#Japan #Iida #JR Tokai #Airbnb Japan #SUITEN

New Consortium Established to Promote Dual-Region Living in Iida City

In a significant development, Iida City, along with JR East (JR Tokai), SUITEN, and Airbnb Japan, has formed a new consortium focused on promoting dual-region living. This initiative is part of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism’s pilot project for the 2025 fiscal year, aimed at enhancing access through the anticipated construction of the Nagano maglev station.

Vision for Co-Creation

The consortium aims to build a platform where local residents, business owners, and dual-region residents can collaboratively create value for the community, referred to as “co-creation population”. By harnessing the improved access from the future maglev station, stakeholders hope to foster sustainable urban development and facilitate ongoing engagement between diverse talents from different regions.

Recognizing the diminishing population and the challenge of sustaining local vitality, Iida City is seizing this opportunity to not just attract visitors but to engage them actively in local life. The aim is to create both “reasons to commute” and “places to engage” within the community, setting the stage for innovative interactions among various stakeholders.

Addressing the Decline of Community Involvement

According to a report released by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, approximately 22.63 million people in Japan are categorized as “relation population”—individuals wanting to contribute to their communities. However, the total has seen a decline of about 2.3 million since the pandemic, highlighting the need for fresh approaches. This consortium aims to develop a co-creation population, fostering mutual growth between urban talents and local residents—not merely as customers but as equal partners in community development.

Roles and Responsibilities

Within the consortium, each entity has defined roles:

• - Iida City: Leading the overall project and establishing frameworks for dual-region living.
• - JR Tokai: Connecting urban talents with local projects through initiatives like “conomichi”.
• - SUITEN: Coordinating local programs and establishing mid-to-long-term stay facilities named “HIGASA”.
• - Airbnb Japan: Creating a network for accommodation providers to enhance the visitor experience.

Project Implementation

As part of the consortium's application to become a pioneering dual-region living project, several initiatives will be rolled out:
1. Field Research: Collaborating urban participants and local residents will engage in field research, particularly around the Tenryu Gorge area, to examine local resources.
2. Visibility and Asset Development: Information gathered during research will be compiled into promotional materials with the help of collaborating creators.
3. Enhancing Stay and Living Environments: Vacant houses will be repurposed into “HIGASA” as a base for stays, designed to facilitate organic interactions among the community and newcomers.

For further specifics, details will be shared via the conomichi website here.

Upcoming Kickoff Event

In celebration of this consortium’s launch, a kickoff event is planned for July 20, 2026, aimed at local stakeholders and media, designed to introduce project objectives and foster dialogue among residents.

• - Date: July 20, 2026, (Monday, Public Holiday) 10:00 – 12:00 (tentative)
• - Location: HIGASA, 7456-5 Ryuo, Iida City, Nagano Prefecture
• - Agenda: Project presentations and co-creation workshops involving local players.
• - Registration: Attendance is free, and registration can be done via this link.

HIGASA as a Community Hub

HIGASA is envisioned as a versatile hub where visitors, workers, and future residents can share experiences under one roof, fostering an enriching environment. It has begun renovations at a site previously home to a local confectionery factory, engaging youth, newcomers, and creators in the project. As a center for tourism, coworking, and temporary living, HIGASA aims to create synergistic relationships, promoting work and life flows in the region.

Conomi-chi and Iida City’s Initiatives

“conomichi” is a collaborative local media platform connecting communities with visitors, supported by JR East’s resources and networks. This consortium project is a continuation of previous efforts to foster community engagement through fieldwork and shared resources.

Through this consortium, Iida City is taking proactive steps to redefine its community dynamics, making it a model for future urban-rural collaboration and sustainable living ventures.