Travel Light for Urgent Needs: "Kobe Kita Short Stay Soyokaze" Opens May 1st in Kobe Kita Ward to Reduce Burden of Home Care

Travel Light for Urgent Needs: "Kobe Kita Short Stay Soyokaze" Opens May 1st in Kobe Kita Ward to Reduce Burden of Home Care ~Utilizing Japan's Largest (※1) Operational Track Record to Solve Regional Respite Issues~ SOYOKAZE Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Kiyohiko Nakagawa; hereinafter "the Company"), which operates elderly care services primarily under the "Soyokaze" brand nationwide, will open "Kobe Kita Short Stay Soyokaze" (hereinafter "this facility"), a short-term accommodation facility offering living support and functional training, in Kobe Kita Ward, Hyogo Prefecture, on May 1, 2026. The facility proposes a new form of home care support that transforms care from "a backup for emergencies" to "a positive choice" for all family members to live healthy lives. This facility is the 11th in Hyogo Prefecture and the 3rd in Kobe City. Utilizing the expertise cultivated through Japan's largest (※1) number of short stay operations, we have prepared an environment that supports residents in continuing to live in their familiar community for a long time, offering services that reduce the burden of preparation for stays and functional training that can be done in private rooms. We aim to be a facility rooted in the community where both customers and their families feel like "they want to come again." ## ■Background: The Need for Enhanced "Respite" in a Super-Aging Society The aging rate in Kobe Kita Ward, where this facility is located, has reached 22.4% (※2), with some housing complexes exceeding 30% (※2). The burden on families providing home care continues to increase year by year, and creating an environment where they can rest assured (respite) has become a critical social issue. Through short stays, the Company provides an environment where families do not have to shoulder the burden alone and can also value their own lives. For customers, we aim to maintain and improve their living functions through functional training during their stay, supporting them in continuing to live in their familiar community for a long time. We will strive to realize a community where everyone can live together by proposing care not as "a backup for emergencies" but as "a positive choice" for all family members to live healthy lives. ## ■Three Features of "Kobe Kita Short Stay Soyokaze" - Support for continuing home life with "functional training" in private rooms Equipped with mobile equipment. You can maintain an "active body" at your own pace without worrying about others' eyes. - Realize a light stay with the "Stay-Light Set (optional)" requiring no preparation Provides a complete set of clothing and daily necessities. You can use it with minimal luggage even for sudden stays. - Flexible response to "urgent needs" 365 days a year. Comfortable environment with private rooms and Wi-Fi Leveraging our top operational track record in Japan, we offer speedy acceptance and private rooms that protect privacy. **[Center Manager Comment]:** "In Kita Ward, where there are many hills, even stepping outside can place a significant burden on both the individual and their family. That's why we want to make stays at our facility not just 'accommodation,' but a place to recharge power for continuing home life, from both 'physical maintenance through functional training' and 'family respite.' We hope to transform short stays into a positive choice so that people can continue to live in this familiar town for even one day longer." ## ■Feature Details ### 1．Functional Training as a Habit During Stay. Support for Continuing Home Life In addition to specialized exercises by functional training specialists, we have equipped mobile exercise equipment that allows for safe walking and lower limb exercises. It can also be brought into private rooms upon request, allowing users to exercise in a relaxed state, such as while watching TV. This naturally ensures activity levels during the stay, prevents physical function decline, and leads to a smooth return to home life. ### 2．"Stay-Light Set (optional)" to Reduce Preparation Burden To reduce the burden of preparation and tidying up during short stays, we offer a "Stay-Light Set" (optional, 500 yen/day including tax) that includes all necessary items for a stay, from pajamas and underwear to towels and toothbrushes. You can use it lightly like a hotel, providing peace of mind even for sudden uses. ### 3．Flexible Response to "Urgent Needs" 365 Days a Year. Comfortable Stay with Private Rooms and Wi-Fi We have adopted all private rooms with consideration for privacy, creating an environment where you can relax as if you were at home. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the facility, allowing you to freely enjoy your favorite movies and music on your tablet or PC. Furthermore, experienced staff are available 365 days a year to flexibly accept urgent needs, such as sudden outings by family members. Dedicated wheelchair-accessible vehicles also provide daily pick-up and drop-off services, supporting the peace of mind of the community. ## ■Facility Overview - Facility Name: Kobe Kita Short Stay Soyokaze - Location: 1-7-1 Kanoko-dai Kita-machi, Kita-ku, Kobe-shi, Hyogo - Service Type: Short Stay - Capacity: 30 people - Opening Date: May 1, 2026 - Website: https://www.sykz.co.jp/shisetsu-zaitaku/284923/ (※1) Based on the Company's aggregation from open data of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare's "Long-Term Care Service Information Disclosure System" (data disclosed as of end of December 2025) (※2) From Kobe City's "5th Basic Plan Formulation" distributed material, Kita Ward Plan ## ■About SOYOKAZE Co., Ltd. The company operates care services nationwide, primarily under the "Soyokaze" brand, and is the industry leader (※1) in the number of short-stay facility operations. In addition to operating many "multi-functional facilities" that combine multiple services, it is actively engaged in developing new businesses and services that are not bound by existing frameworks. It aims to improve the quality of life (QOL) for the elderly and realize a society where everyone can live true to themselves. - Company Name: SOYOKAZE Co., Ltd. - Representative: President and CEO Kiyohiko Nakagawa - Location: POLA Aoyama Building 10F, 2-5-17 Minami-Aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo - Established: June 1975 - Business Activities: Nursing care business, home meal delivery business, fitness business, customer referral business, etc. - Website: https://corp.sykz.co.jp ### Number of Care Service Locations and Service Breakdown (as of end of February 2026) - Number of Locations: 369 locations - Number of Service Offices: 705 offices - Service Breakdown (number of offices) Day Service (245), Short Stay (189), Group Home (115), Fee-based Nursing Home (45), Service-Housed Elderly Residences (18), In-home Care Support (60), Periodic Home Visit & On-demand Home Care (19), Home Visit Care (11), Small-scale Multi-functional In-home Care & Others (3)