Why not take a trip and experience the lifestyle while learning about farming in Nanbu Town, which is rich in nature and surrounded?
Take the opportunity to become a traveler and experience not only the rich nature and history of Nanbu Town, but also visit the beautiful mountains and lake of Lake Towada and Oirase Stream, and become familiar with the flavors of the sea and the sea breezes in the port town of Hachinohe.
Live like a resident of Nanbu Town and enjoy the town's lifestyle while experience farm work together with local farmers.
We sincerely hope that you will seize this chance to experience this new type of travel which is not just about the journey, but also the local lifestyle.

Nanbu Town is located in the southernmost part of Aomori Prefecture, adjacent to Hachinohe City where the Tohoku Shinkansen Hachinohe Station is located, and is a farming region with just the right amount of the rural-feel, and was one of the first towns to introduce countryside stays in Japan to allow residents to enjoy interacting with visitors.

Countryside stay programs which allow visitors to stay in farming households and experience farming and local life firsthand are very popular both within Japan and overseas, and numerous visitors come every year, especially from Asian countries, to experience life as part of a farming family. Nanbu Town also puts great effort into a variety of other agricultural tourism ventures, such as seasonal fruit picking, which draw many visitors to the town. For these reasons, the people of the town are very open to having visitors from outside of the town come and the whole town enjoys the exchanges and interactions.

Most of the farmers don't speak much English, but are able to communicate through a combination of gestures and use of translation apps. However, one of strengths of the farmers in Nanbu is their ability to communicate and respond based on the general atmosphere even if they don't speak the same language. Staff who can speak English will conduct interviews before your stay to confirm any allergies, illnesses, or other pertinent information, and the staff of the Nanbu Town Hall can provide support in the case of any emergencies so visitors can enjoy their farming household experience in safety and with peace of mind.

Each farming household grows a variety of different crops, with most being fruit farms which grow apples, cherries, peaches, and more. Many visitors may picture harvesting when imagining the farm work at the households, but farming is not only harvesting, but also involves other very important stages and processes such as cultivation and management. Being able to experience real farm life in a new place is sure to be a wonderful and memorable experience.

The town also offers numerous accommodation facilities, including "onsen" hot spring facilities with comprehensive leisure features, historical Japanese style "ryokan" inns, and campgrounds among natural surroundings, and there are also mountain hiking, trekking, cycling, and a wide range of other nature-oriented activities are also available. Enjoying these leisure activities and tourist attractions while interacting with local farmers can be one of the best parts of your stay.

The biggest appeal of Nanbu Town and the perfect amount of rural feel it offers is the attitude of its residents, who love interacting and communicating with others. The town is a very open and welcoming rural area with plentiful opportunities to interact with many people while having children stay at farmhouses on school trips or enjoying farming together with visitors from overseas against a background of countryside stays and agriculture experiences.

Cases of very strong bonds being formed are also common, with farmers travelling overseas to visit people who they met when they visited the town, and repeat visitors from overseas who come to stay at the farms almost every year. Just recently a nearly 80 year old farmer even flew to Taiwan to visit with a previous visitor to the town.

Aomori Prefecture does not have strong tourism branding like Tokyo or Kyoto, but in recent years some spots have gained popularity as tourist destinations, such as the Oirase Stream and its lush green nature, which can help soothe the body and mind; the hoarfrost covered trees of the Hakkoda Mountains, which draw many skiers; and hot springs with a variety of unique characteristics; and it is also possible to visit these tourist destinations while staying in Nanbu Town.

It may be that the best way to enjoy Aomori fully is to sometimes enjoy it as a resident of Nanbu Town and sometimes as a traveler.

Being able to select where to stay based on the purposes of your visit, your budget, and the length of your stay, is another appealing aspect of the town. You can select from public housing offered by the town hall, countryside stays at farming households which allow you to spend more time interacting with farmers, or leisure facilities with hot springs. You are free to choose how to best enjoy yourself, as a resident, or as a traveler.