"Oku-Aizu Shoten" opens, where you can "learn, buy, and experience" Oku-Aizu! [Fukushima Prefecture]

Kitakata City, famous for its ramen; Aizuwakamatsu City, a town rich in history; Shimogo Town, famous for its Ouchi-juku post town... There are many famous tourist destinations in western Fukushima Prefecture, butOku-Aizudid you know that there is a region even further west called

a web platform launched on July 1, 2024, to promote the charms of the Okuaizu regionOkuaizu Shoten,.

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Where is the Oku-Aizu region?

The Oku-Aizu region is a collective term for seven towns and villages in western Fukushima Prefecture: Yanaizu Town, Mishima Town, Kanayama Town, Showa Village, Tadami Town, Minamiaizu Town, and Hinoemata Village

While some believe that Shimogo Town, where Ouchi-juku is located, is also included in Oku-Aizu, the "Oku-Aizu Travelogue" produced by the Tadami River Power Basin Development Council and the "Oku-Aizu Museum," for which the council serves as the secretariat, consider the aforementioned seven towns and villages to be part of the Oku-Aizu region.

Fukushima's traditional craft "Akabeko" (red cowFamous places include Yanaiizu Town, said to be the birthplace ofHinoemata Villageand Niigata.

Line, a local railway line that runs through this region and connects Aizuwakamatsu Station in Aizuwakamatsu City to Koide Station in Uonuma City, Niigata Prefecturethe Tadami, is also famous for its beautiful scenery along the line and the presence of several remote, secluded stations.

It is known as one of the snowiest areas in Japan, and in the Tadami River basin you can see avalanche chutes, a rare snow-cut landform in Japan

Although the area retains its traditional culture, it is currently facing challenges such as depopulation, an aging population, and a declining population

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Oku-Aizu Shoten is a website that connects the Oku-Aizu region with everything

Oku-Aizu Shoten is a website based on the concept of "Taking Oku-Aizu 100 Years Into the Future," and is comprised of five main categories: "Oku-Aizu Message Board," "See," "Read," "Do," and "Buy." It features articles introducing local information and tourist spots for each town and village in Oku-Aizu, introduces and makes reservations for activities that can be experienced in Oku-Aizu, and even allows you to purchase local products. It is truly an Oku-Aizu portal site packed with things to see, read, do, and buy

It is run by Tsuguto LLC, a local trading company that provides intermediary support in Oku-Aizu

Tsuguto LLC, which was established in Showa Village, Fukushima Prefecture in April 2023, was established with the aim of utilizing the local resources present in the Oku-Aizu region and revitalizing the area

Utilizing the newly opened web platform "Oku-Aizu Shoten," the company acts as a "regional trading company" that acts as an intermediary in all sorts of areas, providing intermediate support, such as mediating between "locations" across the seven towns and villages of Oku-Aizu, between "offline and digital," between "generations," between the private sector and government, and between "inside Oku-Aizu and outside Oku-Aizu."

lastly

I believe that the problems that the Oku-Aizu region faces, such as depopulation, aging, and population decline, are now issues that all regions across Japan are facing

In that sense, this kind of regional revitalization movement is something we want to support. If you're interested, please take a look at their website

Okuaizu store＜Information＞

• Official URL:Okuaizu Store (https://okuaizu.store/)
• Operating company:tsuguto LLC (https://tsuguto.co.jp/)

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