Toride-kita Neopolis
Tsukubamirai City, Ibaraki Prefecture
About Toride-kita Neopolis
Toride-kita Neopolis (Nishinodai) developed in 1978 is located in Tsukubamirai City in the southwest of Ibaraki Prefecture. Being made up of 382 lots on a 124,000m2 site, the development is a comparatively compact example of the sort of suburban housing complex that was becoming commonplace in Japan around that time. Constructed at a time when expressways and railways were being built, especially around the Tokyo metropolitan area, the development had the character of a Tokyo dormitory suburb. Located near a class-A river, Kokai River, the complex has a moderate amount of nature in the surrounding area.
The number of residents is on a downward trend, falling from 979 in 2000 to 738 in 2020. With the percentage of elderly residents at around 47.6%, the complex has seen the outflow of second-generation residents, resulting in an aging of the resident population and fewer households with young children. This gave rise to a shortage of people to support community activities. Another issue faced by the town is the sense of community being lost among the residents due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In light of the fact that the entire site of the complex is zoned as a primary low-rise residential district and that the residents are using facilities in the nearby areas, including stores, hospitals, and nursing homes, the Company has started devising measures with the residents on how to make Toride-kita Neopolis (Nishinodai) a community where people can reside for a long period. By exchanging opinions with volunteer residents in a tea party-style about local issues in the community with reference to examples of other Neopolis complexes, we will develop a vision for the future of the community and launch initiatives to help residents stay both mentally and physically healthy. This includes a framework for intergenerational exchange between the elderly and households with children.
About Toride-kita Neopolis
- Sales start: 1978
- Site area: 124,000m2 (about 3 times the size of Tokyo Dome)
- Number of lots for sale: 382
- Percentage of elderly: 47.6%*(approx.)
- Population: 738*
*From the 2020 census
*The total population includes persons of unknown age, but the percentage of elderly is calculated by excluding persons of unknown age from the total population.
Houseplant Gathering Class
This class was held in June 2024 and was attended by eight residents of Toride-kita Neopolis (Nishinodai). The Company also explained about its Livness Town Project, and received a response that they had understood the general outline.
We also received comments from the participants that they enjoyed the class and would like to participate again, which made us aware that a class like this could be an effective way to encourage the elderly to go out and to create new communities.
Residents Briefing Session
in October 2024, we held a total of three briefing sessions for Toride-kita Neopolis (Nishinodai) residents for the purpose of explaining about our Livness Town Project and for exchanging opinions about the project. The sessions were participated by a total of 47 residents.
At the residents briefing sessions, we received questions about how the project would proceed and how they would move into another housing within the town, as well as comments that they gained a certain understanding of the Livness Town Project and opinions expressing hope for regular scheduling of an opinion exchange. Given these voices, we decided to hold an opinion exchange meeting in a tea party-style, where residents can talk with us at ease.
Lantern Making and Lantern Night
This event was held in December 2024 at the Nishinodai Community Hall within Toride-kita Neopolis (Nishinodai). The event was participated by the Nishinodai Children’s Association and other residents of various generations. There were 34 participants in the lantern making event and over 37 in the lantern night event, and the survey conducted on the day showed that they enjoyed themselves and that they would like to join it again next year.
The 1st Opinion Exchange Meeting (Tea Party)
The first opinion exchange meeting (tea party) was held in December 2024. Fourteen residents of Toride-kita Neopolis (Nishinodai) attended the meeting. We received positive comments about the morning market, which we introduced as a case study in other Neopolis complexes, saying that they would like to hold one on their own. We also received requests to hold such an opinion exchange meeting (tea party) on a continual basis.
The 2nd Opinion Exchange Meeting (Tea Party)
In February 2025, the second opinion exchange meeting (tea party) was held at the Terahata Furusato Kaikan. Twelve residents of Toride-kita Neopolis (Nishinodai) attended the the meeting. Opinions were exchanged on crime and disaster prevention, which was selected as the most popular theme at the previous tea party.
Participants spoke in reference to examples from other Neopolis complexes, commenting that it is important to experience things at first hand, while some commented that sometimes it is difficult to know what is going on next door because the sense of community has been lost. All the participants seemed to feel more comfortable talking to each other compared to the previous meeting.