Nishinoshima Town, Shimane Prefecture Opens Entire Island as a Pilot Experiment Field for Nationwide Companies

Sunset in the Mita area of Nishinoshima Town

Nishinoshima Town, Oki District, Shimane Prefecture, will launch a 'reverse proposal-type' regional co-creation program in July 2026, accepting open proposals from companies without predefined specifications. The town will open its island as a pilot testing field at zero cost for travel and accommodation, inviting companies nationwide to tackle local challenges. Selected proposals will be actively considered for inclusion in the town's next fiscal year budget, establishing a clear pathway from pilot experiments to full-scale business implementation. This initiative will be operated by Alternativeport Co., Ltd. (Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo; Representative: Tomokazu Omura), which has been commissioned by the town for this fiscal year. The application deadline is Friday, August 21, 2026.

Why Nishinoshima Now?

Nishinoshima Town is renowned for its scenic beauty, including Kuniga Coast—a nationally designated scenic spot—and abundant marine resources. At the same time, the town faces a triple challenge: a lack of successors in fisheries, agriculture, and tourism; population decline due to youth migration; and delayed digital transformation (DX) in both public and private sectors. These issues mirror the broader challenges faced by local governments across Japan.

The town already offers infrastructure for corporate stays, including the traditional house hotel 'OkiBase kominka Hotel&Cafe' and the 'Nishinoshima Telework Office,' making it fully equipped to host corporate bootcamps.

OkiBase kominka Hotel&Cafe guest rooms with dual monitors and high-speed Wi-Fi A municipal telework office suitable for meetings and remote work

What is the 'Reverse Proposal' Approach?

Traditional government procurement: Government creates specifications → Companies bid or propose accordingly This program: Town provides resources (vacant houses, fishing grounds, data, pilot fields) → Companies freely propose 'what they can do'

We welcome early-stage entries from companies with technologies seeking applications. Since proposals will be refined through dialogue between the town and companies during a 3-day bootcamp, a perfect plan is not required.

Benefits for Selected Companies

🏛️ Selected proposals will be actively considered for inclusion in Nishinoshima Town’s budget. A sustainable collaboration between the municipality and companies will be established, progressing from pilot experiments to full-scale operations.

• Companies passing the first screening can participate in a 3-day island bootcamp for on-site research and field visits at zero cost for travel and accommodation (up to 2 representatives per company)

• Introduction to key local stakeholders, including the town office, fishery cooperative, chamber of commerce, and tourism association, with support and facilitation

• Unique opportunities for real-world implementation and pilot testing before nationwide expansion—experiences unavailable in urban areas

• Projects selected through the final presentation will be considered for budget allocation in the following fiscal year—transitioning from pilot experiments to full-scale collaboration

Target Applicants

Open to all industries and company sizes. We welcome companies working on the following themes:

• Smart agriculture and fisheries, solving labor shortages (sensing, labor-saving, matching, etc.)

• Digital utilization of tourism and regional resources (inbound support, experiential content development, etc.)

• Creating migration and relational populations (telework environment setup, community platforms, etc.)

• Advancing DX in administration and regional infrastructure (digitalizing procedures, building data platforms, etc.)

• Other companies with unique technologies, services, or expertise that can address regional challenges

Kuniga Coast, a nationally designated scenic spot (Matsuragata) Areas on the island where cattle and horses roam freely Tenrodai Bridge and the Sea of Japan viewed from Akao Observatory

Cost Coverage

All costs for flights, ferries, local transportation, and accommodation during the 3-day bootcamp will be fully covered by the project budget. There is no cost burden for participating companies (up to 2 representatives per company).

※ Transportation costs from home to the nearest airport and meal expenses are self-funded

Schedule

July – late August 2026: Open application period and online information sessions

August 21, 2026 (Fri): Application deadline

Mid-September 2026: First screening and preliminary review

October – November 2026: Experiential bootcamp (3 days, on-site visit)

December 2026: Final presentation review and selection of partner companies

April 2027 and beyond: Pilot experiments begin (following budget consideration)

Details and Application

Dedicated website: https://nishinoshima-pjt.okiwork.com/

Online information session registration: https://forms.gle/Brd5S6csQZWmStGy6

▪️ About Alternativeport Co., Ltd.

[Company Name]: Alternativeport Co., Ltd.

[URL]: https://www.alternativeport.com

[Representative]: President and CEO, Tomokazu Omura

[Established]: June 2022

[Capital]: 10 million JPY

[Head Office]: 5F, Shinjuku Front Tower, 2-21-1 Kitashinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo

[Nishinoshima Office]: OkiBase 2F, 3032 Mita, Nishinoshima-cho, Oki District, Shimane Prefecture

[Business Activities]: Regional revitalization support (corporate relocation, migration support, municipal consulting, EBPM support, regional DX promotion, hotel and food services, travel agency)

[Overview]: A corporate spin-off of Port Co., Ltd. (listed on the Tokyo Growth Market), specializing in regional revitalization. The company has supported corporate relocation and employment initiatives in approximately 50 municipalities. Since 2023, it has independently operated human traffic creation projects in Nishinoshima Town. In July 2022, it signed a regional revitalization partnership agreement. In January 2026, it opened OkiBase kominka Hotel&Cafe in the Komukai area of Nishinoshima Town—a 100-year-old renovated farmhouse serving as a hub for urban visitors. In July 2026, it obtained travel agency licensing.

OkiBase kominka Hotel&Cafe opened in January 2026 A small 4-room hotel created by renovating a 300-tsubo (approx. 1,000 sqm) traditional house over 100 years old. All rooms feature Simmons semi-double beds, work desks, dual monitors (with HDMI cables), and six power outlets. A dedicated internet line ensures an optimal telework environment.

The hotel also includes a café utilizing the traditional earthen-floored area (doma), offering discounts to overnight guests.

https://okibase.jp

Inquiries

Alternativeport Co., Ltd. Program Secretariat

Contact: Tomokazu Omura

E-mail: [email protected]