Hirado city in Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan, has become the first local municipality in the world to receive official certification as an Albergo Diffuso Town (ADT). Under this model, accommodation, dining, and other hospitality services are distributed across the city, with the town functioning as a single, integrated hotel.
The term “albergo diffuso” combines the Italian words for “accommodation” and “dispersed” to describe a hotel concept where key functions such as reception, lodging, and dining are located throughout a town. Unlike conventional hotels, these services are accessed by moving through the town, offering visitors opportunities to engage with local residents and the surrounding environment.
With this certification, Hirado has been recognised as the first municipality globally to adopt the ADT model. Hirado has a history as an international trading port and is known for the historical exchange between Japanese and foreign cultures. The city is home to several historical sites, including Hirado Castle, which began offering overnight stays in 2021, and the former Hirado Dutch Trading Post, once a base for the Dutch East India Company.
Hirado aims to use the certification to further promote sustainable tourism. The initiative includes efforts to increase interaction between residents and visitors while addressing challenges such as vacant housing and local employment.
Several facilities are part of the ADT network in Hirado. These include the Terrace, which serves as the general reception area and includes guestrooms, a café, and a shop within a renovated 200-year-old rice storehouse.
Restaurants include Chobotei Toranotsuki, located in a former feudal property, along with Onchan and Isokatsu. Lodging options include the Sumiya Heritage Hotel, a restored building from the late Meiji period, and the Jinbei Residence, located on land once occupied by a high-ranking samurai family.
