Japan Airlines (JAL) and East Japan Railway Company (JR East) will conduct a dual-region residence trial program, “Higashi-Nihon, Dual-Region Living,” from June 1 through January 31, 2027.
The program targets several municipalities in the Tohoku region of Japan: Kuroishi City in Aomori Prefecture; Semboku City and Nikaho City in Akita Prefecture; and Sagae City, Kahoku Town, and Takahata Town in Yamagata Prefecture. Participants can try out a dual-region lifestyle by using both the Shinkansen (bullet train) and airplanes.
Participants must visit each selected region at or above the minimum number of visits specified for that area, stay overnight within the target region during their visits, and make the same number of trips using both the Tohoku Shinkansen and JAL Group-operated flights. They must also be members of JAL Mileage Bank and JR East’s “Ekinet” service, and meet additional conditions set by the local governments. If the Shinkansen is used for a round trip, miles equivalent to one round trip on the eligible airline routes will be awarded. The number of miles awarded is based on the basic mileage for routes between Tokyo/Haneda or Osaka/Itami and Aomori, Akita, or Yamagata, up to a maximum of two round trips.
The application period runs from April 13 to 26. If the number of applications exceeds the capacity, participants will be chosen by lottery. Results will be notified on April 30.
This initiative is part of a collaborative agreement between the two companies aimed at increasing both “related population” (people with ongoing ties) and permanent residents in Japan’s Tohoku region. Together with nine organizations in total, including six regions in Aomori, Akita, and Yamagata Prefectures, they have established the “Eastern Japan Dual-Region Residence Promotion Consortium” and will conduct the program as a demonstration experiment. As a project that reduces travel-related burdens beyond the framework of individual transport operators, it has been selected by Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism as a “Leading Dual-Region Residence Implementation Project.”
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