Nittetsu Kowa Real Estate, SANU, and JDSC Launch Joint Research on Multi-Base Living and Well-being ~Initial Analysis Results on the Effects of Multi-Base Living Between Urban and Nature Announced~
Three companies—Nittetsu Kowa Real Estate, SANU, and JDSC—have initiated joint research on the impact of multi-base living, commuting between urban and natural areas, on well-being. Initial analysis reveals that multi-base residents have higher expectations for well-being and tend to find greater mental and physical fulfillment, such as relaxation and concentration, at their accommodations.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 30, 2026 at 23:00
- 🔍 Collected: April 30, 2026 at 14:31
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 30, 2026 at 15:07 (35 min after Collected)
Nittetsu Kowa Real Estate Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Masahiro Miwa; hereinafter "Nittetsu Kowa Real Estate"), through its comprehensive research institute "Future Style Research Institute," SANU Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Meguro-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Gen Fukushima; hereinafter "SANU"), and JDSC Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo; Representative Directors: Eltes Satoshi Kato / Asuka Sato; hereinafter "JDSC") have launched a joint research project to scientifically elucidate the impact of multi-base living, commuting between urban and natural areas, on well-being and its underlying mechanisms.
This initial analysis has revealed structural trends in how multi-base living affects mental and physical states.
Background
Against the backdrop of increasingly flexible work styles and diversifying values, the lives of urban residents are expanding from single-base to multi-base living. A survey by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (※1) shows that approximately 30% of urban residents are interested in dual-residence living, indicating that multi-base living is gaining traction as a new lifestyle chosen by the working generation. However, research that structurally captures its psychological and physiological effects has not been sufficiently systematized both domestically and internationally. This research aims to reframe changes in lifestyle not merely as individual experiences but as a social structure, with the goal of creating knowledge that contributes to next-generation living environments and urban design. This initiative, which combines three areas of expertise—"housing × living fields × AI/data analysis"—is a rare undertaking in Japan.
Key Insights from Initial Analysis
This survey targeted two groups practicing a lifestyle of regularly commuting between urban and natural areas: "SANU 2nd Home members (196 individuals)" and "non-members (218 individuals)." An online questionnaire survey was conducted regarding their value perceptions related to well-being (the importance of time) and their mental and physical states (fulfillment status) at home and at their accommodations. Accommodations refer to SANU 2nd Home facilities for SANU 2nd Home members, and hotels/ryokans for non-members. Notably, SANU 2nd Home members tend to have a higher frequency of overnight stays outside their homes compared to non-members (statistically significant p<0.001).
1. SANU 2nd Home members show a higher expectation level for time related to well-being.
While both groups commonly emphasized "time related to well-being," focusing on the proportion of respondents who answered "extremely important" revealed that SANU 2nd Home members showed higher values in many items compared to non-members (see Figure 1). Specifically, high expectation levels were confirmed for items related to "deep relaxation," "deep joy," "interpersonal relationships," "immersion in enjoyable activities," "enjoying hobbies/leisure," "feeling freedom," and "experiencing nature."
Figure 1. Expectation levels for time related to well-being – Comparison between two groups for the proportion answering "extremely important" –
Note) For each item, the proportion answering "extremely important" was compared between SANU 2nd Home members and non-members. Statistical significance was confirmed for multiple items in the inter-group comparison (using the χ-squared test, significance levels p < 0.05, p < 0.01, p < 0.001).
2. Different well-being fulfillment structures confirmed at home and at accommodations.
At accommodations, SANU 2nd Home members showed a tendency towards greater fulfillment in items such as "deep relaxation," "experiencing nature," "feeling freedom," "concentration on work/study," and "introspection/insight" compared to non-members.
Conversely, at home, non-members showed a tendency towards greater fulfillment in most of the above-mentioned items. It was revealed that at home, SANU 2nd Home members showed a tendency towards greater fulfillment than non-members only in "concentration on work/study" (see Table 1).
While accommodations showed fulfillment not only in restorative elements but also in cognitive aspects such as "concentration" and "introspection/insight," suggesting that distancing oneself from urban life may be involved in state changes accompanied by attention switching and self-regulation, the existence of a group that perceives similar items to be fulfilled at home was also confirmed.
Table 1. Differences in mental and physical fulfillment at home and at accommodations – Comparison between two groups –
Accommodations
Home
Deep relaxation
SANU 2nd Home members
Non-members
Experiencing nature
SANU 2nd Home members
Non-members
Feeling freedom
SANU 2nd Home members
Non-members
New experiences/encounters
—
Non-members
Concentration on work/study
SANU 2nd Home members
SANU 2nd Home members
Introspection/insight
SANU 2nd Home members
—
Note) Regarding the distribution of responses for each item at home and at accommodations, a comparison between SANU 2nd Home members and non-members confirmed statistical significance in multiple items. Only statistically significant differences are listed in the table (using the Mann-Whitney U test).
Keywords:
This initial analysis has revealed structural trends in how multi-base living affects mental and physical states.
Background
Against the backdrop of increasingly flexible work styles and diversifying values, the lives of urban residents are expanding from single-base to multi-base living. A survey by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (※1) shows that approximately 30% of urban residents are interested in dual-residence living, indicating that multi-base living is gaining traction as a new lifestyle chosen by the working generation. However, research that structurally captures its psychological and physiological effects has not been sufficiently systematized both domestically and internationally. This research aims to reframe changes in lifestyle not merely as individual experiences but as a social structure, with the goal of creating knowledge that contributes to next-generation living environments and urban design. This initiative, which combines three areas of expertise—"housing × living fields × AI/data analysis"—is a rare undertaking in Japan.
Key Insights from Initial Analysis
This survey targeted two groups practicing a lifestyle of regularly commuting between urban and natural areas: "SANU 2nd Home members (196 individuals)" and "non-members (218 individuals)." An online questionnaire survey was conducted regarding their value perceptions related to well-being (the importance of time) and their mental and physical states (fulfillment status) at home and at their accommodations. Accommodations refer to SANU 2nd Home facilities for SANU 2nd Home members, and hotels/ryokans for non-members. Notably, SANU 2nd Home members tend to have a higher frequency of overnight stays outside their homes compared to non-members (statistically significant p<0.001).
1. SANU 2nd Home members show a higher expectation level for time related to well-being.
While both groups commonly emphasized "time related to well-being," focusing on the proportion of respondents who answered "extremely important" revealed that SANU 2nd Home members showed higher values in many items compared to non-members (see Figure 1). Specifically, high expectation levels were confirmed for items related to "deep relaxation," "deep joy," "interpersonal relationships," "immersion in enjoyable activities," "enjoying hobbies/leisure," "feeling freedom," and "experiencing nature."
Figure 1. Expectation levels for time related to well-being – Comparison between two groups for the proportion answering "extremely important" –
Note) For each item, the proportion answering "extremely important" was compared between SANU 2nd Home members and non-members. Statistical significance was confirmed for multiple items in the inter-group comparison (using the χ-squared test, significance levels p < 0.05, p < 0.01, p < 0.001).
2. Different well-being fulfillment structures confirmed at home and at accommodations.
At accommodations, SANU 2nd Home members showed a tendency towards greater fulfillment in items such as "deep relaxation," "experiencing nature," "feeling freedom," "concentration on work/study," and "introspection/insight" compared to non-members.
Conversely, at home, non-members showed a tendency towards greater fulfillment in most of the above-mentioned items. It was revealed that at home, SANU 2nd Home members showed a tendency towards greater fulfillment than non-members only in "concentration on work/study" (see Table 1).
While accommodations showed fulfillment not only in restorative elements but also in cognitive aspects such as "concentration" and "introspection/insight," suggesting that distancing oneself from urban life may be involved in state changes accompanied by attention switching and self-regulation, the existence of a group that perceives similar items to be fulfilled at home was also confirmed.
Table 1. Differences in mental and physical fulfillment at home and at accommodations – Comparison between two groups –
Accommodations
Home
Deep relaxation
SANU 2nd Home members
Non-members
Experiencing nature
SANU 2nd Home members
Non-members
Feeling freedom
SANU 2nd Home members
Non-members
New experiences/encounters
—
Non-members
Concentration on work/study
SANU 2nd Home members
SANU 2nd Home members
Introspection/insight
SANU 2nd Home members
—
Note) Regarding the distribution of responses for each item at home and at accommodations, a comparison between SANU 2nd Home members and non-members confirmed statistical significance in multiple items. Only statistically significant differences are listed in the table (using the Mann-Whitney U test).
Keywords: