Space Market Proposes “Cool BBQ” to Meet Peak Summer Demand for Rental-Space Barbecues

Space Market Inc. is proposing “Cool BBQ,” a new way to enjoy barbecues comfortably during midsummer in air-conditioned indoor spaces or covered rooftops, in response to rising demand for BBQ use at rental spaces. The company will also jointly renovate “TheSpace Kinshicho,” a rental space in Kinshicho, Tokyo operated by group company Space Mall, into a space better suited for enjoying Cool BBQ. The renewed venue is scheduled to open around early July 2026. Background: Heatstroke Risk at Outdoor Barbecues Barbecues are a classic summer leisure activity, but recent extreme heat has made outdoor events increasingly risky due to heatstroke concerns. In April 2026, the Japan Meteorological Agency decided to name days with maximum temperatures of 40 degrees Celsius or higher “extreme heat days,” highlighting how summer heat countermeasures have become a society-wide issue. At the same time, the number of rental-space uses for “barbecue” purposes on Space Market increases by about 12 times in August compared with the lowest month of the year. This indicates strong demand to enjoy barbecues with family, friends, and coworkers even during periods of severe heat. Against this backdrop, Space Market is proposing barbecues held in air-conditioned indoor spaces and covered rooftops, which are less affected by heat and weather, as “Cool BBQ.” The company will also renovate “TheSpace Kinshicho” in Tokyo’s Kinshicho area into a more comfortable venue for Cool BBQ, offering a summer BBQ experience less dependent on weather or heat. What Is “Cool BBQ”? “Cool BBQ” refers to a way of enjoying barbecues comfortably even on extreme heat days, either indoors with air conditioning or on shaded or covered rooftops. Space Market is presenting it as a new summer barbecue option. Cool BBQ can be used not only for private gatherings but also for mothers’ meetups with children and company or departmental celebrations. The three major difficulties of summer barbecues are: outdoor settings pose heatstroke risks and make it difficult to bring children or elderly people; rainy weather makes scheduling difficult and can waste organizers’ preparation; and indoor alternatives can be hard to choose because of concerns about smoke and odor. Reservation comments from BBQ users include people who had given up holding outdoor BBQs because it was too hot and they had children, but wanted to gather again after finding an indoor BBQ facility; annual BBQ groups choosing to try a rental space because outdoor BBQs had become too hot; and a group of seven longtime friends who found a suitable venue while worrying that rain might prevent their summer-style BBQ. Overview of “TheSpace Kinshicho” The rental space “TheSpace Kinshicho” in Tokyo’s Kinshicho area will be renovated as a space where guests can better enjoy Cool BBQ, with opening scheduled for early July 2026. The timing may change. Key features include an adjacent rooftop and indoor area, allowing guests to rest indoors immediately on hot days; a newly installed pergola on the rooftop that can support a tarp, helping guests avoid strong summer sunlight while enjoying BBQ comfortably; an open rooftop BBQ experience in central Tokyo; a layout that allows direct access from the indoor area to the rooftop without changing shoes; and, for those who want to enjoy BBQ indoors, “XGRILL PREMIUM,” which cuts smoke by about 94%, making the experience more comfortable with less concern about smoke and odor. Three Other Recommended Cool BBQ Spaces Ahead of the reopening of TheSpace Kinshicho, Space Market is also introducing three spaces already available on its platform where users can enjoy Cool BBQ. The first is “GINZA FUN HOUSE,” a hidden multi-purpose space in Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo. It is a one-minute walk from Tokyo Metro Higashi-ginza Station. A tent is permanently installed on the rooftop, and on hot or rainy days users can switch to indoor yakiniku using a smokeless roaster in the third-floor kitchen-equipped space. This enables Cool BBQ by flexibly using both outdoor and indoor areas. The second is “THE PARK” in Saitama City, Saitama Prefecture. It is a six-minute walk from JR Naka-Urawa Station and features a spacious area of about 80 tsubo with a trailer house and wooden deck. Guests can enjoy BBQ on the deck during the day and retreat to the trailer house when it gets hot, making it a private single-building space suitable for extreme heat periods. The third is “SpemoCampi gSpace Shinjuku” in Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo. It is a one-minute walk from JR Shinjuku Station. The indoor space is equipped with Snow Peak camping gear, offering a glamping atmosphere with comfortable temperatures. It includes two electric BBQ grills and can accommodate up to 30 people. About Space Market Inc. With the mission of “making space sharing the norm,” Space Market works to create and expand the culture of space sharing. Its marketplace, Space Market, lists a wide range of spaces including homes, meeting rooms, photo studios, movie theaters, and closed schools. Through uses such as parties, shoots, and business activities suited to diverse work styles, the company creates new everyday experiences and diverse cultures where people’s challenges and experiences take shape through places. Space Market also provides “Spacepad,” a cloud-based reservation management system for public facilities that digitizes facility booking management and simplifies complex facility administration.