Otsutabi Collaborates with JR East's 'Otona no Kyujitsu Club' to Create Video Featuring Seniors' 'Contribution to Local Communities' Travel

Otsutabi Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Rina Nagaoka; hereinafter 'Otsutabi'), which operates the human resource matching service 'Otsutabi' that combines work and travel, has produced a collaboration video in partnership with East Japan Railway Company's (hereinafter 'JR East') 'Otona no Kyujitsu Club'. The video follows middle-aged and senior participants as they travel by train to rural areas, engage in local work (helping out), and form deep connections with the community.

This video will be premiered at the '13th JR East Startup Program DEMODAY' on Thursday, June 4, 2026, an event gathering stakeholders involved in Japan's infrastructure and regional revitalization, including JR East and three other railway companies: Tokyu, Odakyu, and Seibu. On the same day, Otsutabi will also have a booth exhibition area to introduce its actual initiatives and collaborations with local governments.

Background of the Collaboration Video: A New Way of Helping Out for Seniors Traveling by Train

Otsutabi has been continuously working with the JR East Group to create a 'related population' by combining 'travel by train' with 'local work experience', leveraging networks including the 'Otona no Kyujitsu Club', a senior membership organization with approximately 3 million cumulative members (as of December 2025).

Currently, Otsutabi is seeing increased usage not only among younger generations but also among middle-aged and senior individuals aged 50 and over, particularly members of the 'Otona no Kyujitsu Club', who have more free time and a high interest in contributing to local communities. This collaboration video was produced to introduce the new travel style of working while traveling amidst rising travel costs due to inflation, the current trend of this becoming a new purpose in life after child-rearing or retirement, and the warm connections formed on-site.

▼ Otsutabi collaborates with 'Otona no Kyujitsu Club' to create 'Help × Train Travel' for active seniors
https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000172.000036175.html

▼ Otsutabi wins both 'Startup Grand Prize' and 'Audience Award' at 'JR East Startup Program' DEMO DAY
https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000182.000036175.html

▼ Otsutabi collaborates with JR East's 'Otona no Kyujitsu Club', starts airing collaboration video on Tokyo area train channels
https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000190.000036175.html

Video Overview: Senior participants diving into the 'everyday life' of a region and engaging through work

The newly produced movie closely follows actual 'Otona no Kyujitsu Club' members and Otsutabi participants as they travel by train to a local inn and help out on-site.

It goes beyond mere labor matching to solve labor shortages, capturing the warmth of the on-site experience where train travel creates encounters with the region, leading to deep involvement with local people, and ultimately making the place a 'second hometown' for the participants.

▼ JR East 'Otona no Kyujitsu Club' × Otsutabi 'Otona Otsutabi' Trailer (3 minutes)

▼ JR East 'Otona no Kyujitsu Club' × Otsutabi 'Otona Otsutabi' Full Version (20 minutes)

Participant Voices

Here are the voices of people in their 50s and 60s who actually participated in 'Otsutabi' in the East Japan area. After work, they soak in famous hot springs to relieve fatigue and enjoy 'makana'i' (staff meals) full of local ingredients. A luxurious time of traveling as if living there flows.

Participant at 'Ryokan Daikokuya' in Fukushima Prefecture (Female, 50s)

'I applied because I was drawn to the charm of the historic inn. The bath was especially wonderful, and seeing the guests' impressed reactions made me happy too.'

Participant at 'Aone Onsen Yumoto Fukakaku' in Miyagi Prefecture (Male, 50s)

'I was lured by the hot springs every day and the highly-rated meals at this summer resort about 1,000 meters above sea level. This might be the best meal-provided job in Otsutabi history.'

Special Site for 'Otona Otsutabi' Travel

A special site is now open, featuring recommended Otsutabi destinations in East Japan and information on introductory Otsutabi seminars. Why not add a 'helping out' purpose to your usual train trip and set out on a journey to find a second hometown?

Search keyword: 'Otona Otsutabi'

Special site: https://otetsutabi.com/lp/jreast-otona-kyujitsu

About the Booth Exhibition

On the day of the event, Otsutabi will set up a special booth in the 'EXHIBITION' area.

This time, we will introduce the specific mechanism of Otsutabi and our initiatives with local governments and businesses nationwide.

Event Overview

Event Name: 13th JR East Startup Program DEMODAY

Date & Time: Thursday, June 4, 2026, 13:20 - 18:00

Location: LUMINE 0 (Lumine Zero), NEWoMan Shinjuku 5F, JR Shinjuku Station

Organizer: JR East Startup Co., Ltd.

Registration URL: https://jresup-demoday13th-entry.peatix.com

What is Otsutabi?

It is a human resource matching service that combines 'helping out (short-term part-time work)' with 'travel'. It matches regional businesses struggling with labor shortages with travelers who want to enjoy travel while working.

Travelers bear their own transportation costs to the destination, but by working at the travel destination, they can earn income, reducing the financial burden of the trip. Additionally, through interaction with local people, they can enjoy the local culture and lifestyle more deeply.

Regional businesses can gather workers from all over the country by providing compensation and accommodation (such as dormitories) to workers from outside the region, without needing to pay transportation costs. The recruitment period can be flexibly set from a minimum of 1 night and 2 days to a maximum of less than 2 months, and working hours, job details, etc., can also be arranged flexibly. Furthermore, if workers use their days off or free time to sightsee in the region, it is expected to revitalize the local economy.

Registered Users Exceed 97,000

'Otsutabi' is gaining attention as a new travel style that solves labor shortages in tourist destinations while allowing travelers to earn income by working at their destination and deeply interact with the community. The number of registered users has increased from 5,000 in 2021 to 97,000 as of April 2026. The number of registered businesses has exceeded 2,400, mainly in accommodation businesses such as hotels and inns, and primary industries such as agriculture and fisheries, but recently it has expanded to diverse industries including guesthouses, campsites, sake breweries, seafood processing, and restaurants.

Otsutabi User Base Expanding Beyond Youth to Middle-aged and Seniors

About half of the participants are from Generation Z (teens and 20s), but in recent years, the use by middle-aged and senior individuals aged 50 and over, such as early retirees and housewives who have finished raising children, is also increasing. As of February 2026, those aged 50 and over accounted for approximately 29% of all participants, meaning about 1 in 4 participants is aged 50 or over.

The background to this increase in users includes the need to enjoy travel while keeping costs down due to rising prices, and the growing number of seniors seeking a new purpose in life after retirement.