On November 24th, a "Historical Building Utilization Seminar" was held at the Hirosaki City Tourist Center (Shimo-Shirogane-cho, Hirosaki City).

This seminar explores the feasibility of a "decentralized hotel concept that utilizes historic buildings." About 80 people gathered, including people involved in local culture, tourism, and community development, interested businesses, and local residents.

The lecturer is Mr. Takeshi Fujiwara of "NOTE" (Hyogo Prefecture), which operates a decentralized hotel business in 31 regions nationwide. In the lecture, Mr. Fujiwara talked about specific examples of "distributed hotel concept that utilizes historical buildings" centering on Tamba Sasayama City, which is Mr. Fujiwara's hometown. Considering the entire city as a single hotel, the vacant houses scattered about are regenerated into facilities such as hotel receptions, guest rooms, restaurants, and cafes. He explained how the hotel encourages guests to walk around the city and leads to regional revitalization.

Mr. Fujiwara says, "In Japan's rural areas, unique landscapes and buildings remain. When a region declines, precious landscapes and cultural assets are in danger of disappearing. I want to aim for a community that will be connected 100 years into the future."

At the panel discussion after the seminar, Mr. Shunji Toki of the Hirosaki Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Ms. Saki Ishiyama, the owner of a guest house, took the podium and discussed "Tourism Town Development Utilizing Historical Buildings in Hirosaki City." Fujiwara says, "Hirosaki City is sometimes said to be a passing tourist destination for the Sakura Festival and Neputa Festival, but as a castle town, many historical buildings and townscapes remain, and it has great potential as a new tourist base. There are.”

In the future, Hirosaki plans to hold a workshop to think about decentralized hotels.