An old rice cracker factory transforms into a Tenryukyo exchange hub in one year. 'HIGASA', a multi-purpose facility inheriting local memories, pre-opens with 40 local residents, government officials, and remote workers gathering
SUITEN Co., Ltd. held a pre-opening event on March 1, 2026, for 'HIGASA', a multi-purpose exchange hub in Tenryukyo, Nagano, renovated from an old factory, attracting 40 participants and promoting a collaborative process economy.
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SUITEN Co., Ltd. (Location: 7456-5 Tatsue, Iida City, Nagano; CEO: Hiroki Hirano) held a pre-opening event for the multi-purpose exchange hub 'HIGASA', currently under development in the Tenryukyo area of Minami-Shinshu, on March 1, 2026. On the day, about 40 people, including local residents, government officials, prospective residents, and remote workers, participated. Explanations of the concept and functions, facility tours, and social networking took place in the partially developed space.
HIGASA is a multi-purpose exchange hub where a building once rooted in the community as a manufacturing factory for 'Hinokigasa Senbei' (rice crackers) is being renovated collaboratively by local carpenters, creators, and new residents. It is a 'hub for making friends' and a 'related population creation center.' As a 'regional gateway' for people with diverse relationships with the area, such as travelers, multi-base dwellers, coworkers, and address hoppers, not just U/I-turn immigrants, it features mixed functions including coworking, satellite offices, accommodation, and tenant spaces. This facility utilizes the Nagano Prefecture Regional Revitalization Support Grant and the Satellite Office Development Subsidy, operating by gradually opening spaces according to the development progress, aiming for a full opening in Winter 2026.
■ Pre-opening Event Overview (Held on March 1, 2026)
Date: Sunday, March 1, 2026
Venue: HIGASA (7456-5 Tatsue, Iida City, Nagano - Tenryukyo area)
Participants: Approximately 40 people (Local residents, government officials, prospective immigrants, remote workers, neighboring businesses, etc.)
Program: Facility concept explanation / Facility preview tour / Exchange & networking
Although it was held in an 'unfinished' state, this itself was positioned as an embodiment of the concept, creating a program where participants could experience the blank spaces and possibilities of the venue together. HIGASA operates on the idea of the 'process economy,' where we do not deliver a finished product, but nurture it together with those involved. Growing little by little as a place rooted in the community while increasing the number of friends who engage with it as their own—that is the kind of opening we aim for. We received comments from participants such as 'This kind of place was needed in Tenryukyo' and 'I definitely want to use it as a base,' and we have also received multiple inquiries about satellite office usage.
HIGASA is a multi-purpose exchange hub where a building once rooted in the community as a manufacturing factory for 'Hinokigasa Senbei' (rice crackers) is being renovated collaboratively by local carpenters, creators, and new residents. It is a 'hub for making friends' and a 'related population creation center.' As a 'regional gateway' for people with diverse relationships with the area, such as travelers, multi-base dwellers, coworkers, and address hoppers, not just U/I-turn immigrants, it features mixed functions including coworking, satellite offices, accommodation, and tenant spaces. This facility utilizes the Nagano Prefecture Regional Revitalization Support Grant and the Satellite Office Development Subsidy, operating by gradually opening spaces according to the development progress, aiming for a full opening in Winter 2026.
■ Pre-opening Event Overview (Held on March 1, 2026)
Date: Sunday, March 1, 2026
Venue: HIGASA (7456-5 Tatsue, Iida City, Nagano - Tenryukyo area)
Participants: Approximately 40 people (Local residents, government officials, prospective immigrants, remote workers, neighboring businesses, etc.)
Program: Facility concept explanation / Facility preview tour / Exchange & networking
Although it was held in an 'unfinished' state, this itself was positioned as an embodiment of the concept, creating a program where participants could experience the blank spaces and possibilities of the venue together. HIGASA operates on the idea of the 'process economy,' where we do not deliver a finished product, but nurture it together with those involved. Growing little by little as a place rooted in the community while increasing the number of friends who engage with it as their own—that is the kind of opening we aim for. We received comments from participants such as 'This kind of place was needed in Tenryukyo' and 'I definitely want to use it as a base,' and we have also received multiple inquiries about satellite office usage.