A Study on Motives and Characteristics of Migrants to Rural Areas

Based on a Survey of Kiyosato and Koshimizu Towns in Hokkaido

Abstract

In “Disappearing Localities”, Masuda raised an alarm that 523 local municipalities in Japan are most likely to disappear by 2040 due to the declining population. However, the study seemingly overlooked the phenomenon of reverse migration to rural areas. This process, known as “dis-urbanization”, has recently been widely discussed, but barely researched from a viewpoint of lifestyle migration. This study attempted to identify the motives and factors affecting migration to two neighboring towns of Hokkaido, Kiyosato and Koshimizu, both of which were listed under the 523 local municipalities highly likely to disappear.