Minamiminowa, village in Kamiina district, Nagano prefecture, Japan
Minamiminowa is a small village in Nagano prefecture, Japan, located in a valley between mountains and divided into two sections. A campus of Shinshu University sits there, providing a quiet place for learning and research alongside farms and residential areas.
The village was founded in 1875 and grew from a farming community into a place with diverse residents. Over the last 60 years, the population has grown to over 16,000 as people moved there from other parts of Japan.
The community mixes long-time residents with newcomers, creating an open culture where people from elsewhere feel welcomed quickly. Local events and traditions are relaxed and informal, making it easy for visitors and new arrivals to join in and become part of village life.
The village is connected by the Iida rail line to larger towns and can be reached by train or car. Spring and autumn offer the most pleasant weather for visiting, while winters are snowy and summers are hot and humid.
The village has one of the highest birth rates in the region and has offered affordable childcare and healthcare for children since 2005, years before other places. These early investments in families helped attract and keep young residents who might have otherwise moved to cities.
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