At Roopt, we not only recruit residents but also regularly hold events to introduce many people to the charm of share house living and Miyagi Prefecture. From these events, this time we will report on the '1st Roopt MEET UP' held for three days from April 29 (Fri) to May 1 (Sun), 2022!
Unlike the 'Imagining Life in a Share House' series we've held so far, Roopt MEET UP is a mobile event that fully utilizes multiple Roopt bases. If you're interested in Roopt or Miyagi Prefecture, please read on to find out what we did at the first event and what the participants felt.
To briefly explain Roopt MEET UP, it's an event where you 'experience life in Miyagi Prefecture's port towns while staying at various Roopt bases.' It's held in Shiogama City, Higashimatsushima City, and Ishinomaki City, where Roopt bases are located as of June 2022, to let people discover the charm of Roopt and Miyagi Prefecture through town walks and interactions.
The memorable first event was held according to the following schedule. As it was during the first half of Golden Week, the schedule had a strong tourist focus.
■Schedule: April 29 (Fri) 12:00: Meet at Hon-Shiogama Station 12:30: Shiogama town walk & lunch 15:00: Roopt Shiogama Kaigandori tour 19:00: Social gathering April 30 (Sat) 7:30: Breakfast at Shiogama Seafood Wholesale Market 10:30: Sightseeing at Matsushima, one of Japan's Three Scenic Views 14:00: Roopt Higashimatsushima Shintome tour 15:30: Higashimatsushima town tour 19:30: Social gathering May 1 (Sun) 10:00: Ishinomaki town walk 12:00: Wrap-up 12:30: Dismissal
Participants
The following four people participated in the 1st Roopt MEET UP. Many of them were visiting Miyagi Prefecture for the first time, and they all seemed to enjoy the MEET UP with a fresh perspective.
Female, 30s, residing in Shizuoka Prefecture, freelance web director
Now to the main topic. Here's a report on the 2-night, 3-day Roopt MEET UP!
We met at Hon-Shiogama Station at 12:00 and headed straight into Roopt Shiogama Kaigandori. After self-introductions and a brief orientation, we took our first group photo. Everyone looks great.
It was originally lunchtime, but since rain was forecast for the afternoon, we changed our plans and decided to walk around town first. The first place we visited was Shiogama Shrine, a historic shrine designated as a National Important Cultural Property. We enjoyed its tranquil atmosphere, ate fried mochi, and took photos of the Shiogama cherry blossoms, spending a fulfilling time.
Afterward, we walked through a retro- 분위기 shopping street, gathering information about cafes and other shops. From old-fashioned shops like candy stores to new gelato and chocolate shops, it's a fun shopping street just to walk through.
For a late lunch, we went to 'otomo,' a restaurant that offers daily lunch specials. The menu is set for each day of the week, and on this day (Friday), it was curry. The participants seemed satisfied, enjoying the waiting time by looking at merchandise and chatting, and then eating the mild-flavored curry.
As the rain intensified, we returned to the share house for an explanation of the renovation efforts at Roopt Shiogama Kaigandori. A participant who wants to open a guesthouse in the future seemed very interested. Afterward, there was a small entertainment segment where we decided which rooms to stay in using a lottery.
During the subsequent free time, everyone enjoyed themselves in their own way, whether working, going to a cafe, or taking a break. They seemed happy that the schedule wasn't too packed, allowing them to enjoy at their own pace.
In the evening, we had a social gathering inside the share house. Many of the operating members and participants were meeting for the first time, making it an opportunity to deepen friendships. Also, a resident of Roopt Shiogama Kaigandori joined us midway, and we had various conversations, making it a great end to the first day.
Participants' Feedback
After a day that flew by, we received feedback from the participants like this:
The support before the event was excellent, so I felt at ease participating!
The renovation efforts at Roopt were interesting. There's a fun aspect you can only understand by seeing it from the inside.
Day 2 started bright and early at 7 AM! We went to the Shiogama Seafood Wholesale Market (hereinafter referred to as the wholesale market) for breakfast.
At the wholesale market, you can buy your favorite sashimi and make your own seafood bowl. Both participants and staff were excited to make their own seafood bowls from the morning.
After enjoying the wholesale market, we returned to the share house for a break, then took the JR train to Matsushima, one of Japan's Three Scenic Views. It takes about 10 minutes from Hon-Shiogama Station, so being able to easily visit one of Japan's leading tourist destinations is a big attraction. The beauty of the scenery goes without saying.
After enjoying Matsushima, we moved again by JR to Roopt Higashimatsushima Shintome, our second accommodation. Makigumi's PR representative, Hiratsuka, joined us and explained the concept of Roopt Higashimatsushima Shintome and its renovation efforts. Participants seemed to be imagining 'what kind of life they would like to live' there.
We gave a brief tour of Higashimatsushima town.
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