Tanbayama Village Promotes Educational Migration with 'Yuru Jena' Based on Jena Plan Education
Tanbayama Village, Yamanashi Prefecture, led by Mayor Yoshito Kinoshita, announced its 'Tanbayama-style Yuru Jena' education concept on March 31, 2026. This initiative adapts the German-originated Jena Plan Education to the local characteristics of Tanbayama Village and its small schools, fostering a new educational approach where the community and schools collaborate. It aims to promote 'two-base living type parent-child mountain village study abroad' and attract families with children. The Japan Jena Plan Education Association has approved the 'Yuru Jena' concept. The village has a history of accepting nearly 100 children and their families through its parent-child mountain village study abroad program since 1992, with 10 out of 19 elementary students and 5 out of 7 junior high students currently participating. Tanbayama Village has a population of approximately 500, is located in northeastern Yamanashi Prefecture, about 2.5 hours by car from central Tokyo, and formulated its first 'Specific Residence Promotion Plan' in Yamanashi Prefecture in 2024. An online briefing session is scheduled for April 25.
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Tanbayama Village, located in Yamanashi Prefecture and led by Mayor Yoshito Kinoshita, officially announced its new educational concept, 'Tanbayama-style Yuru Jena,' on March 31, 2026, via a press release. This initiative is designed to promote 'two-base living type parent-child mountain village study abroad' and establish the village as a preferred location for families raising children, by enhancing its educational appeal.
'Tanbayama-style Yuru Jena' is a unique approach developed by Tanbayama Village. It is based on the Jena Plan Education, an educational method originating in Germany, but is flexibly adapted to leverage the specific regional characteristics and small-school environment of Tanbayama Village. This model emphasizes collaboration between the local community and schools in nurturing children, without imposing excessive burdens on the educational staff.
The village's elementary and junior high schools, benefiting from their small class sizes, already implement distinctive educational practices aligned with Jena Plan principles, such as multi-age group activities and self-paced learning. These practices foster inclusive thinking, dialogue, and creativity.
Since 1992, Tanbayama Village has operated a parent-child mountain village study abroad program, which has welcomed nearly 100 children and their families. Currently, 10 out of 19 elementary school students and 5 out of 7 junior high school students are participants in this program. The village aims to further attract people from the Tokyo metropolitan area by promoting the appealing educational environment of 'Tanbayama-style Yuru Jena' and the accessibility of the 'two-base living type parent-child mountain village study abroad' program.
The 'Yuru Jena' name has been officially approved by the Japan Jena Plan Education Association, with whom Tanbayama Village plans to deepen educational collaboration to further develop its unique educational environment.
Tanbayama Village, with a population of approximately 500, is the smallest village in the Kanto region, situated in the northeastern part of Yamanashi Prefecture, bordering Tokyo and Saitama. Forests cover 97% of its total area, and the entire village is located within the Chichibu-Tama-Kai National Park and the Kobushi UNESCO Eco Park, serving as a water source for the Tama River in Tokyo.
The village has consistently attracted migrants through programs like the 'parent-child mountain village study abroad' (started in 1992) and the 'Regional Revitalization Cooperation Team' (started in 2014). As a result, migrants now constitute 20% of the village's population, and Tanbayama Village has gained recognition as a desirable place to live, topping rankings in migration information magazines. Its proximity to central Tokyo (about 2.5 hours by car) makes it suitable for 'two-region living,' a concept promoted by the national government. In 2024, Tanbayama Village became the first in Yamanashi Prefecture to formulate a 'Specific Residence Promotion Plan.'
Jena Plan Education, originating in Germany, emphasizes respecting individuality and fostering independence and coexistence. It features multi-age learning groups and self-directed learning plans, aligning with the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology's concepts of 'individually optimized learning' and 'collaborative learning.'
Recognizing the challenges of fully implementing Jena Plan Education under Article 1 of the School Education Act, Tanbayama Village collaborated with the Japan Jena Plan Education Association to develop 'Yuru Jena.' This approach integrates the essence of Jena Plan Education flexibly, without overburdening the existing school system.
The village already possesses a strong foundation for community-school collaboration, which is a key strength supporting 'Yuru Jena.' Through this 'culture of co-nurturing,' learning is extended beyond the classroom to include after-school programs and community events. This initiative, balancing global educational ideals with local realities, has the potential to become a new model for educational reform in small municipalities across Japan.
An online briefing session regarding the Tanbayama-style Yuru Jena education is scheduled for April 25.
'Tanbayama-style Yuru Jena' is a unique approach developed by Tanbayama Village. It is based on the Jena Plan Education, an educational method originating in Germany, but is flexibly adapted to leverage the specific regional characteristics and small-school environment of Tanbayama Village. This model emphasizes collaboration between the local community and schools in nurturing children, without imposing excessive burdens on the educational staff.
The village's elementary and junior high schools, benefiting from their small class sizes, already implement distinctive educational practices aligned with Jena Plan principles, such as multi-age group activities and self-paced learning. These practices foster inclusive thinking, dialogue, and creativity.
Since 1992, Tanbayama Village has operated a parent-child mountain village study abroad program, which has welcomed nearly 100 children and their families. Currently, 10 out of 19 elementary school students and 5 out of 7 junior high school students are participants in this program. The village aims to further attract people from the Tokyo metropolitan area by promoting the appealing educational environment of 'Tanbayama-style Yuru Jena' and the accessibility of the 'two-base living type parent-child mountain village study abroad' program.
The 'Yuru Jena' name has been officially approved by the Japan Jena Plan Education Association, with whom Tanbayama Village plans to deepen educational collaboration to further develop its unique educational environment.
Tanbayama Village, with a population of approximately 500, is the smallest village in the Kanto region, situated in the northeastern part of Yamanashi Prefecture, bordering Tokyo and Saitama. Forests cover 97% of its total area, and the entire village is located within the Chichibu-Tama-Kai National Park and the Kobushi UNESCO Eco Park, serving as a water source for the Tama River in Tokyo.
The village has consistently attracted migrants through programs like the 'parent-child mountain village study abroad' (started in 1992) and the 'Regional Revitalization Cooperation Team' (started in 2014). As a result, migrants now constitute 20% of the village's population, and Tanbayama Village has gained recognition as a desirable place to live, topping rankings in migration information magazines. Its proximity to central Tokyo (about 2.5 hours by car) makes it suitable for 'two-region living,' a concept promoted by the national government. In 2024, Tanbayama Village became the first in Yamanashi Prefecture to formulate a 'Specific Residence Promotion Plan.'
Jena Plan Education, originating in Germany, emphasizes respecting individuality and fostering independence and coexistence. It features multi-age learning groups and self-directed learning plans, aligning with the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology's concepts of 'individually optimized learning' and 'collaborative learning.'
Recognizing the challenges of fully implementing Jena Plan Education under Article 1 of the School Education Act, Tanbayama Village collaborated with the Japan Jena Plan Education Association to develop 'Yuru Jena.' This approach integrates the essence of Jena Plan Education flexibly, without overburdening the existing school system.
The village already possesses a strong foundation for community-school collaboration, which is a key strength supporting 'Yuru Jena.' Through this 'culture of co-nurturing,' learning is extended beyond the classroom to include after-school programs and community events. This initiative, balancing global educational ideals with local realities, has the potential to become a new model for educational reform in small municipalities across Japan.
An online briefing session regarding the Tanbayama-style Yuru Jena education is scheduled for April 25.