Japan exploring the potential of its abandoned hotels, ryokan

The prospect of snatching up one of Japan’s abandoned homes is a well-trod exercise in “what if,” but reviving a dilapidated hotel or traditional ryokan inn is still best left to the pros.

These undertakings saddle those involved with massive costs, and projects around the country rely not only on state subsidies but the “furusato nozei” (hometown tax) framework.

Bathing tax revenues, which typically go toward maintaining hot springs, has even…