The History of Green Tourism and Sustainable Community Development in Kuzumaki Town, Iwate Prefecture

The History of Green Tourism and Sustainable Community Development in Kuzumaki Town, Iwate Prefecture

### 1970s–2000s
In 1976, Kuzumaki Town, Iwate Prefecture, established the Livestock Development Corporation and promoted the integration of tourism and agriculture based on dairy farming, under the slogan "Anytime, Anyone, Any Length of Stay." The town developed programs featuring hands-on dairy product manufacturing—a local specialty—and activities that took advantage of the rich natural environment at the foot of Mount Iwate, offering experiential tourism targeted at school trip students and agricultural trainees from China. In fiscal year 2005, the town achieved sales of approximately 1.1 billion yen and received the "Green Tourism Grand Prize 2006." These efforts increased the number of tourists from urban areas and visits from educational institutions, revitalizing the local economy while also being highly praised as a model for sustainable communities.

### The 2010s
In the 2010s, the initiative focused not only on tourism but also on modernizing the dairy farming industry and addressing challenges to support the region's sustainability. Although the region boasted the highest raw milk production in Tohoku thanks to its cool climate and natural environment, the number of dairy farmers continued to decline, falling from 270 households in 2005 to 130 in 2015. To address this challenge, the region focused on joint feed production, division of labor, and training new farmers, and formulated the "New Kuzumaki Dairy Farming Concept."

### The 2020s
Entering the 2020s, the town further strengthened its sustainable energy and tourism resources. To promote renewable energy, it advanced the introduction of wind power and biomass power generation, aiming to improve the region's energy self-sufficiency rate. Additionally, using Kuzumaki Kogen Ranch and Mori no Kodama-kan as bases, the town offered experiential tourism activities such as ice cream making and soba noodle making, welcoming tourists from urban areas and educational tours.

In the dairy farming sector, the town utilized the Regional Revitalization Corps to support new farmers and foster talent, while strengthening the industry's operational foundation through joint feed production and efficient division of labor. This has established a sustainable model that maximizes the use of local resources, and regional revitalization centered on tourism and agriculture continues to this day.

### Conclusion
Through its practice of green tourism, which has continued since the 1970s, and its efforts toward sustainable community development, Kuzumaki Town in Iwate Prefecture has achieved a balance between environmental conservation and economic growth, serving as a model for local governments. Looking to the future, further regional revitalization is expected, with energy and tourism serving as the pillars of this development.