Minakami Onsen Town hosts third annual Ruins Restoration Marche

The annual “Ruins Restoration Marche” in Minakami Onsen Town, Gunma Prefecture, began in 2022 as an initiative to rediscover and showcase the hidden charm of neglected buildings in the historic town, and the third event will be held on September 22 and 23.

This event is part of the “Minakami Onsen Town Revitalization Project,” a collaboration between the Company, Minakami Town, Gunma Bank, and the Graduate School of Engineering at the University of Tokyo, based on a public-private partnership agreement signed in September 2021. It aims to highlight the potential of these buildings by making minimal renovations and transforming them into unique, atmospheric venues for the market.

For this year’s third iteration of the event, the market will be held at four locations within the town, an expansion from previous years. Spearheaded by students from the University of Tokyo’s Graduate School of Engineering, in collaboration with local residents, business owners, and staff from long-established inns, the team has worked together on tasks like dismantling interiors, clearing debris, and creating inviting spaces.

Minakami Onsen Town, which flourished during Japan’s post-war economic boom and the bubble economy as a popular resort destination, has since faced a decline in visitors as travel preferences have shifted toward individual tourism. This shift led to the abandonment of many large hotels and inns, leaving vacant, deteriorating buildings throughout the area.

However, recent years have seen efforts to revitalize the town, including the renovation of empty shops and the opening of new design hotels. The “Minakami Onsen Town Revitalization Project,” initiated by Open House Group and the University of Tokyo, has focused on the revival of the old “Ichiyotei” inn, a large, disused ryokan that sits in the heart of the town. The town plans to select a business operator to redevelop Ichiyotei into a tourism facility, with operations scheduled to begin in 2026 following its renovation.

The Ruins Restoration Marche was conceptualized by students at the University of Tokyo as an experimental platform to temporarily repurpose spaces within the town. The event invites the public to explore Minakami’s potential future while reflecting on the present.

The first Ruins Restoration Marche in 2022 was held at the former Higaki Dormitory, a former employee residence of the Higaki Hotel, the predecessor to Ichiyotei. The event drew about 1,300 visitors. Last year’s second event expanded to include the former Ichiyotei Energy Center and the Higaki Dormitory, attracting around 3,000 visitors over two days. This year’s event aims to continue growing, establishing new gathering spots as part of the ongoing revitalization efforts.

This year’s event will feature a diverse range of about 36 vendors, including coffee made with water from the Tone River’s source, locally brewed craft beer, and holy basil tea sourced from local farms. Popular national brand Iyoshi Cola will debut a new drink blended with Minakami water and hinoki (Japanese cypress) flavored water. Visitors can also enjoy regional specialties such as rice dumplings made from local rice and Thai food prepared with locally grown vegetables.

In addition to food and drink, the market will feature environmentally friendly crafts and programs, such as workshops on upcycling and plastic-free products, weaving experiences using fabric scraps and discarded yarn, and cyanotype workshops using sunlight to create blueprints. There will also be booths hosted by recent and prospective Minakami residents, who will showcase unique, handmade items while gathering information on relocation opportunities.

If you are looking for a place to visit or travel while contributing to the local region, considering visiting Minakami Onsen Town and experience firsthand the town’s revitalization efforts and the event.