COVID-19: Japanese firm offers couples unused hotel rooms to prevent divorce
A japanese firm is offering couples who want to get away from each other due to constant fights and quarrels due to the Coronavirus lockdown, an escape route, by advertising hundreds of empty vacation rentals to stressed-out couples.
The owner of the company, Keisuke Arai, had switched to working from home after an emergency was declared in the country due to the coronavirus pandemic
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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.
