The Most Beautiful Villages in Japan

The Association of The Most Beautiful Villages in Japan (「日本で最も美しい村」連合, Nihon de mottomo utsukushii mura rengō) is a Japanese nonprofit organization of listing some of the most beautiful villages and towns in Japan. The association is active on enhancement and protection of Japanese rural heritage, cultural fairs & branding and promotion of regional, national and international cooperation of its member villages and towns.

Overview

Established in 2005, the Association of The Most Beautiful Villages in Japan (titled as, the most beautiful villages in Japan) is an important player in the enhancement and conservation of Japanese rural heritage. In line with the other members such as France, Italy, Belgium, of the federation of the Most Beautiful Villages on Earth, Japan has common interests: authenticity, quality and presentation of the heritage as a source of sustainable development and life. Activities of the association include managing the rights of the use of the title name "the most beautiful villages in Japan" and its branding, providing common research and study platform to the member towns and villages for development and cooperation, conducting rural crafts show and food fairs for tourism development, annual photo contests and advocating social awareness about the supreme importance of the rural cultural and natural heritage for its conservation for the future generations.

History

Ine town of Kyoto Prefecture, Umaji village of Kōchi Prefecture join the association.

  • 2009 October - With new additions of 15 members of towns and villages the total members of the association touches to 33.
  • 2010 August - The Association of The Most Beautiful Villages in Japan joins the international federation called - The Most Beautiful Villages on Earth.
  • 2010 September - 6 more towns and villages joins the association. This touches the members to 39.
  • 2011 October - 5 more towns and villages joins the association. This touches the members to 44.
  • 2012 October - 5 more towns and villages joins the association. This touches the members to 49.

List of member villages and towns

(as of October 2012)

Some criteria for membership
  1. About less than 10,000 population.
  2. Requires two or more local resources to be classified i.e., landscape, environment and culture.
    1. Having regional sustainable resources.
    2. Efforts must be taken for sustainable use of local resources.
    3. Local resources must be already protected by public means, such as Ordinance.
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