allabout japan
allabout japan

The Isolated Attractions of Shikoku's "Tibet"

Kito Village, Naka Town, Tokushima Prefecture

Tucked away deep in the valley at the foot of Mt. Tsurugi--“the Tibet of Shikoku”--the village of Kito is home to deep green cedar plantations and a wild river of vivid blues.

By Eli Sooker

Innovative Thinking: Campsites and a Convenience Store

Innovative Thinking: Campsites and a Convenience Store

https://cpkito.com

Open air hot spring at Camp Park Kito

Some of the companies that KITO Design Holdings work with are Camp Park Kito, which runs a glamping site, and Ogon no Mura, a company that makes yuzu products. These activities stimulate the local economy and offer the potential to help revitalize Kito. As well as keeping locals employed, a number of new residents have also come to the village to work for these companies.

The brand new Mirai Konbini (convenience store) easily catches the eye among the rest of the older buildings in this area. This is the first of several construction projects underway by Kito Design Holdings. The origin of its modern design was a sketch by one of KITO Design Holdings’ employees. It's airy, open feel and the way it blends in with the surrounding environment earned it a “Best of the Best” award in the retail category at the international Red Dot Design Awards. In a village with no convenience store, Mirai Konbini is one of a kind. It provides all the daily needs of locals, a place for local companies to sell products, and even serves as a base for tele-work or co-working at “Yuzu Café”.

Next in the works is a new guesthouse which will provide the first opportunity to stay overnight and experience Kito village to the fullest.

Eli Sooker

Writer, conservationist and wildlife photographer with a passion for travelling and the great outdoors. I come from New Zealand, currently live in Japan, and have visited countries in Europe, Asia, the Pacific and Africa.
My personal mission is to re-connect people and nature together again.

elisooker.wordpress.com