Help us finish Labyrinth House!

In the kitchen of the second house, 2022

Make direct contributions to help finish the second phase of Onomichi Labyrinth House! Scroll to the bottom to see how much progress we’ve already made. If you haven’t read about Labyrinth House, see this introduction here:

Current crowdfunding progress (2024/11/13)

¥870,000 of ¥2,000,000 goal

Illustration by Lili Mossbauer

How to donate

Use one of the following methods to make a direct contribution.

1. Direct contribution via PayPal or PayPay

These methods are non-recurring and 100% of the donation goes to building Labyrinth House.

PayPal

For PayPay, click this button on your smartphone 👇 or send to my ID samholden.

PayPay

2. Direct bank transfer

Please send me a message telling me you’ve donated.

In Japan:

楽天銀行 タイコ支店
普通口座 #2592639
HOLDEN SAMUEL JAMES

(迷宮堂専用口座)

In the United States (via WISE):

Routing #: 084009519
Account #: 413437762536000

In Europe (via WISE):

BIC: TRWIBEB1XXX
IBAN: BE71 9051 3138 3069

In UK (via WISE):

Sort code: 23-08-01
Account number: 90418687
IBAN: GB34 TRWI 2308 0190 4186 87

Via Wise in any currency:

3. Subscribe via Substack (only $80 or above).

Choose the annual subscription for $80 or the third subscription option and change the amount to anything above $80 (No hard feelings if you turn off auto-renew!)

Crowdfunding gifts

To thank you for your contribution, I’ll send the following gifts! (USD prices a bit higher due to anticipated shipping costs). Contributions of any amount you can afford appreciated—if you contribute $100, I’ll send you the $80 gift.

$30 / ¥3,000 and up: Tabletop 2025 Cat Calendar

A small tabletop calendar with photography by Labyrinth House chef Tatsuya Domoto [IG], who wandered into the site on one of his daily cat photography walks, and has been part of the team ever since. He has a wonderful eye for capturing cats within the unique landscape of Onomichi.

$40 / ¥5,000 and up: Original tenugui hand towel (35 x 90 cm)

A traditional dyed Japanese tenugui towel, with an original illustration by Lili Mossbauer!

$50 / ¥6,000 and up: Tenugui + Calendar

$80 / ¥10,000 and up: Tenugui, Calendar, Booklet about the project (2026)

In addition to the two gifts above, you will get a copy of a bilingual booklet detailing the construction process, together with essays and other content by project members, sometime in 2026. Contributors of more than ¥10,000 will also have their names added to a board in the general store!

Contributor board above the entrance to the library

$150 and up: All of the above + my recommendations for local travel in Japan

Coming to Japan? I’ve spend the last decade wandering the country in search of local places where people are doing beautiful things. Before the end of the year, I’ll send you a Google Doc of my favorite cities, regions, neighborhoods, including a few you’ve probably never heard of, with recommendations for where to stay, visit, eat, and bathe, and how to travel. The main focus will be on regions and smaller cities, but Tokyo and Kyoto will be on there as well. $150 really makes a big difference in the project! If you’re coming to Japan earlier than the end of the year, email me and I can offer you some suggestions.

$250 and up: Walking tours, Onomichi visits? Tell me what you would like.

If you want to make a larger donation, thank you! In addition to the above gifts, let me know if there’s something I could do for you, like take you on one of my deep Tokyo history walking tours, or maybe you’re planning to visit Onomichi in the future. Your generous support is greatly appreciated!


Labyrinth House progress

Second house (2022→2023→2024)

The front of the house needed to be demolished and completely rebuilt. Second-floor entry on the right, low-floored shop and event space on the left
The ceiling and tatami of the second floor were replaced first so we’d have a place to sleep (aka camp) during construction.
The bath area had a collapsing roof and was completely rebuilt. The bathroom will have a 30,000 tile bathhouse-style mosaic tile mural of 1930s Onomichi. For real!
The kitchen will have a L-shaped counter and an interior window that connects to the shop space
The six-mat living room sits between the low-floored space and the stone wall behind the house
The front of the house has been completely rebuilt as a low-floored public space
Phase 2 plan

Main house (constructed 2020/11-2022/2)

A second-floor concrete and steel veranda was added in the 1980s
Kitchen designed for social events
Second-floor studio overlooking scenery
Shadow play performance in living room
Presentation in living room
The stairs to the second floor ascend through a two-story space with the exposed stone foundation of the warehouse

Main house during construction

We found incredible structural deficiencies, termite and rain damage after demolition.
Structural reinforcement was added before interiors were rebuilt.
A small portion of the damage we dealt with
We call on our friends to help us with lifting materials, plastering walls, and other tasks
Around 100 people have helped with the project over four years