Linnas Design Co., Ltd., which operates S-TOKYO, has partnered with Yugyo Co., Ltd., C&H LLC, Pasona Inc., and Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture, to launch the "Kanazawa Culture and Tourism Revitalization Project," which aims to create a system for accepting international remote workers, or "digital nomads," in the city and foster innovation .

As part of this initiative, we conducted a two-week residency program for digital nomads from November 21st to December 4th.

Linnas Design also operates a hotel called LINNAS Kanazawa in Kanazawa, and this time, the program was conducted primarily at that hotel!

In this article, I'll be reporting on this incredibly fulfilling co-living program! ✨

Program Contents

Main week period: November 21st (Thu) - December 4th (Wed)

Accommodation: LINNAS Kanazawa

The following residency programs are primarily offered.

Visiting local businesses

- Sightseeing in Kanazawa City

- Day trip bus tour to the Noto area (company visits, disaster area inspection)

- Interacting with local stakeholders at welcome and farewell dinners

- Activities such as yoga sessions, cooking classes, and plogging (at the accommodation facility)

Event Schedule

11/21: Orientation

11/22: Welcome Party @ Kenrokutei

11/23: fællesspisning (community dinner)

11/24: Omi-cho Market Tour

11/25: Coworking Day @ Coworking Square

11/26: Company visit

November 27: Day trip bus tour to the Noto area (company visits, disaster area inspection)

11/28: Coworking day @ Ishikawa Prefectural Library, visit to Kanazawa University classes

11/29: KOGEI Art Fair @ Hyatt Centric Kanazawa, Katamachi pub crawl

11/30: Coworking day @Issho

12/1: Cooking class

12/2: Group Workout

12/3: 21st Century Museum Tour, Farewell Party

11/22: Welcome Party @ Kenrokutei

A welcome party will be held at Kenrokutei, located within Kenrokuen, one of Japan's three most beautiful gardens.

Four local companies gave presentations about their respective businesses.

11/26: Company visit ①

We visited Nozaki Bussan, a wholesaler of confectionery ingredients. They introduced us to their new products and initiatives. We also had a discussion about package design for souvenir products. It was a time that showed us the potential for collaboration with digital nomads.

11/26: Company visit ②

We visited "Kenrokutei," experienced a tea ceremony activity, and provided feedback on the marketing and activity content from digital nomads.

November 27: Day trip bus tour to the Noto area (company visits, disaster area inspection)

We visited OKUNO to Bridge → Suzunari Shokudo → Aonodokutsu (Blue Grotto) → Susu Shrine → Sogen Shuzo (Sogen Sake Brewery).

We visited local businesses and inquired about their situation after the disaster. We also shared the challenges and opportunities facing Noto, and engaged in a question-and-answer session on these topics.

11/28: Visit to Kanazawa University classes

I participated in a class in the Faculty of Tourism taught by Ryosuke Osera of Yugyo Co., Ltd. Molly, a digital nomad who works as an artist/illustrator, was a guest speaker and shared her experiences of traveling the world for eight years. In response to questions from students at Kanazawa University, we discussed topics such as "the difference between digital nomads and tourists" and "the social impact of digital nomads," along with other nomads who participated.

11/29: KOGEI Art Fair@Hyatt Centric Kanazawa, 21st Century Museum of Art Tour

I was invited to the "KOGEI Art Fair," the only art fair in Japan dedicated exclusively to crafts. Furthermore, at the "21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art," a representative tourist attraction in Kanazawa, I was personally given a tour of the museum by an art curator working there.

In addition to all of this, we were able to cultivate deep relationships with the participants by spending time together in our daily lives, such as co-working and working out!

I'm planning to organize and run a co-living program in Kanazawa again next year.

To everyone at S-TOKYO and all you digital nomads out there, let's spend some quality time together in Kanazawa!