Why Is a Municipality Supporting Cat Rescue? Hida City, Gifu, Launches a Social Business Using Furusato Tax to Solve Vacant Houses and Elderly Monitoring via a Cat-Sharing House

Hida City, Gifu Prefecture (Mayor: Junya Tsukudani), which is experiencing population decline at twice the national average, has been promoting the 'Machi no Genki Sōshutsu Support Program (Social Business Creation Support Division)' since fiscal year 2021. This initiative aims to solve diverse regional challenges through private-sector business approaches.

Nekorepublic Inc. (headquartered in Tokyo), selected under this program, will open 'NECOREPA APARTMENT HOTEL' in 2026 (Reiwa 8). This shared living facility, created by renovating a traditional Japanese house in the city, allows guests to experience life with rescued cats. Prior to the opening, an open house event will be held on June 19 (Fri) and 20 (Sat).

A Shared Living Experience with Rescued Cats: NECOREPA APARTMENT HOTEL

Solving Regional Challenges Through Furusato Tax

Hida City faces multiple intertwined issues, including depopulation, aging population, vacant houses, and stray cat problems. These challenges have proven difficult to resolve through government or private efforts alone.

Starting in fiscal year 2021, the city launched a unique subsidy program funded by furusato tax donations. This supports private businesses—both local and external—that tackle social issues as sustainable ventures, providing up to 20 million yen annually for up to five years (50 million yen annually for projects selected from 2021–2023).

Co-Creating 33 New Return Gifts with Local Businesses

Inspired by the 'SAVE THE CAT HIDA' project—the first initiative selected under the program in 2021—Nekorepublic collaborated with 16 local businesses to develop creative return gifts. These include 'Niku-kyū Pan' (a rice-flour bread shaped like cat paw pads), traditional sweets with cat paw prints, cat feeding stands made from cypress logs, and 33 items in total, including sake, dairy drinks, and ramen featuring cat illustrations on labels.

Since 2022, these return gifts have received over 6,000 donations, totaling 160 million yen in contributions.

Donors nationwide have praised both the transparency of fund usage and the quality of the return gifts:

· 'Delicious! Getting great milk and yogurt while supporting cat rescue is wonderful!'

· 'I care about Hida City’s cat protection project and donate every year. The packaging is thoughtful, and I look forward to eating the products. It’s a privilege to help local cats become happier through furusato tax.'

· 'Not only can I support cat rescue, but I also get cute and tasty ramen—truly appreciated! I plan to donate again next year.'

The sugar-free plain yogurt can be shared with cats! Ramen co-created with a renowned noodle manufacturer is also highly popular.

Results of Cat-Based Social Business and Regional Transformation

'SAVE THE CAT HIDA' achieved the exceptional result of raising 500 million yen in donations within just 2.5 years, driven by the surprising yet powerful concept of municipal support for cat rescue.

The project has already established the 'SAVE THE CAT HIDA Shelter' in a renovated vacant house, launched the 'Hogoneko Clinic' for spaying/neutering, functions as a tourist destination (attracting around 3,000 visitors annually), and created local employment.

After the shelter opened, local elementary and middle school students began visiting regularly. A new form of community engagement emerged, with students doing homework after school while caring for the cats.

Today, students participate in nearly all shelter activities—cat care, assisting visitors, introducing cats to potential adopters, and even attending end-of-life care and farewells.

The shelter has evolved into a space that grows alongside the community’s children.

A Traditional House Where Cats and Humans Coexist Naturally

'NECOREPA APARTMENT HOTEL,' opening this time, is a new social business hub created by renovating a traditional house in the city.

With municipal support, this initiative transforms vacant homes into valuable spaces through sustainable business—not one-off volunteerism—representing a unique regional revitalization model unique to Hida City.

The facility targets individuals who 'cannot yet adopt a cat due to living alone or work circumstances' or 'feel uncertain about real-life cat ownership.' It offers a living experience where guests can monitor rescued cats daily. All revenue generated from operations will be fully allocated to medical care, food, and adoption programs for rescued cats.

Open House Event Details

Date: June 19 (Fri) and 20 (Sat), 2026, 13:00–16:00

Venue: NECOREPA APARTMENT HOTEL (1-3-5 Mukaimachi, Furukawa-cho, Hida City, Gifu 509-4241)

Activities: Facility tour, shared housing residency consultation, facility usage consultation

Participation: No reservation required (recommended for consultation seekers)

Reservation Form: https://form.jotform.com/260269022076049

View Details

Message from Asuka Kose, CEO of Nekorepublic Inc.

Asuka Kose, CEO, Nekorepublic Inc.

Saving cats makes the town more attractive

Aging society, vacant houses and land, depopulation, and stray cat issues—Nekorepublic will tackle these challenges in Hida City through cat-based social business. Cat issues and social issues are always intertwined, and most cat problems stem from human behavior. For seven years, we’ve worked toward zero euthanasia, but we believe focusing solely on cats isn’t enough to solve broader social issues. Saving cats can enhance a town’s appeal, and an attractive town becomes a better home for cats.

We aim to create a model where cats are saved, communities thrive, and towns become more livable and appealing—starting right here in Hida City, Gifu Prefecture.

Hida City Official’s Perspective

Kosuke Horibe, Furusato Support Division, Hida City Office

Accelerating Regional Revitalization with Private Ideas and Furusato Tax

For our city, a 'pioneer in population decline,' innovative ideas from private businesses are essential to accelerate regional revitalization.

Our collaboration with Nekorepublic not only saves cats’ lives but also creates a wonderful virtuous cycle: addressing vacant houses, fostering community in an aging society, and attracting around 3,000 related visitors and tourists annually. This shared housing project represents a deeper evolution of that partnership. Moving forward, we will continue working with citizens and businesses to develop social businesses through furusato tax that can serve as national models.

[Reference] Hida City Community Revitalization Support Program (Social Business Creation Support Division)

Based on the definition by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, the program provides advanced financial support—funded by furusato tax donations—to social issue-solving businesses that meet three criteria: 'social impact,' 'business viability,' and 'innovation' (eligible for up to five consecutive years).

Program Introduction Page

Hida City, Gifu Prefecture

Hida City has a population of approximately 2