On July 1st, "SAKURAS" (Omachi, Hirosaki City, TEL 0172-88-5762) with day service and fitness studio opened in front of Hirosaki station.

The property on the site of the Capricciosa Hirosaki store was renovated, and the first floor was a day service area mainly for rehabilitation and the second floor was a fitness studio for general users. It is said that the facility name "Sakuras" was created with the image of "living in which cherry blossoms bloom".

President Masataka Kobayashi worked for Tsugaru Health Co-operative Kensei Hospital as an occupational therapist for 11 years. “I felt that the occupational therapist's work alone had a limit in disease prevention and rehabilitation,” says Kobayashi. "I wanted to create a place where I could feel free to consult about nursing care or exercise, just as if I had a convenience store near my house," he said.

Regarding the location in front of the station, Mr. Kobayashi says, "While there are many facilities for the elderly in the suburbs, there are many elderly people living in the area around the station. Surprisingly, many people go to the suburbs for assistance." "I would like to know that rehabilitation environments are familiar in Britain and Germany, and we are actively incorporating exercise, and we would like to aim to create such an environment."

The day service area is decorated like a cafe. “There were many warm colors at the day service site, and I wanted to change the image,” says Kobayashi. Eight types of rehabilitation equipment have been installed, and in addition to Mr. Kobayashi, physiotherapists, nurses, and care workers are enrolled. From August, we will assign a registered dietitian and work to strengthen the service.

The fitness studio has the first high altitude training room in the prefecture. It is said that the oxygen concentration can be lowered to create the same environment as at an altitude of 2500 meters. “We can expect effective exercise in a short time,” says Kobayashi. "If we can continue to train at home so that we can acquire exercise habits, it will help prevent lifestyle-related diseases."

Mr. Kobayashi says, "I hope to work with regional medical care in the future to further improve our services." And show motivation.

The fee is 3,000 yen for the experience fee (one time only), 3,000 yen for the admission fee, 11,000 yen for "Standard 4 (highland training)" four times a month, and 3,000 yen for "Medical Fitness 4" four times a month. Business hours are 1st floor = 8:00 to 17:00, 2nd floor = 14:00 to 21:00.