This study aimed to explore how to lead locals to join rural downtown regeneration projects on the basis of the downtown of Obuse Town located in Nagano Prefecture in Japan. What well depicts the outcome of Obuse Town Project joined by residents are revitalized downtown districts and open gardens. Actors that facilitated residents’ participation are administration, "a-la Obuse Co. Ltd. and "Machizukuri Institude of TUS and Obuse Town". "a-la- Obuse Co. Ltd. " is a middle support organization in the form of community business and "Machizukuri Institute of TUS and Obuse Town" is a professional research institute set by Tokyo University of Science and Obuse Town. This study presented activities, types and roles of residents’ participation in the rural town activation project that started in 2015 by researching the activities of residents, shop owners and students with regard to Obuse Town Project, administrative actions for their participation and activities of middle-level supportive institutions, which are exports' research groups.