平成28年度 第7回農山漁村コミュニティビジネスセミナー【今、話題のDMO。世界の人が集うこのゲストハウス「有鄰庵」のノウハウ】開催結果

NPO法人Earth Cube Japan　代表理事　中村　功芳　氏とは、

Mr. Atsuyoshi Nakamura Representative director of NPO Earth Cube Japan

In 2010, Mr. Nakamura planned a community based NPO organization “U-Rin-An, the lifestyle of Kurashiki” in Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter to disseminate the charms of Kurashiki to the world and made a base for interaction. With the support of the residents, he renovated a town house that was built over 100 years ago into a guesthouse and cafe in the historical quarter that preserves traditional Japanese streets and houses from Edo, Meiji, and Taisho period.

At that time, there were no other guesthouses in Okayama prefecture, and 97 people out of 100 people said that he would fail. However within the two years of operation, 4000 people from more than 52 countries (99% occupancy) stayed each year. As the guesthouse enters its third year, there has been many requests to broadcast this venture of introducing rural areas not only nationwide but also from around the globe. 

This property has been awarded the Tripadvisor Certificate of Excellence for 2 consecutive years. In France, U-Rin-An was shown on television and on an in-flight program viewed on ANA flights, the guesthouse and region was introduced. His efforts were awarded by the Minister of Tourism Agency and the annual economic effect on town now exceeds 500 million yen. Currently, multiple requests from the rural areas and rural governments nationwide regarding the utilization of old private houses, foreign tourism, DMO and regional promotion are continuously arriving and he is now pursuing a new project for the Setouchi Islands. There are many people from overseas that long for a lifestyle like U-Rin-An and there are plans such as the nationwide Guesthouse Summit / Guesthouse training camp for those desiring to open a guest house. He is now on tour leacturing about "A training camp to learn how to make a living in the countryside", “Training camp to learn how to utilize old private residences”. 

 
I petitioned my friends by saying, "This will be the model of living with spiritual happiness” and “There is Paris in the West and Kurashiki in the Orient," and I started to borrow money from them. 

December 7, 2016 (Wed) 7th Rural Community Business Seminar
 
Presently DMO is a hot topic. Everything you would like to know about the guest house "Yurian" where people from around the world gather
 
 Our guest speaker was Mr. Atsuyoshi Nakamura representative director of NPO Earth Cube Japan. Thank you very much for today’s lecture, Mr. Nakamura. And I would like to thank the audience for actively participating in the question and answer session.
 
Mr. Nakayama spoke of his hardships when he first opened "Kurumaza Yurian” in the town of Kurashiki. They had no customers. How he sees Kurashiki ten years from now and how should we preserve it? What kind of tourist spot should Kurashiki be? We were able to learn his business know-how derived from deep thinking and how he put it into practice.


In the middle of the Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter lined with traditional wooden buildings, is a tasteful renovated old private house is a community accommodation that welcomes 4,000 travelers annually. It is based on the concept of “staying in a 100 year old private house where you can taste the life of a town house”. The guesthouse was made so that you can enjoy exchanges with various people both domestically and abroad and it has been awarded the Excellence certification of the world's largest travel site "Trip Advisor" for the two year consecutively. For the people in the area to understand the concept, Mr. Nakayama petitioned his friends by saying, "This will be the model of living with spiritual happiness” and “There is Paris in the West and Kurashiki in the Orient," and he started to borrow money from them to start the guesthouse.
 
While facing many issues, Nakamura's belief is to think positively and he is prepared to address each task without thinking it as a struggle. Presently he is still going around the country to spread the word of his concept. 
 
Mr. Nakamura himself does not speak English, but he can understand what people are saying by looking at their eyes and listening through his ears. He said that there is no problem with communication when welcoming overseas travelers to the guesthouse. So that foreigner can experience. They have made a short film to promote the Kurashiki district to foreigners. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mR83_A2ye4k