In the wake of the pandemic, many Japanese found themselves wanting to move — and often to more rural and remote parts of the country.

For some, it was to avoid the high transmission rates of the big city, while for others, it was more about capitalizing on the freedom that newfound remote work had provided. Still, others opted for rural locations to save money in the wake of pandemic-related job-losses and industry downturns.

We’re a few years from that initial pandemic surge, but the move toward rural Japan is still ongoing.

As the world crosses 8 billion people and counting, Tokyo has come up with a unique solution.