This study examines the actual conditions of the permanent return migration of the old-time residents of Ashiken settlement to the island of Amami Oshima. The spatial transfer of those Ashiken natives is not simply characterized by the long-distance transfer between the island and the mainland, but also by the time span from leaving their hometown to permanently returning home, which continues over a long period of time. This study explains the factors that account for such a long-term migration, based on detailed interviews of the life histories of 32 return migrants and observations of actual living conditions after their permanent return home. The inhabited area of the return migrants who left their hometown extended over a wide area including Kagoshima and Okinawa near Amami Oshima, and the 3 metropolitan areas of Tokyo, Osaka and Nagoya. The most common reason for moving was employment. The return migrants spent an average of 38 years, generally settling in a concentrated region in the Tokyo metropolitan area while repeatedly making short-distance moves. The most common reason for the move was job-related, such as a job change or job transfer. Migrants who left their hometown kept in touch with other similar migrants during their residence on the mainland, and also preserved a connection to Ashiken. The factors which account for the long-term return migration of the Ashiken natives are summarized by the following three points. First, the Ashiken old-timers, even while living on the mainland, maintained a strong relationship among other residents from the same hometown, and simultaneously kept a close connection with their native village. The greatest factor which accounts for the permanent return is that the migrants were constantly aware of the state of affairs in their native village, and the information was shared among the society of residents who left their hometown. Second, regardless of the residents’ prolonged absence, properties and homes were maintained in Ashiken, and even their properties were sold, the former residents could find a place to live after they return. Securing a residence is an important matter to be considered when relocating ones. In the case of many return migrants, relatives or friends who lived in the village during their absence managed their homes and properties and cleaned and repaired them so that owners could easily resume living in them. On the other hand, village-provided homes were offered as residences for return migrants who did not own homes or properties in Ashiken. Third, migrants who left their hometown were mostly businessmen who received a sufficient pension to sustain their retirement after their return. The migrants’ return to Ashiken is not only dependent on the regional characteristics of the island, but is a result of a successful combination of securing residences, communal bonding and social system characteristics such as pensions.

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[in Japanese]

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This study examines changes in agri-tourism along the national bypass road, the Apple-Line, in Nagano Basin, by analyzing the management strategies of tourist farms. Agri-tourism in this study means tourism that is directly related to agricultural activity in rural space. Nagano Basin has been characterized as one of the most advanced places for agri-tourism in Japan. Its development was mainly based on its accessibility from existing tourist destinations such as Zenkoji, a famous temple in Nagano, and surrounding mountainous environments or ski areas. After the opening of the Apple-Line, constructed in the middle of customers an apple orchard in 1966 , many farmers began to open tourist farms to sell their products directly, and to provide harvesting experiences （pick-your-own） for guests who preferred circuit tourism while traveling in a group. However, the new construction of expressways has gradually changed the traffic flow and tourist behavior since the mid 1990 s. Therefore, the tourist farms have faced a shortage of visitors, which in part is due to the persistence of traditional management. In terms of sales, home delivery has become a more important selling method, rather than direct sales to tourists at the farms. The farmers have also attempted to establish a new strategy to increase the number of personal customers who are interested in the apple farming itself and can understand the management of individual farms. Thus, recently many tourist farms have changed from places that are only tourist destinations to places where the managers and customers can interact with each other, illustrating a continuous relationship based on personal contact or a sustainable order of apple products.

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