Do you know the term "dual life" ?
"Dual" comes from the Latin word duo, meaning "two, two ways, dual," and "dual life" refers to a lifestyle in which people move back and forth between the city and rural areas, in other words, living in two locations .
Diversifying work styles makes it easier to achieve a dual lifestyle
It is no longer just the wealthy who set up second homes in classic villa areas like Karuizawa; recently a wider range of people, including young families, are enjoying a dual lifestyle.
They work in a company in the city during the week and travel to their home in the countryside to relax on weekends.
Alternatively, you could raise your children in the countryside while your husband works alone in the city during the week.
In 2020, an increasing number of people are considering a lifestyle that centers around living in the countryside, with a focus on teleworking and traveling to urban areas only a few times a month.
According to a 2005 report by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism based on a survey of urban residents and future population estimates, the number of dual residents was approximately 1 million in 2005 (2.5% of the urban population), approximately 1.9 million in 2010 (4%), 6.8 million in 2020 (17%), and is expected to be approximately 10.8 million in 2030 (29%).
With the current COVID-19 pandemic, it is possible that this trend will accelerate even further.
We asked owners who enjoy a dual lifestyle how they spend their weekends!
It's nice to have the best of both the city and the countryside, but is it really what's it like in reality? We spoke to some actual customers about it!
Mr. and Mrs. K live in an apartment in Tokyo and work there.
Both of them love the great outdoors of Shinshu, and visit the area almost every week to enjoy a variety of hobbies, including mountain climbing, winter sports, road biking, etc. With an eye on moving to Shinshu in the future, they built a new house in Obuse Town, Kamitakai District, located in the north of Shinshu, in 2018.
It's been over two years since I started living a dual life in my long-awaited new home.
I was told how to spend a weekend!
Friday
19:00 Finish work efficiently and board the Nagano Shinkansen from Tokyo Station
During the hour and a half journey to Nagano Station, I celebrated my week's work with a can of beer.
20:30 Arrive at Nagano Station and transfer to the local line, Nagano Electric Railway
Arrived at Obuse after 9pm. Had dinner at a familiar restaurant in front of the station and walked back to my house in Obuse.
Obuse is a tourist destination, so there are apparently many delicious restaurants in front of the station! If you have time while transferring, it's a good idea to enjoy some local gourmet food at the restaurants in front of Nagano Station.
Saturday
Morning preparation for BBQ party in the garden
Freshly picked vegetables from neighbors are also served on the table.
At noon , Shinshu-loving friends gather from Kanto and Kansai.
With a 500m2 site, a spacious earthen floor salon and a wooden deck, even a large group can relax and unwind.
Guests with pet dogs are welcome!
In the evening, people spread out their hobby tools in the doma salon and engage in lively mountain talk.
When it gets dark, you can hold a home theater on the plastered wall of the open ceiling.
At night, my companions sleep on the tatami floor in the guest room.
(Apparently, sleeping in one's own sleeping bag is more blissful than sleeping on a guest futon!)
Sunday
Enjoy a morning tour with friends
There are plenty of lush green areas where you can feel the great outdoors, even within a few minutes' distance.
In the afternoon , after seeing off their friends, the couple worked in the garden and fields.
I always keep my car at home in Obuse, so it's easy to go shopping in the neighborhood.
In the evening, we packed our bags while watching the sun set over the five mountains of Hokushin.
With a bento and a can of chuhai in hand, I head home
Even during a normal two-day weekend, it seems like people are able to fully enjoy life in Shinshu!
Even before building his new house, Mr. K was living in two places, renting an apartment in front of Nagano Station. However, at the time he used his car to travel to and from Tokyo, so the commute alone was always tiring (he couldn't drink alcohol...), and the Nagano apartment was a closed-off space used only for sleeping, so it was far from a home where he could enjoy Shinshu.
Despite living the same dual lifestyle, he said, "Owning a detached house has made my weekends twice as enjoyable."
Shinshu is perfect for a dual lifestyle!
If you are looking to move your base of operations 100% to the countryside, Hokkaido and Okinawa are attractive options, but if you are considering the ease of travel between the city and Shinshu, then Shinshu is the perfect place for dual residence.
If you take the Hokuriku Shinkansen from Tokyo, it takes about 70 minutes to Karuizawa and about 90 minutes to Nagano.
If you travel on the Chuo Line and the Azusa Limited Express, the Yatsugatake, Suwa and Azumino areas are also attractive.
The Minami Shinshu area, which is easily accessible from the Kansai and Chubu regions, is also popular.
If you are interested but are unfamiliar with the area, please feel free to contact our area staff at our six sales bases in Nagano Prefecture.
While we are architectural professionals such as designers and construction managers, all of our employees act as "Shinshu concierges" to support a rich life in Shinshu.
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