CNN
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Some small children dream of building a tree house. However, one Japanese man turned his childhood dream into a reality as an adult.
Satoru Kikukawa, who grew up in Tokyo, often visited his family’s villa in the countryside, where he learned the value of nature. A Japanese children’s book called “I Want a Big Tree” sparked a dream of owning a treehouse someday.
But it wasn’t until decades later that a family trip to Borneo provided the urgency and impetus to make that dream a reality.
According to Kikukawa’s explanation, as he was flying over the island, he saw a large forest that had been cut down and turned into a palm plantation.
“We understand economically that selling timber provides a steady income, but this has an impact on carbon levels and wildlife diversity. We thought about how we could preserve it,” says Kikukawa.
it was the first seed of what is now tree fullA luxury resort in Okinawa Prefecture.
tree full
Handmade hammock outside the Treeful cabin.
There was just one problem. Mr. Kikukawa had no idea how to build a treehouse. During the day, he worked as chairman of Gala, Inc., a company where he created projects such as role-playing videos and games.
He turned to YouTube and started watching educational videos. It took years and even more trial and error. He had to teach himself how to use circular saws and other carpentry tools.
Mr. Kikukawa was able to buy land in Okinawa, which is covered in forests. But instead of picking a spot and cutting a tree, he walked around until he found a suitable tree and hugged it. From there he began building houses around it.
“When I started doing this, I didn’t get a lot of support at first. [treehouse] It’s an idea,” Kikukawa said. “A lot of people thought I was just a rich guy trying to find a hobby.”
However, there was someone, his daughter Maha, who believed in Kikukawa’s ideas. She told CNN that her father instilled in her a love of nature from an early age.
Maha majored in Ecosystem Science and Policy at the University of Miami. She then accompanied her father on a trip to Costa Rica and the United States, visiting similar treehouse projects.
Mr. Kikukawa completed his first building, a spiral treehouse, in 2014. That became the first part of what is now his Treeful.
“I admire my father and his passion for making the world a better place through treehouses,” Maha told CNN Travel.
“From an early age, my father taught me the importance of nature. Now, through this sustainable treehouse resort, we are working together to protect it and educate others about its value. I’m sending you a message.”
tree full
Rustic views from Treeful’s room.
The resort currently has four treehouses, each built to have as little environmental impact as possible. One of his works, the Aero House, was built 1.2 meters above the ground to protect the habitat of local wildlife.
Wooden dowels are used instead of metal bolts, and the room is equipped with a composting toilet. Well water avoids the use of chlorine and is disinfected with ultraviolet light.
The floor and ceiling are made of shredded wood, allowing sunlight to pass through the treehouse, providing energy to the plants underneath and avoiding ecological destruction.
Interior decorations such as lamps and bookshelves are also made from stones and branches that have fallen naturally from the forest.
And Donna, the resort goat, maintains the lawn.
Seven years have passed since Mr. Kikukawa started building the treehouse, and the resort opened in 2021.
Since then, it has won several design awards and was recognized in the Guinness Book of World Records. world’s lowest tree housemeasured “3.6 meters (11 feet 9 inches) below the base of the host tree.”
But Treeful’s founders have a vision beyond their native Japan.
KIKUGAWA is working with the Cambodian government on a project to build treehouses in Phnom Kulen National Park near Siem Reap.
This is one of several initiatives aimed at combating illegal logging.
From 2016 to 2021, Cambodia lost more than 38,000 hectares of forest (nearly 9%), forcing USAID action End forest protection program After an investment of over $100 million.
“We want to grow this business and expand internationally,” says Kikukawa.
Visiting Treeful requires advance planning.
It is a 90-minute drive from Okinawa’s Naha Airport (OKA) and a 3-hour bus ride (with one transfer) from Minamotokawa Iriguchi Town.
Treeful staff recommend arriving before sunset, as they don’t use artificial lighting and the forest can get pretty dark.
Treeful Treehouse Sustainable Resort2578 Genka, Nago City, Okinawa Prefecture 905-1141.
