PROFILE (by Ren Azuma): Bozuyama Kleingarten is about 20 minutes travel from, Matsumoto, the nearest city, and 3 hours from the Tokyo Metropolitan Area. The site was formerly occupied by mulberry fields, and has been invested with high grade facilities including chalets with kitchens, baths and lofts, a fine clubhouse (which is also used by local people for village meetings), a car park and plaza for special events. As a project aimed at the revitalisation of the rural community, and one of the first of its kind, Boyuyama Klieingarten attracted 50% of the 620 million yen (3.65 million pounds) required for its construction from Ministry of Agriculture subsidies, and the remaining 50% from "depopulation loans" underwritten by central government tax transfers. Many of the plotholders come from metropolitan areas, and make frequent trips to the site. The standard of site management - and social activities - is excellent.

The site covers three hectares and is operated by the local authority. The land was obtained on a 20 year lease from 13 local farmers. There are 53 plots, each of 300 square meters, each let on an annual basis renewable for up to five years, at a fee of 250,000 yen (1,470 pounds) per annum. The chalets cost 6 million yen (35,000 pounds) each to build.

Right: Staircase up to loft in one of the chalets. Bottom left: Kitchen in one of the chalets. Bottom right: Model garden for guests and visitors to sample life at Bozuyama. (Photos by Ren Azuma)