Hi, I'm Chichi, the community curator for S-TOKYO! ✨

Linnas Design.inc, the company that operates S-TOKYO, will be hosting a co-living program in December at our affiliated hotel, LINNAS Kanazawa, in Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture. ⛄️

This is highly recommended for digital nomads, especially those interested in art and philosophical exploration, and for those who want to experience the culture and aesthetics of Kanazawa!

To conclude the year, in Kanazawa, a city where aesthetics and philosophy thrive.

Why not spend some quality time with like-minded community members?

<Urban Retreat by LINNAS>

Held four times a year by Linnas Design, this urban retreat lasts from one week to one month. Through co-living, participants reset their minds and bodies while immersing themselves in the daily life of the city. They will find a comfortable workspace, activities that connect them with the fascinating city, and encounters with like-minded individuals. This time, as a special project, we are collaborating with the dialogue company "DANRO inc." to hold a program that deepens one's own "Artist of Life" through stillness and questioning.

Urban Retreat -Artist of Life- by LINNAS × DANRO

Program Overview

• Title : Urban Retreat -Artist of Life- by LINNAS × DANRO

• Duration : 7 nights, 8 days (December 1st to 7th, check-out on the 8th)

• Languages : English and Japanese (for domestic and international digital nomads)

• Accommodation base : LINNAS Kanazawa

  
  

concept

The following words are from Daisetsu Suzuki, a Buddhist philosopher born in Kanazawa and known worldwide as a Zen thinker.

Concept of this program

- Discovery and embodiment of inner beauty

Cultivating Artist of Life through Experience and Dialogue

Main theme

Through experiences and dialogues in Kanazawa, a city steeped in aesthetics and philosophy, participants will encounter "expressions of beauty," become aware of their "inner beauty and aesthetic sense," and ultimately take it home as a way of expressing and cherishing themselves.

Co-sponsored by: DANRO.inc

With the slogan "Dialogue in everyday life, dialogue as a culture," Dialogue Company explores the wholeness of people, nature, and society, and creates spaces where they can circulate and interact. They develop practical dialogue programs, the DANRO CHILDREN project which aims to realize a world where children can move forward while being themselves, dialogue-based organizational development for corporations, and other dialogue-centered businesses. In 2025, they launched a multifaceted community called "Dialogue, Five Senses, and Garden" in Ichinomiya City, Aichi Prefecture.

Official website: https://danro-dialogue.com/

Stay image

The following is an example of what your stay might be like. (Please note that the schedule is subject to change.)

Morning: Workshops and other activities

Afternoon: Optional activities

Participants will receive a detailed schedule separately within a closed online community.

Instructor Introduction

Mr. So Sato (Facilitator for the entire program)

"I am also very happy to be able to spend time in the tranquility and beauty unique to winter in Kanazawa. I try to slow down a little more than usual and savor what comes my way. I try to express my inner self, sometimes delicately, sometimes dynamically. I notice the inspiration and warmth that arise from once-in-a-lifetime encounters and conversations."

I'm looking forward to sharing such a moment with all of you!

Yuki Nakatani

Born in Nagasaki in 1996, she is a traveler and artist. After quitting the company where she worked for two years after graduating, she traveled to Europe with only 6,000 yen in her bank account and survived for four months by selling calligraphy on the streets. After returning to Japan, she self-published her essay collection "LOVE". Currently, she is traveling around the world, holding solo exhibitions and workshops in various locations, with the theme of "spreading love".

Program content: Calligraphy Art Workshop

Focusing on the fundamental "lines" of calligraphy, we will begin with lessons to learn the basics of drawing lines. Afterwards, we will express "our current selves" in the form of abstract paintings. Because calligraphy directly reflects one's way of being through the brush, we hope it will be a new opportunity for self-reflection.

Kayo Nomura

An abstract painter born in Nagoya. From a young age, she lived in various regions, including the United States, and worked for companies both domestically and internationally before becoming a painter. Her experiences in diverse cultural spheres have led her to develop an interest in energy and the realm of the heart that transcends language, and she has established a unique style of creation that moves back and forth between words and images. She is expanding the scope of her activities to include Dialogue Drawing®, which depicts inner feelings through dialogue, and live sessions in which she paints improvisationally with live music, creating while sensing the energy hidden in "this moment."

Program content: Omamori Drawing

Omamori drawing is a palm-sized artwork created spontaneously by Kayo Nomura during a dialogue, designed to become a "lucky charm" for you. In conjunction with this retreat, we will focus on and explore the "inner beauty within ourselves." (Approximately 15 minutes / Artwork size: 55mm x 91mm)

Dialogue Drawing

Dialogue Drawing is an art session that goes a step further than omamori drawing, engaging in dialogue and depicting your inner self live by Kayo Nomura. What does "artist of life" mean to you? What is inner beauty? As you delve into these questions, your most cherished thoughts and wishes will come to life before your eyes, transforming in color and form, creating a work of art just for you. We hope that even after completion, it will become a special piece that continues to shine in your daily life, prompting new insights every time you look at it.

(Approximately 50 minutes required / Artwork size 158mm x 227mm) (+11,000 yen) Optional. Reservation required.

Mana Tokita | Certified Coach, Japan Meditation Association

Life coach. She began meditating after being recommended by a doctor while staying in Sri Lanka for Ayurvedic treatment. After returning to Japan, she systematically studied meditation and has been hosting meditation classes irregularly since 2024. From April 2025, she will be the practical coach for the first term of the Suwaru Meditation Course Ananda Course.

Program content: MEDITATION WS

This is a brain and mind training method that calms the mind and focuses awareness on one's inner self in the present moment. While "mindfulness" refers to a state of heightened senses and focus on what is happening outside of oneself in the present moment, "meditation" is a method of shutting down the senses and focusing on one's inner self.

Even experienced yogis find it very difficult to suddenly close their eyes and enter a meditative state. In this lesson, we will first adjust the energy of the space and the body through breathing exercises and stretches, and then move on to meditation where you can focus your attention on your breath.

This treatment gently relaxes the minds of busy people who have to pay attention to many things at once on a daily basis.

Mr. Teruaki Okamoto

The 10th headmaster of the Hosokawa Goryu school of tea ceremony and the Hosokawa Misho school of flower arrangement. She runs tea ceremony and flower arrangement classes in Kyoto, Tokyo, and Nagoya. She currently has approximately 50 students.

Her activities are wide-ranging both domestically and internationally, including hosting tea ceremonies at Oxford University, Osaka Castle, and Heian Shrine. She has created numerous venues to convey the spirituality of Japanese culture. Furthermore, since 2023, she has also served as the representative of "The Japonism Academy," an educational institution that disseminates Japanese culture to the world, expanding her activities globally.

In our lessons and events, we value creating an environment where people can be themselves, transcending titles and roles, and we offer practical learning that applies the spirit of tea ceremony and flower arrangement to everyday life. We continue our activities as a bridge that connects traditional culture to the modern sensibility and the future.

Program content: Matchafulness

~Silence and Mindfulness for Digital Nomads~

For digital nomads who are constantly on the move and immersed in a flood of information, taking time to reset their minds and refine their sensibilities is a vital activity for regaining creativity and flexibility. "Tōcha," a traditional tasting game that has continued since the Kamakura period, involves comparing several types of matcha and discerning their differences. It is said to be a precursor to the tea ceremony. What is important here is not finding the "right answer," but confronting one's inner self with each bowl. By focusing on the aroma, taste, and color, the mind is naturally led into a meditative state.

■ What you can gain from this experience

A time to escape information overload: Step away from your PC and smartphone and immerse your senses in the tranquility of a tea room. Mindful concentration: By focusing your attention on the bowl in front of you, your concentration and creativity will be enhanced. A sensibility that can be applied to travel and work: Bring a sense of "the here and now" back into your daily life and regain flexibility in your work and lifestyle.

■ Schedule for the day ① Short talk on the tea ceremony ② Matchafulness – Tasting meditation Sharpen your five senses as you slowly savor three types of matcha in a meditative manner. ③ Aftertaste and dialogue

■ Recommended for: Those who are always busy and looking for a way to reset their minds; those who want to enhance their creativity and intuition at work; those who want to deeply experience Japanese culture and refresh themselves in a meditative way; and those who want to gain a new perspective from a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Application Guidelines

• Target audience

  Digital nomads, remote workers

  People who are interested in art and philosophical inquiry

  People who want to experience the culture and aesthetics of Kanazawa

  
  

• Number of applicants : 20 (first-come, first-served)

Participation fee

The participation fee includes accommodation and program participation fees. The price varies depending on the room type.

Example: Booking for 1 person

Double room (shared bathroom) for 1 person: 64,365 yen

Double room (with shower and toilet) for 1 person: 72,366 yen

Booking pattern for 2 people

Double room (with shower and toilet) for 2 people: 109,844 yen

Triple room (can be used as twin beds/with shower and toilet) for 2 people: 126,483 yen

This package contains

• Accommodation fee (for 7 nights)

• (December 1st) Welcome Dinner

• Calligraphy Art Workshop: Expressing "My Current Self" Through Calligraphy

Matcha-Fulness Workshop: <Opening the five senses and noticing the abundance that is right in front of you>

• Meditation Workshop <Focusing your senses inward>

・Omamori Drawing・Art & Dialogue (21st Century Museum & Dialogue) <Exploring various forms of "beauty">

Integration Session 1 & 2

Daily meditation, art reflection

• (December 7th) Farewell Dinner

This includes the above-mentioned experiences led by professional instructors, plus community access.

*Items not included in the above package:

・Transportation costs to Kanazawa

• Bicycle use during your stay

• Regular paid events held at the hotel

- Participation fees for city events and experiences held outside the hotel

Early application benefits

All participants who register by Sunday, November 16th will receive an original rental loungewear set created in collaboration with washi paper notebook #wakami and Nestwell!

This notebook is made with washi paper from Ishikawa Paper, a washi paper manufacturer in the Hokuriku region. It's a modern reproduction of the rare, high-quality washi paper "Torinoko," boasting excellent color reproduction and preservation qualities. This elegant and lustrous paper is perfect for long-term storage and preserving your writing for the future. It's also ideal for use in calligraphy workshops or for art reflection at the end of the day. Take it home as a memento of this special week and relive your memories even after your trip. (One notebook per person!)

"nestwell" is a lifestyle brand that aims to enrich the lives of those who wear it. The name is a portmanteau of "nest" (a cozy nest) and "well" (meaning "better"), and it resonates with LINNAS's HYGGE concept. This loungewear set is a collaboration between nestwell and LINNAS, designed to enhance your morning and evening meditation time and your relaxation time in your room. (Loungewear cannot be taken home. It is available for free rental only during your stay.)

How to apply

Select the eligible accommodation plan "Urban Retreat -Artist of Life-" from the "Reserve A Stay" button on the LINNAS Kanazawa official website, or from the link below, and make a reservation.

https://www.chillnn.com/17815f6bb8d16f/plan/19913be91db3d9

After booking your plan, please join the online community via an external website. (This will be a Discord group.)

Join our Discord group here : https://www.digitalnomadskanazawa.com

Q&A

Q: Is it possible to participate in the program only, without staying overnight?

A: No. Accommodation and program participation fees are only sold as a package deal.

Q: Is it possible to book accommodation at another facility and participate in the program only?

A: No. Only those who have booked the above LINNAS Kanazawa accommodation plan can participate in the program. Accommodation and program participation fees are only sold as a package.

Q: Is it possible to participate for a shorter period than 7 nights?

A: In principle, this is not possible. This program is designed to allow for introspection and dialogue throughout the week, so we recommend a minimum stay of 7 nights.

Q: What should I do if I want to stay for more than 7 nights?

A: You will need to make a separate reservation under a different plan. (For example, if you want to extend your stay from December 8th to 10th, please make a reservation for "Urban Retreat -Artist of Life-" and then book the December 8th-10th stay as part of the "Extended Stay Plan".)

Q: Can I choose a check-in date other than December 1st?

A: Yes. To allow for flexibility in scheduling, you can choose your accommodation start date from November 30th, December 1st, or December 2nd. Regardless of which date you start your stay, you can stay for a maximum of 7 nights under this plan. We recommend starting your stay on December 1st to ensure you can participate in all the programs.