
Kamiyama is a Japanese town that successfully attracted young residents.
This might seem too good to be true. When you buy an akiya, you will need to include renovation costs and you might have to rent out the property for a period of time first before it officially becomes yours. Also, keep in mind these legal nooks and crannies of buying a house in Japan. Add to that the social stigma and superstition that surrounds abandoned houses that might make it difficult to sell your new house once you’re ready to move on. Nevertheless, there are subsidies in place to help people move in and build up a new life away from the city.
While waiting for new residents, Nagoro, a typical declining rural town located in the valleys of Shikoku became populated by dolls (created by resident Tsukimi Ayano). Each doll represents a former resident. The dolls have become a symbol of rural Japan’s population decline.
It might turn out to be that easy to make that bold move and relocate to Japan’s peaceful countryside, however, the supply is expected to keep growing beyond 10 million homes, which means that your new rural getaway might be more attainable than you think. With cities becoming more crowded, housing prices rising, and increased awareness about mental health and overstimulation, rural towns like Kamiyama might become the new place to be.
In de afgelopen jaren hebben we onderzoek gedaan naar het fenomeen stadverlaters. In dit rapport kijken we naar hun drijfveren en de kansen die deze trend biedt voor het platteland.
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