Exterior of a Kakuichi steel garage converted to a clubhouse — corrugated cladding, roller door, and OSB interior visible from forecourt

Club house Conversion

Japanese Warehouse to Club House Conversion​

Kakuichi and Inaba

At Smith&Co, we regularly work with two leading Japanese warehouse manufacturers, Kakuichi and Inaba. Based on decades of real estate experience in Japan, we can confidently say that both manufacturers produce solid, long-lasting, and high-quality warehouse and garage structures.

While Smith Realty serves as our real estate consulting brand, Smith&Co network builders handle all hands-on construction and renovation work. In this particular project, a single garage within a double garage was successfully converted into a quaint clubhouse.

Interior of a Kakuichi steel garage kit at assembly stage — bare metal frame, corrugated walls and concrete floor prior to conversion fit-out

Project Overview

Warehouse Manufacturer: Kakuichi

Conversion Materials:

  • High-quality insulation glasswool
  • Oriented Strand Board (OSB), a reliable and durable construction material commonly used in the trade

Completion Time: 1 week

Execution: Smith&Co Network Builders

Budget: Within the owner’s expectations

The result was a quick, efficient, and cost-effective conversion that highlights the versatility of Kakuichi’s garage and warehouse units.

Insulation batts being installed to walls and ceiling of a Kakuichi steel garage during clubhouse conversion fit-out

Container Houses vs. Kakuichi/Inaba Structures

Recently, Smith&Co has been in discussions with several developers—both corporate and private—interested in using shipping containers to build residential or commercial spaces. The container build trend has gained significant popularity in Japan, with even container-look-alike siding now appearing on conventional timber and steel frame structures.

However, in some cases, we have found that Kakuichi or Inaba structures are:

  • Quicker to assemble

  • Easier to execute

  • More cost-effective than container builds

The images associated with this article showcase exactly such a project, where a Kakuichi unit was chosen over a shipping container due to its superior practicality.

Interior corridor of a Japanese steel garage kit converted to a clubhouse in one week, OSB wall finish and track lighting throughout

Let’s Talk About Your Next Project

If you’re exploring options for container houses, Kakuichi, or Inaba projects, we’d be happy to share our insights and outline our extensive experience. Whether you’re looking to renovate, build, or explore unique structural solutions, Smith&Co is here to help bring your ideas to life.

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