Shimanto Town Migration Support Housing
This article introduces migration-support housing options available in Shimanto Town, Kochi Prefecture, based on a recent on-site inspection and interviews. The properties are part of the town's initiatives to attract new residents and offer a variety of living arrangements.
The first type is the Klein Garten Shimanto, a stay-type community farm. The name means 'small garden' in German, and the facility opened in April 2010 as the first of its kind in Kochi Prefecture. It is located about a 10-minute drive from the Shimanto Town Hall and consists of different types of stay-type farm plots and day-use farm plots. It is adjacent to an agricultural training facility. Residents must be people moving to Shimanto Town from outside the area. The facility is very popular, often reaching full capacity each year. The accommodation units include a loft. Shared farm tools are available at the management building, and residents can participate in training at the adjacent Kochi Prefecture Agricultural Human Resource Development Center. The facility has a blog that has been updated daily for 14 years, and it hosts about 100 events and exchange meetings annually. Residents come from various places, including Hokkaido, Gifu, and Saitama prefectures. Some are early retirees who came to grow Niida rice, and others are training at a nearby Tosa forged blade factory. Graduates sometimes return to visit or use the day-use farm plots. The facility is currently accepting applications for the next fiscal year.
The second property is a 'Chuukan Kanri Juutaku' (intermediate management housing) located in the Ono district of Shimanto Town. This is a rental house for families with children, about a 45-minute drive from the Shimanto Town Hall. The house is over 45 years old but has been renovated. It features a spacious entrance and kitchen, a Japanese-style room with a tokonoma (alcove) and a wide engawa (veranda), and storage spaces on each floor. The toilet and bathroom have been updated with modern fixtures. The attic storage on the second floor is described as being like a secret base. The property includes a roofed parking space and a storage room. The monthly rent is 39,000 yen. The road to the property is narrow. The Shimanto River flows nearby, offering a rich natural environment. This property is for households living with children aged 15 or under.
For inquiries about these or other housing options, contact the Shimanto Town Hall Nigiwai Souzou-ka Ijuu Teijuu Gakari (Town Revitalization Division, Migration and Settlement Section).
