Recruiting Participants! Oarai Town, Ibaraki Prefecture's "Umimachi Two-Location Living" Experience Program to be Held from August to December 2026

Oarai Town (Planning and Operation: Local Quest Lab General Incorporated Association) will hold an experience program for "two-location living," where individuals have residences in their current community and another separate community. The program will run from August to December 2026. The 2-night, 3-day itinerary will be customized based on the applicant's intentions and interests. Approximately 6 groups are sought, targeting a diverse range of individuals including families, seniors, teleworkers, and those interested in regional revitalization.

<Background of Oarai Town x Two-Location Living>

In recent years, with the spread of telework and remote work, the expansion of side jobs and concurrent employment, and the diversification of lifestyles, interest in "two-location living" – engaging with a region other than one's current residence – has been growing. "Two-location living" has the potential to lead to the realization of new lifestyles and regional revitalization.

Oarai Town is a town with a population of approximately 15,000, located almost in the center of Ibaraki Prefecture's Pacific coast. Surrounded by rich natural environments of the sea, rivers, and lakes, people have lived and worked here since ancient times. Its accessibility, about 90 minutes from Tokyo, and the rich community of this compact town are attractive.

Two-location living in Oarai Town offers the opportunity to experience a different flow of time, encounters with people, and the unique climate and culture of the land. We believe this can lead to mental and physical refreshment, interaction with local residents, encounters with different values, and the discovery of a new place to belong.

The two-location living experience program in Oarai Town was first held in fiscal year 2024 and was also implemented last year. This year, based on the progress of the past two years and feedback from participants, the program has been updated to allow a more diverse range of people to experience a lifestyle that suits their interests and those of their families.

<Achievements and Participant Feedback from the Past 2 Years>

Over the past two years, we received 46 applications, and from those, 11 groups comprising 24 individuals experienced life in Oarai. A common sentiment from participants was that their impression of Oarai changed from a "tourist town" to a "livable town."

"It was a completely different impression from when I visited as a tourist before. By actually walking around the town and checking things like supermarkets, medical facilities, and childcare environments, I realized that Oarai is a 'livable town.' The feasibility of moving or living in two locations suddenly became much more real." (30s, Family)

"Teleworking by the sea, strolling through town, talking with local people. In a flow of time completely different from my daily life, I was able to form a concrete image of 'what it would be like to live here.'" (30s, Teleworker)

"Experiencing the scenery of Oarai Isosaki Shrine and the sea breeze was incredibly relaxing. The compactness of the town and the closeness of the people were impressive, and the image of a fulfilling life became clearer during my stay." (20s, Single)

"Seeing the children play freely in nature raised my expectations for life in Oarai. While imagining family time by the sea, the thought of 'what if we raised our children here...' arose." (30s, Family)

*Interview articles with participants from last year (participants were interviewed in detail in each article):

▶ [Interview #01] The Yamaura Family: From the Impression of a Seafood Town to a Livable Town

▶ [Interview #02] Ms. Li and her husband: Their visit for fireworks sparked dreams of life by the sea

▶ [Interview #03] Mr. Yamaguchi: Moved by the scenery of Oarai Isosaki Shrine, his vision of a fulfilling life became concrete

▶ [Interview #04] The Yoshioka Family: Their image of "what it would be like to live here" expanded

<Features of the "Umimachi Two-Location Living" Experience Program>

(1) Itinerary Customized to Your Interests and Your Family's Interests

This program does not have set courses or destinations. Based on an online hearing conducted after application, you can plan an itinerary tailored to your goals, interests, and lifestyle, and those of your family. We will support your "desire to know" and "desire to experience," such as "I want to check the childcare environment," "I want to try living while working remotely," "I want to get a sense of life as a base after retirement," or "I want to connect with local people."

(2) Stay in Oarai as a "Resident"

Accommodation will be in a house within the town (property with lodging permission) or a renovated container house. By immersing yourself in a real living space rather than a hotel, you can experience life in Oarai more realistically. Buy groceries at the local supermarket, walk around town, and interact with local people. Please try experiencing this "other daily life" at your own pace and that of your family.

(3) Supports Four Lifestyles

This year, we will offer lifestyle experiences tailored to the needs of the following four types of individuals:

[Families] Those who want to live in a town surrounded by nature with their family or children and want to check the childcare environment.

[Seniors] Those looking for a base for their second life after retirement and seeking a new life in a different region.

[Teleworkers] Remote workers living in urban areas who are looking for a telework destination or a second residence.

[Related Population/Regional Revitalization Group] Those looking for diverse ways to engage with the community and who wish to participate in regional revitalization activities.

<Program Overview>

Program Period: Between August and December 2026, basically 2 nights and 3 days (stay duration can be adjusted within reason upon request)

Location: Oarai Town, Ibaraki Prefecture

Accommodation: House within the town (property with lodging permission) or renovated container house, etc.

Target Audience: Families, seniors, teleworkers, related population/regional revitalization group, and those exploring new lifestyles and ways of living.

Number of Participants: Approximately 6 groups (individual participation is also possible)

Participation Fee: Free (round-trip transportation costs and local meal expenses are the responsibility of the participant)

Participation Conditions: Ability to participate in an online interview (approx. 30 minutes) after application; willingness to allow photo and video recording (including face) during the on-site stay (planned for publication on the town's website, public relations magazine, etc.)

How to Apply: Please apply via the application form at the URL below (application will close once capacity is reached; a Google account login is required to apply)

https://forms.gle/8uFNqpU6T1mnLybD6

Organizer: Oarai Town Community Development Promotion Division

Planning and Operation: Local Quest Lab General Incorporated Association

Contact: Local Quest Lab General Incorporated Association | Koji Manosuji

Email Address: [email protected]

<About Oarai Town>

Oarai Town is located almost in the center of Ibaraki Prefecture's Pacific coast. It has a population of approximately 15,000, an area of about 23 km2, and is located about 130 km from Tokyo, with access by car and train taking about 90 minutes. The eastern part of the town faces the sea, the southwest has a lake (the only brackish lake in the Kanto region where seawater and freshwater mix), the north is bordered by the Naka River, and the northwest by the Hinuma River. It is divided into the following four areas:

Oarai Coast / Naka River Area

A place of faith and recreation surrounded by ancient seas, forests, and rivers.

<Main Spots> ・Oarai Isosaki Shrine ・Torii Gate at Kamiiso ・Oarai Coast ・Aqua World Oarai Aquarium and others

Isohama City Center / Fishing Port Area

The center of economy and exchange, where the town hall, community center, cultural facilities, shopping streets, fishing port, and fish processing plants are concentrated.

<Main Spots> ・Isohama Kofun Group

・Magarimatsu Shopping Street

・Oarai Fishing Port

・Oarai Kaisen Ichiba (Seafood Market)

and others

Oarai Sun Beach / Onuki Area

Features Ibaraki Prefecture's largest gently sloping beach, popular for beach leisure activities and as a resort area.

<Main Spots> ・Oarai Sun Beach Swimming Area ・Shiosai no Yu (Hot Spring) ・Oarai Marine Tower ・Oarai Seaside Station and others

Hinuma Lakeside / Minami Oarai Area

Features Hinuma, the only brackish lake in Kanto where seawater and freshwater mix, and vast reclaimed land, offering spectacular rural scenery.

<Main Spots> ・Hinuma Lake

・Yuhino Sato Matsukawa

and others