Many people in Japan enjoyed this year's extended spring holiday by traveling within the country.

"With the yen so weak, I couldn't imagine going abroad."

Around the holiday period, the yen fell to more than a 34 year-low...touching 160 to the dollar.

The Japanese currency then saw abrupt spikes in value in late April and again in early May.

The sudden rises led many to suspect that Japanese authorities intervened.

Officials have not confirmed buying up the yen, but they haven't ruled out taking action.

"Excessive fluctuations in the currency markets have a negative impact on consumers in Japan, so we will act accordingly."

Analysts believe the government carried out an intervention worth more than 50 billion dollars to stop the yen's decline.

The currency had fallen by more than a third against the dollar

since the US Federal Reserve took on a series of aggressive rate hikes.

With Japan's monetary easing still very much intact,

traders sold the yen and bought the dollar on the back of large interest rate differentials.

The moves weighed heavily on Japanese consumers.

A weaker yen makes food and energy imports more expensive.

Even for exporters that usually reap the benefits of a depreciating yen, the volatile currency is a concern.

"Whether it's strong or weak, from a corporate management standpoint, it's desirable to have a stable currency."

The head of the IMF acknowledged the fall of the yen as dramatic,

and seemed to express understanding for a presumed intervention.

Japan as a matter of principle is committed to flexible exchange rates.

So, if Japan was to ever do anything, it would be in a context of assessing that there could be a risk to financial stability.

Many have been watching the wild currency swings to see whether interventions will help change the course of the yen.

A former currency chief says a correction to the depreciation is coming.

"I believe the BOJ will slowly raise interest rates."

"So, it's a matter of time for the yen-dollar levels to change course and move toward a more normal footing."

Meanwhile, a former Bank of Japan executive cautions there are underlying issues that need to be resolved first.

"Japan used to be one of the biggest countries with a trade surplus, but it now often slips into deficit."

"I think the country's economic struggles are slowly being reflected in the currency."

"Businesses in Japan have long been on the defensive."

"They need to increase investments and shift gears to be more competitive."

Many experts agree that Japan's presumed currency intervention won't be a permanent fix.

The country may not see a stronger yen without a stronger economy.

This library and 1,200 seat concert hall are part of a complex built in Sweden 3 years ago.

The 20-story building is also the country's tallest wooden structure.

Its walls and pillars are made from layers of wooden planks, giving them the strength of concrete.

The outer layers are extra thick, helping to delay catastrophic damage in the event of a fire.

The technique has enabled taller and taller wooden buildings.

Here, you can feel - It's really the structure that's exposed that people can touch and feel.

Besides the structural qualities and visual appeal,

the architect says the primary motivation for using wood is to benefit the environment.

We're seeing a big increase in timber construction in Sweden and in Europe today.

Mainly because of the climate crisis situation,

where more and more companies and people are turning towards timber as a sustainable and renewable material.

Compared to steel or concrete, processing wood for building requires less fuel.

It is also lighter and can be moved in larger quantities, reducing energy and costs for transportation.

The industry estimates that it can reduce up to 50 percent of emissions during construction.

Any trees used for construction must also be reforested.

Sweden has long had a law requiring that when trees are felled, new ones must be planted.

A survey on the status of the nation's forests shows that the country's forested area has doubled over the past 100 years.

How to find the best balance between environmental considerations and harvesting the trees.

There is a constant research going on and a lot of innovation on how to improve that.

A growing number of high rise apartment buildings in Sweden are also being made of wood,

with the figure reaching 14% of projects in 2022.

This building uses wood in the frame's pillars and exterior wall, which resembles brick.

Wooden structures have proven to be an excellent match for Sweden's winters.

They absorb and release moisture from the air, maintaining humidity indoors.

Wood also has good thermal insulation, which can help keep a room temperature of around 20 degrees Celsius with minimal use of heaters.

That's even during the country's sub-zero temperatures.

And the prices are in line with regular apartments.

This couple that has taken up residence in a wooden building also praises its visual appeal.

It's warm, and it's cozy.

So, we like it a lot.

As a Swede, it's natural with wood.

It feels good to be surrounded by wood.

Amid the growing popularity of wooden structures,

construction on one of the world's largest "wooden cities" has started in April south of Stockholm.

Trees from nearby forests will be utilized to build 2,000 homes and 7,000 office spaces.

Buildings are being converted to wooden structures amid a growing environmental awareness

that may change the landscape of cities in the near future.

A 3D printer that can make houses out of concrete!

And completely off-grid vacation homes that can be built to suit a location's climate and topography.

Today's On-Site Report shows you businesses that are providing freedom and flexibility for those looking to build a new home.

This robotic arm is quickly and precisely pouring thin layers of concrete.

It's part of a large 3D printer that is building a section of wall for a new house.

The system can even handle extremely complex designs.

This allows the company to create structures that would be nearly impossible to do by hand.

Handa Kunihiro founded Serendix, a company that produces 3D-printed concrete structures.

3D printed structures are like no other.

This technology makes it possible to build almost any shape of house at a low price point.

The printed sections are transported by truck and assembled on-site.

A small team can put a single unit together in as little as 3 days.

The company's smallest product is a pod that costs just $20,000.

In 2022, they listed 6 units for sale, which all sold out within just a matter of days.

We visited a healthcare and wellness company that purchased one to see how it's being used.

It decided to use it for a new business venture,

a small yet state-of-the-art gym custom designed for providing personal fitness training.

Offering 10 square meters of space, it can accommodate up to 3 people.

Placed in a company parking lot, the new gym is now fully booked just 6 months after opening.

Management says it has already made back the amount it invested, and is now turning a profit.

When you think about the money that's involved in starting a new business, this approach is very cost effective.

Another great thing about it is that since it has such a unique aesthetic,

it really stands out - which helps add to our brand image.

The company's 3D printing technology relies on a special proprietary type of concrete that it developed.

Standard concrete can take well over a day to dry...

However, their specially formulated concrete hardens within just 30 minutes -

helping to drastically reduce building times.

Steel reinforcing bars are inserted into the walls, which are then filled in with of concrete and insulation.

The result: 30 cm-thick walls that meet Japan's strict earthquake resistance standards.

The company recently released another larger design that was made to be a full living space.

Yoshimoto Miyo is planning on placing the new 50 square meters concrete house right next to the 10 square meters pod she placed on her property last year.

She recently purchased the company's 1 bedroom concrete home, including electrical, plumbing, and a pre-installed bathroom.

Priced at just $35,000 the company has already received over 6,000 inquiries about its new larger model.

I think I will place it somewhere around here...

and then put lots of flowers and other plants around it.

Yoshimoto has special plans for her property -

she wants to open a tavern that features antique decorations and tableware.

She hopes to move into the 3D printed house and use her log cabin for her new business.

I want to enjoy a fun and unique lifestyle here with my owl.

In just a short time, the dream I've been working so hard towards will finally come true,

so, I'm really excited to get my new house!

Japan's Izu Peninsula is a popular tourist destination

featuring stunning natural beauty and a picturesque coastline.

Far out on a remote point of the peninsula sits an ultra-modern vacation rental home.

Guests here can enjoy the stunning views Izu has to offer from this secluded hill-side retreat.

Although it rents for $1000 per night, the house has been almost fully booked since it was completed in 2022.

In addition to the stunning views and privacy it offers,

many guests are also attracted by the eco-friendly off-grid system that it's equipped with.

Prior to construction, the builder analyzed 20 years of meteorological data

including precipitation and exposure to solar radiation.

It used this information to determine the ideal amount of solar panels and water storage tanks to equip the home with.

The house's water is provided by a rainwater collection system.

Blackwater is pumped through a sewage filtration system that separates solids for composting

and then sends purified water back into the toilet's storage tank.

The home's central management system was designed to ensure

that the house has enough power and water for guests regardless of the weather.

The off-grid system was developed by Takano Yoshiyuki, who develops and operates hotel and rental facilities across the country.

His interest began after a trip to Uganda where he was looking for a location to build a hotel.

Although he had to deal with frequent power outages and tap water that was often less than pristine...

He found himself captivated by the country's untouched natural beauty.

When considering global expansion, if you can only build on areas with existing infrastructure,

your options will be severely limited.

So, I thought if we could come up with our own solutions and innovations

to allow for safe and comfortable living without infrastructure,

we would be able to provide guests with places to stay and enjoy in beautiful locations around the world.

Takano came up with an off-grid system that that would allow his company to build almost anywhere.

The vacation rental home in Izu sits right on the side of a steep hill.

The narrow roads and steep terrain make construction here extremely difficult.

So, Takano opted to build the sections of the home in the same dimensions of

standard shipping containers and do most of the work on them at the factory.

This allowed them to easily deliver the home's 6 separate sections out to the build site by truck.

House Guest Nagatsuka Shoichi often vacations in the region.

However, he says up until discovering this house, he had never come to this part of the peninsula.

This place is amazing!

The weather is great, and the ocean is gorgeous.

It's important to limit our energy usage as much as possible,

so, I was thrilled to find a vacation home that has such an impressive off-grid system!

Starting at $650,000, the company has received over 100 inquiries into their off-grid accommodations

from both individual buyers as well as businesses.