Ikigai Collective was founded on a simple belief: trailer homes in Japan should be designed for Japan. Combining real-world construction, accommodation, and operational experience, we create homes designed for real use, real weather, and real living.

After years working in construction, accommodation, and tourism, we saw a gap between imported and current Japanese trailer home concepts and the realities of Japanese living.

Snow, humidity, transportation, land access, guest comfort, and long-term durability all require a different approach. While many trailer homes were designed around overseas conditions or major cities, we believed Japan deserved homes built specifically for its climate, regulations, terrain, and lifestyle.

After working in the trailer house and construction industry in Australia, Canada and the US, founder Mitch van der Werf brought that knowledge to Japan and combined it with hands-on experience operating accommodation businesses in Nagano.

Today, Ikigai brings together expertise in carpentry, renovation, fabrication, interiors, accommodation, site operations and management to create trailer homes that work not only on paper, but in the real world.