level ratings in earthquake resistance, insulation performance, and energy efficiency.

During construction, Junya Kubota — representative director of the Japan Housing Technology Research Association(Shinjukyo), a private organization dedicated to improving the performance of wooden homes in Japan — visited the site to inspect the house as an example of a high-performance “Q1.0 House.”

Q1.0 Houses are energy-efficient homes evaluated based on the minimal amount of heating and cooling energy they require. Mizuno Construction is certified as a Q1.0 House Master Member by the Japan Housing Technology Research Association (Shinjukyo).

Heating and cooling are handled through an air-conditioning system that stores heat beneath the concrete floor and circulates warm or cool air evenly throughout the home. One of the system’s greatest advantages is the remarkably consistent temperature in every room.

Window placement was also carefully considered.

“Even the highest-performance windows can’t insulate as well as walls,” explains Design Team Madoka Mizuno. “We open up the views only where it truly matters and avoid unnecessary windows to minimize heat loss.”

The attention to detail extends even to insulating the outdoor air-conditioning unit.

Mr. T became so interested in the home’s thermal performance that he installed several thermometers around the house and recorded the indoor temperature every day after moving in.

One especially striking result came from the honeycomb blinds used throughout the home. The difference in temperature between the inside and outside of the blinds reached nearly 14°C.

These high-performance honeycomb blinds are standard specifications at Mizuno Construction. Through countless thoughtful details like these, the home achieves outstanding energy efficiency while remaining warm and comfortable even during Tokachi’s cold winters.

“Relocating to Match Your Lifestyle Is One Option for the Future”

We spoke with the homeowners about their journey of building a new home.

— Could you tell us about your decision to relocate?

“While traveling through almost every prefecture in Japan by camper van, Otofuke Town was the place where we truly felt, ‘We could live here.’ It has enough urban convenience while still allowing for a peaceful lifestyle.”

The couple spent just two weeks in Tokachi searching for land. As soon as they found the property, they visited Mizuno Construction — a company they had already discovered online and immediately felt drawn to.

— Everything came together quickly.

“Yes. Mizuno Construction’s simple layouts and high-performance homes were exactly what we were looking for, so we never hesitated.”

Their previous three-story house had become difficult to navigate, and the custom-built furniture they once loved no longer suited their changing lifestyle. In contrast, their new home has minimal partitions and smooth flow throughout the space.

“What we love most is its simplicity. No matter what changes life brings in the future, this house can adapt.”

— We heard that you only came to Tokachi twice before the house was completed — once for the contract signing and once for the groundbreaking ceremony.

 “At one meeting, President Mizuno told us, ‘Just bring your chopsticks and rice bowls — we’ll make sure everything else is ready for you to move in.’ And it really was that easy.”

The company even handled procedures related to utilities and property inspections, allowing the couple to settle in comfortably before their belongings arrived from Tokyo.

— Finally, what are your thoughts now that the home is complete?

“We truly feel lucky to have met the people at Mizuno Construction. This house is so warm and comfortable, and it perfectly suits the way we want to live.”

Now the couple enjoys planting apple trees in their garden and traveling around Hokkaido in their camper van.

“If you’re selling a home in the city and downsizing, it may even be possible to build a new house without taking out a loan,” they add. “For people entering retirement, relocating and starting a new life like this can be a wonderful option.”

Interview conducted in May 2025

Photos: Commercial Photo / Movie SWITCH

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