Tamashima and Shimotsui have facilities called trial housing that people from outside the prefecture who are considering relocating can use.
The trial housing in Shimotsui is called “Setouchi Traditional House Trial Housing.” It was created by renovating an old house that once housed a locally beloved tofu shop. Many people use the facility to experience real life in the area, including living near the sea and enjoying warm exchanges with local residents.
On December 17, 2024, an open-house event was held to introduce the trial housing to local residents, and the writer took part as a staff member that day.
What do local residents think of a facility intended for people from outside the prefecture? Here, along with details about the facility, we introduce what happened at the open house.
The information presented was current when this article was published in January 2025. Please note that it may differ from current information.
About the Setouchi Traditional House Trial Housing Open House
The Setouchi Traditional House Trial Housing Open House was held on Tuesday, December 17, 2024.
The event was organized by the Shimotsui Sea Village Project, which carries out community development and revitalization projects in Shimotsui.
The Shimotsui Sea Village Project was formed by three volunteers from Shimotsui and Kojima and launched in 2017. It has continued its efforts to revitalize the Shimotsui community and support people relocating there, and now has more than 40 volunteer members.
Its three main activities are:
- Community revitalization projects……Planning and running events to enliven Shimotsui, and revitalizing the area by attracting shops and businesses
- Renovating traditional houses and making use of vacant homes……Restoring and repurposing traditional houses and vacant homes for the community, and connecting them with interested people
- Operating “trial housing”……Managing and operating the Setouchi Traditional House Trial Housing, an accommodation facility for people considering relocating, in cooperation with Kurashiki City. Also promoting relocation through activities such as providing a consultation service
What is the Setouchi Traditional House Trial Housing?
The Setouchi Traditional House Trial Housing is available to people from outside the prefecture who are considering relocating to Kurashiki City. The two-story building can accommodate up to two groups at a time, with each floor used separately.
Stays must be at least two nights and no more than 14 days, and the fee is 1,000 yen per night (tax included). *For use of services such as bicycles
It is an affordable option even for longer stays.
For stays beginning on or after April 1, 2025, the fee will be 2,000 yen per room per night (tax included).
Guests are also required to take part in an experience program that helps them learn more about Shimotsui. They can choose from five programs, including a “Relocation Networking Event,” where they can talk with people who have already relocated, and a “Shimotsui Walking Tour,” where they can learn about the area’s history and culture.
For details about the facility and its terms of use, check the special website.
The open house
On the day, CALMA COFFE ROASTERS was brewing coffee in front of the trial housing.
The pleasant aroma of coffee drifted along the street, and some local residents passing by on a walk stopped in to ask, “Is something happening today?”
This was the first time the writer had seen the Setouchi Traditional House Trial Housing, too. I joined the local residents and took a look inside.
Touring the trial housing
First, I entered through the doorway on the right at the front and headed to the second-floor room.
At the top of the stairs, a Japanese-style room opened up right away.
The Japanese-style room was about six tatami mats in size. Sunlight streamed in through a small window, creating the nostalgic atmosphere unique to a traditional house.
A magnificent, prominent beam supported the roof. The wooden pillars are not something you often get to see, and I found myself examining them closely.
The kitchen was well equipped with a washing machine, rice cooker, and microwave—amenities that are welcome for a long stay. Dishes and detergent were also provided. Shimotsui Fishing Port is near the trial housing, so it would be fun to buy fresh seafood and cook it.
I also took a look at the plumbing facilities I was curious about. The shower room and toilet were clean and comfortable to use. I heard that the first-floor bathroom also has a bathtub.
A list introducing local restaurants and supermarkets was placed on the low table in the Japanese-style room. It was made by members of the Shimotsui Sea Village Project and features recommended places selected from the perspective of people relocating to the area.
There was also a handmade map of Shimotsui’s attractions created by students at Kurashiki Sakuyo University. It’s a thoughtful touch unique to trial housing.
Next, we’ll take a look at the rooms on the first floor.
There is little difference in the facilities on the first and second floors, but on the day of the open house, the Japanese-style room on the first floor also served as the reception area. Many comments from people who have actually stayed at the trial residence were also on display.
Reading the visitors’ comments, many said they had fallen in love with the beauty of the Seto Inland Sea or been moved by the warmth of the people of Shimotsui. The charms of Shimotsui, described from the perspective of people from outside the prefecture. They may offer a fresh surprise even to local residents.
Photos taken before the trial residence was renovated had been placed in the dining kitchen.
It was easy to see that the Japanese-style room on the second floor, which we saw earlier, had also been renovated while retaining traces of its past. I was reminded once again of the warmth of the wood, unique to wooden buildings, and the nostalgic feeling of a home where people had lived for many years.
We also went out to the courtyard. It seems to usually serve as a bicycle parking area for rental bikes that visitors can use.
For the event, photos from a networking event for people who had moved to the area were on display.
The networking event for people who have moved to the area is one of the trial residence’s experience programs, and is held when visitors request it. It is an opportunity for people who have actually moved to Kurashiki to gather, mainly from Shimotsui, and hear firsthand stories about moving while sharing dinner.
All the photos showed a very relaxed atmosphere, filled with the participants’ smiles.
I had actually been invited to and attended one of these networking events before. At the time, visitors in their 20s and 30s asked me about work and what it was like to live in Kurashiki. I think it was a good opportunity to reflect again on why I had chosen Kurashiki.
The information visitors want to know varies depending on their age and family composition.
For example, when visitors with children wanted to learn about the childcare environment in Shimotsui, people who had moved there and were raising children shared what the schools were like. It seems that people who have moved to the area from a wide range of age groups take part, so they can share more firsthand information.
How local residents who visited the open house responded
Around 40 people, mainly residents of Shimotsui, visited the open house. They came for various reasons: some saw the flyer, some were passing by and stopped in after staff called out to them, and others were tourists from outside the prefecture who visited while sightseeing.
One local resident said, “I’ve always wondered about this place whenever I walk past,” and was surprised after looking around inside: “I had no idea it was this beautiful.”
Some visitors had mistaken it for an inn because of its beautiful exterior, and many learned for the first time at the open house that it was a facility supporting people who want to move to the area.
How a renovated building is being used in the community. I thought this was a good opportunity to let local residents know.
During the open house, the trial residence also became a place for local residents to connect. As I heard people say, “What a wonderful initiative,” while enjoying the coffee and snacks offered in thanks for completing the questionnaire, I felt happy too, even as someone helping out.
At one point, a local resident called out to an acquaintance passing by. Since the event was held on a weekday, there were few people walking by, but it seemed that most passersby stopped to take a look.
The trial residence used to be Watanabe Tofu Shop, a beloved local tofu shop. People who had connections with the shop also visited, and we heard stories about the past. It was a moment that gave us a sense of the warm atmosphere of Shimotsui in days gone by.
A mini-interview with the organizers
Could you tell us what inspired you to plan this event?
Sugano (surname only)
The people who stay at the trial residence come from outside the prefecture, so until now we had mainly shared information with people outside the prefecture, particularly in urban areas.
However, as we spoke with people in the prefecture, we realized that awareness of the trial residence was low. We thought we first needed to let local residents know about it, so we planned this event.
For example, a shopkeeper might tell a tourist visiting the area, “There’s a place like this,” and that could lead them to stay at the trial residence.
We also thought that when local residents spoke with visitors, having a shared topic of conversation—“Oh, you’re staying over there”—would make it easier to connect. For visitors, connecting with local residents is a special experience that stays with them. We decided to start by letting local residents know that the trial residence exists, and that’s what led us to plan the open house.
How did local residents respond to the open house?
Fukukawa (surname only)
We were surprised by how many people responded warmly, more than we had expected.
Many members of the Shimotsui Sea Village Project have moved to the area, and we wondered how local residents would feel about efforts to make use of the community’s assets. But more people than we expected welcomed the initiative, which was a relief.
Nakatomi (surname only)
More people than we expected already knew about the trial residence, and we were glad that some had been keeping an eye on the facility for a long time. We were grateful that local grandfathers and grandmothers saw the flyer and made a special trip to visit.
Sugano
What left the strongest impression on me was how incredibly cooperative the shops and businesses in Shimotsui were.
We gave shops that were helping us bring life to Shimotsui a “Shimotsui Supporters” sticker to recognize them as participating businesses. Every shop we approached to ask for their cooperation was happy to accept it, and we also heard words of welcome for people using the trial housing. It reminded us that Shimotsui is a warm and welcoming town.
What kind of community would you like Shimotsui to become in the future?
Sugano
I think it will become an even more interesting town. We’re at a point where all kinds of things are just starting to happen: more people are moving here, and restaurants and places to stay are gradually opening. I’d like to keep attracting more visitors to Shimotsui and sustain a cycle that brings energy to the community.
Nakatomi
Shimotsui is a historic tourist destination where people still go about their daily lives. I feel that simply turning it into a more convenient town would be a little off the mark.
Rather than adding convenient places like convenience stores and supermarkets, I hope it will become an interesting place where people who want to try something new come together. I hope we can make use of vacant houses one by one and turn the area into a community where interesting people and things gather.
Fukukawa
As the Shimotsui Sea Village Project, we want to keep sharing Shimotsui’s appeal while working with local residents. We’ve gradually had more opportunities to collaborate with local groups, so we’ll do our best to involve the whole community in our activities.
From the Writer
The Setouchi Trial Traditional House Open House was held in a calm and welcoming atmosphere.
I took part as a volunteer staff member. Local residents told me about what Shimotsui used to be like and said, “Thanks for your hard work in this cold,” and I felt I got a small glimpse of the warmth of the people of Shimotsui.
Trial housing is an important hub connecting people who hope to move to the area with the community. When local residents take an interest in revitalizing the town and understand the effort, I believe it allows us to offer visitors an even more fulfilling experience.
That’s why I felt that efforts to let local residents know about the project, such as this open house, are extremely important.
I hope to continue supporting the Shimotsui Sea Village Project’s activities.
Setouchi Trial Housing Open House Information
| Name | Setouchi Trial Housing Open House |
|---|---|
| Date | Tuesday, December 17, 2024 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. |
| Location | 1-8-6 Shimotsui, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture |
| Admission (tax included) | Free |
| Website | Shimotsui Sea Village Project |
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