<aside> 📌 Ethos and goals:
Akiya is a project that focuses on revitalization of abandoned houses and local regions.
We want to make sure that we are integrating well with local governments and the community members around us, and our existing neighbors.
We want to see how we can support their activities, how we're able to join in community with them, and essentially at the end of the day how to cohabitate and also become good neighbors in reciprocal
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We’re hearing from Megumi who, through her journey of finding her dream Akiya, she has connected with around or over 20 local governments to meet them and understand more about how those specific local communities work.
During the time of her residency, Megumi was also helping us be a bridge to our local community. It was personally really amazing for me to just go around to different cafes with Megumi and she would just have a conversation with the people around us, like a baker or owners of cafes and just hear more about how she's able to connect to them.
Megumi: I've eventually found myself a very good place to stay for long term in Shikoku. It took me five years to find this place. So how I started my journey was to participate in tours related to immigration, which local governments held. I was looking for something like this one.
<aside> 🌏 Megumi shared a link: https://www.furusato-web.jp/event-info/p102726/
This website shows migration related information. Currently (as of Sept 11, 2023) it is showing an Izu City Migration Experience Tour “How to Live in Izu City”
Translated from the website, the description of the event reads:
Izu City is located in the middle of the Izu Peninsula in Shizuoka Prefecture.
While there are scenic tourist spots such as Shuzenji Onsen, Amagi Onsen, and Toi Onsen, it is also a peaceful area with rich rural scenery and a quiet coastline townscape.
For those who are interested in Izu City and those who are thinking of moving, we will hold a migration experience tour.
Introducing work, childcare, living expenses, etc., about real life in Izu City. There is also a tour of vacant houses.
It is also recommended to stay for one night and enjoy the hot springs and sightseeing.
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Megumi: Some prefectures or small cities give a small sampling for how people can view the city. City immigration tours takes like one or two day trip, and you can experience seeing akiya in that city and introduce interesting people to AkiyaDAO. They can provide language resources, and you can potentially apply to stay and do a trial period in a house to live in, like a place that the government sponsors for a week or so, and they may also introduce akiya that can be purchased. Joining this tour can also allow you information on the local atmospheres and vacant houses, and also connect to previous immigrants who have started life there.
They can introduce the people who have their own job in the town. They can show us some akiyas to us, some possibly you can rent if you want to move to the city. Megumi went to one of the tours five years ago, and they brought them to the local traditional crafts factory.