Enhancing local participatory platforms, to preserve an ebbing community and its built heritage

Centennial abodes were being demolished have been recently renovated and transformed into the ‘NIPPONIA HOTEL Ozu Castle Town’ or into newly established shops. As of March 2024, 31 old houses have been restored. Along with this, 20 new businesses have opened, new jobs have been created. Ozu’s old district regeneration efforts have called the attention of officials, scholars and tourism-business operators, receiving accolades both nationally and internationally.

Nonetheless, the urgency of action required to preserve Ozu’s endangered houses deprived local residents of important information concerning the initiatives taking place in Ozu. Likewise, there were few opportunities for locals to express their views on the town's initiatives.

In order to tackle this obstacle, Ozu’s local DMO (Kita Management) decided to conduct regular workshops or study groups with local residents, presenting and debating on Ozu’s pressing challenges. Lecturers, researching on rivers and cities, organize working sessions to discuss gentle ways of urban development. In addition, monthly study sessions are held with local businesses to discuss tourism town planning.

Thanks to these community activities, opinions on how to improve Ozu’s old district are freely exchanged. Furthermore, as a result of the town's efforts being widely recognized, local school representatives contacted Kita Management, requesting lectures on Ozu’s revitalization efforts. Interactive sessions at local elementary or high schools have persuaded local kids to get involved in the revitalization process.

As a result of these discussions, Recreational ferries along the Hiji River, once a prevalent sight, have regained Ozu’s landscape. Elsewhere, ‘Ozu Passport’, a CRM system intended for NIPPONIA HOTEL’s guests, has been implemented in partnership with local merchants. Ultimately, these initiatives have provided forums to Ozu residents to raise their concerns. And they are developing into discussion platforms, enabling locals to take part in the machitsukuri process.

You can learn more about Ozu’s efforts by engaging in an on-site seminar, organized by Kita Management (its local DMO) :

・Required time for the programme: 4/8/16 hours
・Time of year: all year round
・Minimum number of participants: 5. Seminars can be hold for 1-4 participants, but a 5-person fee will be charged.
・Maximum number of participants: 30
・Price:
- Short Course: (4 hrs.) 88,000 yen per group (up to 5 people). 12,650 yen per additional person (from the 6th person onwards)
- Regular Course: 2 days/1 night (8 hrs.) 125,400 yen per group (up to 5 people), 17,600 yen per additional person (from the 6th person onwards)
- Long course: 3 days/2 nights (16 hrs.) 227,700 yen per group (up to 5 people), 31,900 yen per additional person (from the 6th person onwards)
＜If you wish to stay at the NIPPONIA HOTEL Ozu Castle Town, we will provide you with a special rate for the study tour.>

https://kita-m.com/inspection/course/