Support for university and graduate school students in the Tokyo metropolitan area to "find a job in Ibaraki x move to Shimotsuma"! Shimotsuma City, Ibaraki Prefecture, Offers "Shimotsuma City Local Employment Student Support Grant" Program ～The subsidy covers transportation expenses of 4,260 yen for an interview plus the actual cost of moving (up to 66,000 yen).

2026.01.05 09:30

茨城県下妻市

Shimotsuma City, Ibaraki Prefecture (Location: 3-13 Honjo-cho, Shimotsuma City, Ibaraki Prefecture; Mayor: Hiroshi Kikuchi) is implementing the "Shimotsuma City Local Employment Student Support Fund" program to promote U-turn, I-turn, and J-turn employment among students and others, to encourage migration and settlement in the city, and to relieve labor shortages at small and medium-sized companies and others.

Under this program, students residing in the Tokyo area (Tokyo, Saitama, Chiba, and Kanagawa prefectures) who are attending a university or graduate school headquartered in Tokyo will receive support for transportation expenses (up to 4,260 yen) to participate in recruitment activities (screening interviews) for companies in Ibaraki Prefecture, as well as for moving expenses (actual expenses or up to 66,000 yen depending on conditions) necessary for moving to Shimotsuma City. In addition, we also support the cost of moving to Shimotsuma City (actual cost or up to 66,000 yen depending on conditions).

This program is designed to make it easier for urban students to make contacts with local companies and to reduce their burden by subsidizing part of the transportation and moving expenses for job interviews in order to realize their life plan of "finding a job in Ibaraki" and "living in Shimotsuma City".

就職面接イメージ

Image of a job interview

新生活イメージ

Image of new life

Points of the System (Summary)

Eligible students

Students (including prospective graduates) enrolled in Tokyo-area campuses of universities and graduate schools headquartered in Tokyo, who will move to Shimotsuma City after graduation or completion of their studies and find employment at companies, etc. in Ibaraki Prefecture.

Details of the support (2 programs)] 1.

1. support for transportation expenses for job hunting

Transportation expenses for participating in recruitment activities (screening interviews, etc.) for companies, etc., that have offices or places of business in Ibaraki Prefecture

→ Up to 4,260 yen (if the company provides the subsidy, the amount will be deducted from the subsidy and the maximum amount will be 4,260 yen)

2. support for moving to Shimotsuma City

Support for moving expenses when moving to Shimotsuma City

If the minimum actual expenses can be proven → The full amount of the actual expenses will be paid.

If the minimum actual expenses cannot be proven → "actual expenses" or 66,000 yen, whichever is lower, will be paid.

In both cases, the applicant must meet the requirements of the program and the expenses must be verified with the necessary documents.

Main Features

・Application can be made from the stage of being enrolled in school (or expected to graduate/complete school).

Support from the stage of going for an interview to moving after finding a job.

新生活イラスト

New Life Illustration

Main Requirements

1. requirements for relocation, etc.

All of the following must be met.

In principle, the applicant must be enrolled at a university or graduate school (college, etc.) with its headquarters in Tokyo for at least 4 years in the year of graduation/completion, and must have graduated/completed his/her studies at said university, etc. (*This also applies to students who are currently enrolled (or are expected to graduate/complete their studies).

The applicant must have lived in the Tokyo area (Tokyo, Saitama, Chiba, and Kanagawa prefectures) continuously during the year of graduation/completion of the university/graduate school.

The applicant must have moved to Shimotsuma City. (*If you are applying while still in school, you are eligible for the program if you plan to move to Shimotsuma City after graduation or completion of your studies, provided that you have a job offer from a company or other organization that meets the requirements.)

(*If you apply while still in school, you are eligible if you plan to move to Shimotsuma City after graduation or completion of your studies, provided that you have an offer of employment at a company, etc. that meets the requirements. (*If you apply while still in school, the application must be submitted "within 1 year prior" to the date you plan to start working.)

The applicant must intend to reside in Shimotsuma City for at least 5 years from the date of application. (*If applying while still in school, the applicant must be employed by a company that meets the requirements after graduation/completion of the course and intend to move to Shimotsuma City and reside there for at least 5 years). 2.

2. employment requirements

All of the following must be met

The applicant must be employed by a company whose place of work is in Ibaraki Prefecture within one year of graduation from or completion of his/her studies at a university. (*If you apply while still in school, you must have been employed for less than one year at the time of application.)

The place of employment must be located in Ibaraki Prefecture.

The place of work must be in Ibaraki Prefecture.

(* However, government offices, etc. (excluding national organizations) located in Ibaraki Prefecture are eligible.)

The employment must be based on an indefinite employment contract of 20 hours or more per week. (*If you are applying for job hunting expenses while still in school, you must be expected to work under an indefinite employment contract of 20 hours or more per week.)

The applicant must be employed as an employee with a limited work location in an area that is commutable from Shimotsuma City. (*If applying while still in school, the applicant must plan to be employed under those conditions.)

Details of the support grant

1. transportation expenses (job hunting support)

Transportation expenses required for job hunting activities (screening interviews, etc.) at companies, etc. that have offices or places of business in Ibaraki Prefecture.

(If the company to which the applicant has been offered a job offers provides transportation expenses, the amount of transportation expenses will be deducted from the amount provided, and the maximum amount of transportation expenses will be 4,260 yen.)

交通費イメージ

Transportation expenses (image)

2. relocation expenses (support for moving expenses)

Eligible expenses: Expenses required for moving to Shimotsuma City (payment to moving company, transportation of goods, etc.)

Amount to be paid: To be determined according to one of the following

　(1) When it can be proved that the expenses are the minimum actual expenses

　(2) When it can be confirmed by receipts, etc. that the expenses are the minimum moving expenses.

　→ The full amount of actual expenses incurred will be paid.

　(2)When it cannot be proved that the expenses are the minimum actual expenses

　(2) Cases where the actual expenses are known, but it cannot be proved whether they are the minimum or not, etc.

　→ "Actual expenses" or 66,000 yen, whichever is lower, will be paid.

引っ越しイメージ

Image of moving

Purpose of this program

While young people are increasingly concentrated in the Tokyo area, local regions are facing a serious shortage of labor, especially in small and medium-sized enterprises. On the other hand, the number of students and parents who are interested in finding a job or moving to a rural area is steadily increasing, as they want to work in a rural area close to their parents' homes or live in an environment with nature while keeping living costs low. However, the cost of traveling back and forth between the Tokyo area for interviews and the cost of moving to a new place to start a new life can be a big burden for students and their families, and a major hurdle for those who choose to work in the regions.

In light of this situation, Shimotsuma City has positioned the "promotion of immigration and settlement of the younger generation" and "securing local business leaders" as priority policies based on the Ibaraki Prefecture Comprehensive Strategy for Town, People, and Work Creation and the "Shimotsuma City Digital Rural City National Concept Comprehensive Strategy". As a specific initiative, this program aims to comprehensively support students, local companies, and families who are embarking on regional employment and migration by providing integrated support from transportation expenses during the job hunting stage to the costs associated with migration and new life after finding a job.

Profile of Shimotsuma City, Ibaraki Prefecture

Located in the southwestern part of Ibaraki Prefecture, Shimotsuma City combines nature and urban functions. The city is located in the southwestern part of Ibaraki Prefecture, where nature and urban functions are combined.

Basic Information

Population: 41,107 (as of October 1, 2025)

Area: 80.88 km2 (12.4 km from east to west, 10.9 km from north to south)

Location: Southwestern part of Ibaraki Prefecture, approximately 60 km from Tokyo

Features of Shimotsuma City, Ibaraki Prefecture

Shimotsuma City in Ibaraki Prefecture is a town rich in nature located at the foot of Mount Tsukuba. The city offers both easy access to the city center and a tranquil living environment, and is attracting attention as a destination for young people and households raising children.

The city center is surrounded by Suna-numa, a relaxing place where citizens can take a walk, jog, or picnic while enjoying the waterside scenery. On weekends and holidays, people can relax and refresh themselves in nature, making it an ideal environment for switching on and off after finding a job.

On the other hand, Shimotsuma City is also a treasure trove of agricultural and livestock products. The city produces many high-quality agricultural products and processed foods, such as sweet Shimotsuma pears, melons with high sugar content, and "Rose Pork," a tender and flavorful brand of pork. At the "Shimotsuma City Tourism Exchange Center Sanpo no Eki Sun Sunuma" and "Michi no Eki Shimotsuma" adjacent to Sunuma Swamp, you will find a wide variety of seasonal vegetables, fruits, and local specialties, making it easy to enjoy a taste of the region in your daily shopping.

The city of Shimotsuma, with its well-balanced combination of natural environment and urban functions, is a town where it is easy to secure a relatively spacious living environment and design a lifestyle with an eye on child-rearing and other life events.

For those who are thinking about starting a new life as a working adult and living "in a relaxed environment while working for a company in Ibaraki Prefecture," Shimotsuma City is an excellent choice for a safe and secure place to start a new life. Why not consider Shimotsuma City as a candidate for your new life?

砂沼大橋(茨城県下妻市)