What Sanu does

Sanu (株式会社SANU) is a Tokyo-based real estate technology company that operates a membership-based share villa service called SANU 2nd Home. The company sells fractional co-ownership shares in architect-designed villas and operates a multi-tier access model: Co-Owners (starting at ¥2.95M for 8 nights per year) gain access to all properties across the network, while Stay offers pay-per-night access to non-members via stay.sa-nu.com, Weekday provides a ¥55,000/month weekday subscription aimed at remote workers, and Owners offers full-building ownership and operation. A B2B layer, SANU for Business, packages memberships as corporate welfare benefits.

The technical foundation is a property management and booking platform combined with a portfolio of six proprietary architectural models (BEE, MOSS, RAY, LOFT SKY, STUDIO, and the upcoming HIKE) co-designed with named Japanese architects including Puddle/Masaki Kato, ADX/Kotaro Anzai, and Ashizuraha/Keiji Ashizawa. As of May 2026, SANU operates 36 bases and 240 rooms spanning Karuizawa, Hakuba, Nasu, Yatsugatake, Amamioshima, Awajishima, and other Japanese nature destinations, with a published target of 100+ bases by 2029. A partnership with Hachidori Denryoku supplies 100% renewable electricity across the portfolio. Brand experience is built through SANU Magazine, a Spotify podcast, urban NOWHERE community lounges (with ONIBUS COFFEE and SANBARCO), and the newly opened SANU MAKERS GALLERY in Shin-Yokohama.

Commercially, Sanu combines one-time license revenue from co-owner share sales, recurring subscription revenue (Weekday, corporate plans), and usage-based stay revenue. Distribution is direct-to-consumer via self-serve booking and a brochure-driven co-owner sales flow. The company is venture-backed, with cumulative funding of approximately ¥12B (~US$80M+) as of May 2025, including 2024-04 growth capital and 2025-05 syndicated debt (Mizuho-led) plus a Series 2 equity round led by Globis Capital Partners.

Name

Sanu

Legal name

株式会社 SANU

Website

https://sa-nu.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Sanu is a Tokyo-based real estate technology company operating SANU 2nd Home, a share villa network of 36 bases and 240 rooms across Japan. It sells fractional co-ownership shares starting at ¥2.95M and offers pay-per-night stays, weekday subscriptions, and corporate plans to urban Japanese professionals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Share Villa / Second Home Services

NAICS

Accommodation (721), Other Traveler Accommodation (72119)

SIC

Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000)

akta.pro primary industry

Luxury Villa Resorts & Branded Villa Communities (THAMAEAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Furnished Monthly Apartments (Urban/Residential) (THAMAFAB), Furnished Corporate Apartments (Urban, Mid-Rise) (THAMAHAG)

Keywords

• Share villa service
• Fractional second home
• Vacation property rental
• Architect-designed cabins
• Corporate wellness benefits

Headquarters

HQ city

Tokyo

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Supply Chain, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Co-Owner Property Sales: Members purchase share ownership in SANU villas starting from 8 nights per year (2.95 million yen to 8.2 million yen), with monthly financing options available. This is the primary revenue driver for expansion capital.
2. Stay Booking Revenue: Nightly rental revenue from non-members booking stays at SANU properties through the stay.sa-nu.com platform
3. Weekday Subscription: Monthly subscription service at 55,000 yen per month for weekday access to SANU properties
4. Corporate Membership Plans: Enterprise welfare benefit packages for companies to offer employees access to SANU properties as part of employee benefits
5. Full Villa Ownership (Owners): Complete villa ownership and operation service for individuals wanting full property rights

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

SANU operates a share villa / second home platform called "SANU 2nd Home" where members co-own architect-designed villas starting from ¥2.95 million for 8 nights per year and can stay at any of 36+ bases across Japan. The company also offers nightly stays, a ¥55,000/month weekday subscription, full villa ownership, and corporate membership plans for employee benefits.

Product overview

SANU is a Japanese real estate tech company operating a multi-service second home platform called SANU 2nd Home. The core offering is a share villa service — Co-Owners — where members co-own villa properties starting from ¥2.95 million for 8 nights/year, gaining access to all 36+ bases nationwide. Supporting this are three additional tiers: Stay (pay-per-night, no membership required), Weekday (¥55,000/month weekday subscription for remote workers), and Owners (full single-building ownership). A corporate plan provides employee benefits access. SANU has developed multiple original architecture models (BEE, MOSS, RAY, LOFT SKY, STAY, HIKE) designed in collaboration with architects from ADX, Puddle, and Akishawer. The company expanded its brand touchpoints through SANU MAKERS GALLERY (opened March 2026) and SANU MAGAZINE. As of 2026, SANU operates 36 bases with 231 rooms, targeting over 100 bases domestically and internationally by 2029.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SANU Stay: Nightly stay service for villa accommodations
• SANU Weekday
• SANU Co-Owners
• SANU Owners
• SANU for Business
• SANU Renovation
• SANU MAKERS GALLERY

Products and services

• SANU 2nd Home Co-Owners Fractional co-ownership share villa service where members jointly own a villa and can use all SANU 2nd Home bases across Japan. Properties start from ¥2.95 million for 8 nights per year, with SANU handling all management, cleaning, and repairs. Members can stay at any of the 36+ bases nationwide.
• SANU 2nd Home Stay Overnight stay service available to anyone without membership. Users can book one-night stays at any SANU 2nd Home location, offering an entry-point to experience SANU's villa properties before committing to co-ownership.
• SANU 2nd Home Weekday Weekday-only monthly subscription plan priced at ¥55,000 per month, designed for remote workers and telecommuters seeking natural environments for workation during weekdays.
• SANU 2nd Home Owners Full-building ownership service for individuals or businesses seeking to own and operate a SANU 2nd Home property. Unlike Co-Owners, this plan provides sole ownership of an entire villa building.
• SANU 2nd Home for Business Corporate plan that allows businesses to offer SANU 2nd Home properties as an employee benefit or client hospitality offering, functioning as a corporate wellness or perks program.
• HIKE SANU's sixth original architectural model designed by architect Masaki Kato of Puddle, featuring nature-integrated cabin design with private saunas and dog-friendly facilities. Scheduled to open in Karuizawa in winter 2026.
• RAY SANU architecture model featuring connected multi-unit buildings designed to capture natural light. Available in Medium size at locations including Izu (with hot springs and private sauna) and Tateyama.
• MOSS SANU cabin architecture model designed by ADX / Kotaro Anzai, emphasizing harmony with nature. Available in Medium and Large sizes at locations including Karuizawa and Tateshina (with dog run facilities).
• BEE (SANU CABIN BEE) SANU's original single-unit cabin design, the first in the SANU architecture series, designed by ADX / Kotaro Anzai with a 50-year perspective on architectural design.
• LOFT SKY SANU's first mezzanine-type architecture model, designed by Puddle / Masaki Kato. Located in Chiba Ichinomiya (a seaside/surfing location), it features a unique herringbone layout and represents SANU's first 'sea' themed property.
• SANU MAKERS GALLERY SANU's first architectural gallery located in Shin-Yokohama, displaying life-size mock-ups, sketches, models, and materials from SANU's architectural projects, serving as a customer engagement and brand experience space.
• SANU Renovation Renovation service for existing second home or land owners, helping them transform properties into SANU-style vacation homes. SANU purchases or renovates existing properties.

Quantifiable outcome

• Reduced CO2 emissions through renewable energy adoption - approximately 70% reduction compared to pre-renewable energy baseline

Named customers2 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Hachidori Denryoku (ハチドリ電力)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2023Renewable energy partnership providing 100% renewable electricity to all SANU properties. This partnership enables approximately 70% reduction in CO2 emissions. Hachidori Denryoku dedicates 1% of electricity fees to building new renewable energy power plants and 1% toNPO support.
• Puddle (加藤匡毅)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLead architect for multiple SANU original models including LOFT SKY (first sea-themed architecture) and HIKE (6th model, opening Karuizawa winter 2026). Puddle designs emphasize community connectivity and integration with nature.
• ADX (安齋好太郎)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerArchitectural design partner for SANU CABIN BEE, designing villas with 50-year perspective on architectural sustainability and harmony with nature.
• Ashizuraha Architecture (芦沢啓治建築設計事務所)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDesigned SANU STUDIO RAY, a connected building architecture that captures natural light across multiple units.
• Koizumi Shinjiro (小泉進次郎)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerFormer Environment Minister participated in joint online event with SANU CEO Fukushima discussing regenerative business and lifestyle sustainability.
• ONIBUS COFFEE (坂尾篤史)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerONIBUS COFFEE operates at NOWHERE lounge space in Nakameguro, providing specialty coffee as part of the urban SANU community hub experience.
• SANBARCO (大上良輔)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSANBARCO, a taco and natural wine restaurant, operates at NOWHERE lounge space. Owner is surfer friend of SANU founder.
• LexusminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLEXUS BEV (electric vehicle) rental program available at Amamioshima location, supporting sustainable mobility for guests.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Residence Club (リゾClub / JR Residence Club): Long-standing Japanese fractional vacation ownership program operated by JR East, allowing members to use a network of resort properties across Japan. Directly comparable to SANU's co-ownership and multi-base access model.
• Pacaso: US-based co-ownership platform for luxury second homes, offering shared deeded ownership with property management services. Closely comparable business model to SANU's Co-Owners program, adapted for the US market.
• Tokyu Resort Town (東急リゾートタウン): Japanese resort villa operator owned by Tokyu Fudosan (also a SANU investor via Tokyu Fudosan innovation fund), offering vacation home ownership and managed resort communities across Japan. Comparable resort villa positioning.
• Hoshino Resorts (星野リゾート): Major Japanese operator of luxury nature-based resorts and ryokans, including Hoshinoya and Risonare brands. Competes for the same affluent urban Japanese guests seeking premium nature experiences, though via hotels rather than co-ownership.

Broad incumbents

• Wyndham Destinations (Travel + Leisure): Global timeshare and vacation club operator with extensive point-based exchange network. Analogous fractional vacation ownership model at much larger scale, operating globally.
• Marriott Vacation Club: Timeshare and fractional ownership arm of Marriott, offering branded points-based villa ownership across global destinations. Represents the established incumbent version of SANU's co-ownership model.
• Airbnb: Global vacation rental marketplace operating across Japan including many of the same nature destinations SANU serves. Provides the pay-per-night alternative to SANU's Stay service and serves overlapping demand.

Regional players

• Galileo (ガリレオ): Japanese membership-based resort club offering access to a network of vacation properties via annual membership fees. Comparable subscription access model to SANU's Weekday and Co-Owner tiers, focused on Japanese domestic market.
• Relo (リロ): Japanese operator of corporate welfare housing and resort membership programs serving enterprise clients. Comparable B2B / for Business angle to SANU's corporate membership offering.

Others

• Kidzania / Premium Outdoors operators (参考: Tokyu Fudosan resort group): Adjacent Japanese real estate and lifestyle operators (including SANU investor Tokyu Fudosan) building resort and second-home ecosystems. Thematically relevant as real estate developers moving into the share-villa / nature-retreat space.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/sanu_2ndhome
• Facebookfacebook.com/sanu.2ndhome
• Xx.com/sanu2ndhome

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds5 records

Investors31 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Sanu