Talk with people in Hanamaki and Towa area! Hanamaki City, Iwate Prefecture 【3rd Multifacility Residency Trial Tour】 Hanamaki City, Iwate Prefecture

  • Iwate
  • PR
View near Hanamaki Station (taken from the accommodation)
Have you ever thought about living in multiple locations? While the flexible working style using full remote and teleworking has been spreading after the Corona disaster, Hanamaki City in Iwate Prefecture has been conducting a trial tour of multi-location living four times as an effort to attract "multi-location dwellers" to Hanamaki City, who are not limited to one place of residence, but have various locations across the country, and is sending out information about the tour. The third tour will be held in January 2025.

The third tour was conducted for three days and two nights from January 19 (Sun.) to 21 (Tue.), 2025, and the editorial staff of *and trip. who was involved in the planning of the tour will report on the tour and the participants' comments!

What is Multi-location Residency?

For this tour, we defined "multi-location living" in this way.

"The use of houses, apartments, accommodations, etc. ("other locations") in addition to the main living base, while working and living in various ways, including teleworking and hybrid work, at the main location and at other locations."

After the Corona Disaster, you now have an environment where you can work anywhere with a computer without having to come to work. For such teleworkers, we would like to encourage them to choose Hanamaki City as a future destination for multi-location living or beyond. To this end, we first conducted a tour to familiarize them with the culture and people of Hanamaki City. Then, we will share information about what the participants experienced in Hanamaki City, and hope that people who read the information will want to visit Hanamaki City! and then visit Hanamaki City.

Click here to read the article of the first tour

▼Click here for the article of the 2nd tour

Third tour itinerary

The tour this time focused on the Hanamaki area near Hanamaki Station and Shin-Hanamaki Station and the Towa area where Lake Tase is located, where you can enjoy wakasagi (smelt) fishing in winter. The tour was designed to allow participants to experience the culture and people of Hanamaki City while conducting telework.
Third itinerary

Scene of the day (1) Orientation

At the beginning of the tour, an orientation was held and participants introduced themselves to each other through a card game. I have not been to Tohoku much," said one participant. This is my first visit to Hanamaki City, but I already feel comfortable here because the atmosphere is similar to that of my hometown. I have not been to Tohoku very often," and "This is my first visit to Hanamaki City, but I already feel comfortable here. After self-introductions, we explained the purpose of this tour and showed them the telework space in the city that they could use during their free time.
Orientation

Scene of the day (2) Marukan Building cafeteria

After the orientation, we moved to the Marukan Building cafeteria for lunch. The Marukan Building Grand Cafeteria was formerly a department store called Marukan Department Store, which closed in June 2016. There was a cafeteria at the time of the department store, but when the department store closed, this cafeteria closed as well. However, with the help of Marukan Daishokudo fans through crowdfunding and other means, it was revived as Marukan Building Daishokudo on February 20, 2017. The cafeteria, with its retro Showa-era atmosphere, is crowded daily with locals and other fans.

Many of the tour participants enjoyed Marukan Building Daishokudo's famous "Marukan Ramen" and 10-tiered rolls of "soft ice cream". After lunch, the tour participants had free time until departure to enjoy the "Hanamaki Toy Museum" located inside the building, souvenir shopping, etc.
Spicy "Marukan Ramen

▼Click here for the article on the Marukan Building Grand Cafeteria

Hanareya Base, Hanamaki Youth Center

After lunch, the group visited Hanamaki Youth Center "Hanareya Base," a one-minute walk from Hanamaki Station. This is a base where young people gather, run by the NPO Hanareya, which is currently in the process of preparing to open for business. Hanareya Base is a renovated space that was vacant for some time. The center is working to connect young people with the town by focusing on "human resource development," "community development," and "creating a place for young people. The base provides a space for students to study after school or while waiting for the train, and also offers exploratory study programs and support for higher education. In addition, local students and high school students from Niigata and Chiba prefectures who are studying abroad in Hanamaki City as part of the Regional Mirai Study Abroad program are currently doing internships and helping to renovate the facility.

On this day, Mr. Uchida of the NPO Hanareya and Regional Development Cooperation Corps spoke about the role of Hanareya Base and the current state of education in the prefecture. In Iwate Prefecture, there are issues such as the educational gap between urban and rural areas, the outflow of young people, and the lack of opportunities for social experiences, and Hanareya Base is working to solve these issues. After the explanation, high school students joined the session and actively exchanged opinions, sharing their impressions and asking questions to the high school students.

●Main opinions and questions from participants

Are there people from the local community involved in the project other than the NPO Hanareya?

→There are other people involved, such as people who introduce properties to us.

We are working to create opportunities for students to gain social experience in order to address the educational gap between urban areas and the city, but is it possible that the more young people learn about urban areas, the more interested they will become in the city center?

→I think that is of course a possibility, but I believe that local activities will increase their retention in the community.

I was concerned about the job-seeking situation in Hanamaki City.

It is interesting to see how the declining population and industry are connected. It would be interesting to see support from outside companies.
Hanareya Base (Center: Mr. Uchida, a member of the Regional Development Cooperation Volunteers)

Day 4: Bomai Village

The first stop on the second day was "Bomai Village" near Lake Tase in Towa Town. The village will open around Golden Week in 2025, and at the time of our visit, renovations were underway to prepare for its opening. At the time of our visit, the village was in the process of renovating its facilities. After the opening, they plan to offer tours that combine hunting tours and meals, as well as tours that allow visitors to "feel the mountains" in a way that is not possible in urban areas, in combination with lodging.

Mr. Bousako's motivation for creating "Bomai Village" was "I want to create a community where I can live comfortably. The smallest community I can think of is a village. He says that he wanted to create a community where he could live comfortably. He moved to Hanamaki City as a member of the Regional Development Cooperation Volunteers, and while thinking "I want to build a village near mountains and a lake," he happened to find the current "Bomai Village" while walking around the area. Since the village was started, a total of about 100 people have come to help out over the past three years, and on this day, there was a person from Tokyo who was helping out for the fourth time. Mr. Bohzako said, "I want to give people the opportunity to experience what they want to experience, not being too limited to Hanamaki, but including the surrounding areas such as Tono City and Kitakami City. He said, "I don't want to be too limited to Hanamaki.

●Main opinions and questions from participants

I think this is a very valuable place for companies and industries that are introducing ABW (Activity Based Working).

I also thought that it would be easier to live in urban areas, where communities are more sparse.

I think it would be very valuable for companies and industries to introduce ABW (Activity Based Working).

Are you planning to offer activities using the lake?

→We are planning to offer SUP yoga on the lake!

If you build a sauna, it will go well with the lake!

→The sauna has already been built on the property outside. The forests around here are cedar trees, so the feature is that it was built with cedar wood in conjunction with those trees. Another point is that it was built by incorporating overseas building methods!

The project is a great example of how people are taking action on what they want to do, which results in the creation of human flow and the formation of a community. I thought it was wonderful that the project was ultimately beneficial to the town.
Bomai Village (right: Mr. Bousako)
Sauna made of cedar wood

Scenes from the day 5: Yananoue Project

After leaving Bomai Village, we visited the Yanaue Project, also in Towa Town. Here, we were served lunch and given an explanation of the facilities. The Yanaue Project is a multipurpose experience and exchange space in a renovated 120-year-old private house. The place, which also serves as a guest house, is limited to one couple per day and offers overnight accommodations on a reservation and self-catering basis. The owner, Mr. Takahashi, who originally lived in the Hanamaki area, was introduced to the Yananoue property and thought, "I can do something interesting here! He moved to Towa Town (a "petit-relocation"), saying, "I think I can have fun here! They have been selling rice-flour pizzas from their kitchen car for several years, and on this day, we had the opportunity to make pizza for lunch.

The pizza dough was made from rice flour ordered from a bakery called "Odette Kobo" in Towa Town, and there were three sauce choices: pizza sauce, ketchup, and the rice malt miso mayo that is only available here. The rice koji miso mayo sauce was by far the most popular among the participants! The sauce is topped with bell peppers, mushrooms, broccoli, cheese, and other ingredients of your choice, and the pizzas are baked one by one in a kitchen car. The freshly made hot pizza was excellent.

Then, while eating the excellent pizza, we listened to Mr. Takahashi talk about immigration. One of the things that particularly impressed me was his comment, "Especially if you are moving from an urban area and finding a job, you will inevitably feel a gap in terms of income. That is why I would like you to choose Hanamaki as a place to live from multiple locations, and to consider the possibility of living both in the city and in Hanamaki City while continuing to work at your current job. I felt that this realistic talk about immigration and a glimpse of the local people's desire for people to come to Hanamaki resonated with the participants who were interested in a multifaceted lifestyle.

He also told us the last thing he did not want us to do when we come to the countryside. He said that the last thing he wants people to do when they come to the countryside is to "have food served to them and be done with it. For example, when it comes to food, he said, "Don't let the experience end as an experience," but rather, "make it something that you can take with you in the future," by asking for recipes and instructions.
Yananoue Project (back: Mr. Takahashi)
Pizza with plenty of toppings is ready!

[Extra] We saw a fantastic mural 4 minutes walk from Hanamaki station - free time!

The afternoon of the second day and the third day were free, so the participants were free to spend their time as they pleased, including teleworking. The "Future City Galactic Earth Railway," located about a 4-minute walk from Hanamaki Station, is a dynamic and fantastic mural that comes to life between sunset and 10 pm. Everyone spent their time in their own way, visiting things they could only see because they stayed overnight, going to the supermarket to look for souvenirs, etc.â
Mural "Future City Galaxy Earth Railroad

Comments from Participants

Through these experiences and contact with local people, we received the following comments from the participants.

Participant 1

This experience in Hanamaki brought me deeper insights than a mere sightseeing tour could. The connections with people, the appreciation for the region, and the ability to involve the community. These were invaluable lessons for me when thinking about multifaceted living and working. Hanamaki is a land of fascinating possibilities for people seeking new ways of living.

Participant ②

Even if you are interested in multisite migration or working in a rural area, you may be asking yourself, "Are there jobs?" What about schools, medical facilities, and other infrastructure? What about schools, medical facilities, and other infrastructure? However, through this trial tour, these questions were answered one by one, and we were able to realize the potential and attractiveness of Hanamaki City.

Hanamaki City has the potential to be a "third place" where people can fully enjoy the charms of the region while working. If anyone is thinking of "starting something new in a rural area," I recommend participating in a program like the one I experienced this time and actually visiting the city. I am sure you will find the ideal environment for you. For those of you who value a free work style and connection with the local community, I urge you to experience the possibilities of Hanamaki City. New discoveries and encounters await you there!

Participant 3

Because of its easy accessibility from the main metropolitan area, I would recommend it to those who are looking for a place to workcation from the metropolitan area. We recommend that you visit the city with an eye toward a multi-location lifestyle, especially if you have something you want to do in the future and a rural area is better suited to realize it. Hanamaki City is a city that is very open-minded and tolerant of new ideas, both from the government, local businesses, and residents, so I thought it would be fruitful to express what you want to do and visit people who might be able to help you.

Participant 4

This was the second time for me to participate in the Hanamaki City Multipoint Migration Tour, and I was able to visit a different area than last time and hear everyone's stories, which allowed me to experience more deeply the community-based activities and life in Hanamaki City. As was the case last time, I had the rare opportunity to hear directly from the people I met about their passion for Hanamaki City and their own dreams, something I would not have been able to experience if I had just come on a trip, and I fell even more in love with Hanamaki City through interacting with local residents.

Participant⑤ Participant⑥

What was impressive to me was the strong sense of "realizing what I want to do" that was common to all three of the operators we visited. We had created a place. The three days in Hanamaki were not just a tourist attraction, but also a strong reminder of the potential of this place as an option for "living life on your own terms.

Participant ⑥

The activities and endeavors of the local development cooperatives working in Hanamaki were nothing short of amazing, and the message and advice from Mr. Takahashi of the Yanaue Project that "life as an immigrant is not an easy one" was very much in line with what I felt.
I believe that the combination of the "location" of Hanamaki, the "activities of local people" such as the Regional Development Cooperation Volunteers, and the "support of the local government" will lead to the expansion of "multi-location living in Hanamaki City.

Participant ⑦

Looking back over the three days, I was able to find excitement, discoveries, and connections. And the realizations and challenges. I am still thinking about all the things I can't fully organize, and I am thinking about the way home. It will take time to connect the dots, but I feel that I have gained something that I did not have before I left. (Everyone says this when they go on a trip, but this time I am sure. (Everyone says this when they go on a trip, but this time I am sure.)

Participant ⑧

I felt that the activities of the Hanamaki Regional Development Cooperation Volunteers, while being connected to each other through their point activities, will eventually grow from a thin line into a thick line, leading to a planar activity, and that by the time the young people studying at the Hanareya Base find jobs, there will be more job opportunities in Iwate than now, contributing to an increase in the working population in Iwate Prefecture. I felt that by the time the young people studying at the HANAREYA Base find jobs, there will be more job opportunities in Iwate than there are now, contributing to the increase in the number of workers in the prefecture.

Participant ⑨

I usually spend most of my time at my desk facing a computer, but I realized that I can directly feel the passion and thoughts of the people I meet when I visit their activities and communicate with them directly. （All three of the participants (that I visited this time) had realized what they wanted to do using old private houses, and they were working on DIY-type things themselves. I felt that even if I did not have such experience in the past, I might be able to do something about it... and I felt like I wanted to give it a try too.

Would you like to experience multi-location living in Hanamaki City?

As we have shown you, Hanamaki City offers you experiences and warm people that you can only experience here. Whether you are interested in multifocal residence or not at this time, we encourage you to visit Hanamaki City for an exchange experience.

In addition, the Hanamaki City Settlement Promotion Division accepts inquiries about immigration and multifaceted residence by phone or through the inquiry form on the Hanamaki City website. You can also consult with them at City Hall when you visit Hanamaki.

Hanamaki City Settlement Promotion Division

Click here for the inquiry form to the Settlement Promotion Division.
Hanamaki City Settlement Promotion Division Contact us at

▼ Check here for other Hanamaki City information!

Hanamaki City Website

Hanamaki City website is here

Hanamaki City Immigration and Settling Portal Site "Iitoco Hanamaki

"Iitoco Hanamaki" is here

Hanamaki City City Promotion Site "Makimaki Hanamaki

"Makimaki Hanamaki" is here

Hanamaki City JRE MALL Furusato Tax Payment

JRE MALL Furusato Tax Payment is here

Take your favorite train and lodging combination for a budget-friendly trip!

You can create your own original trip!

The " JR East View Dynamic Rail Package " is a variable-price individual travel product sold exclusively through the Internet that allows you to choose your train and accommodations freely and make a reservation at once. Depending on the timing and conditions of your reservation, you may be able to save even on the day of departure at the earliest! We also offer one-day trip plans! Please enjoy your own trip according to your schedule and purpose.

Click here for details

For train + accommodation "Hanamaki Area" reservation, please use " JR East View Dynamic Rail Package "

Coupons are also available at JRE MALL Furusato Tax Payment

We also offer discount coupons for those who travel to Hanamaki City with the JR East View Dynamic Rail Package!
[Hanamaki City]JRE MALL Furusato Tax Payment Click here for " JR East View Dynamic Rail Package "
Tags related to this article
Previous post Back to list Next
related articles