Nagasaki Prefecture's Digital Nomad Support Project Enters Second Year, Accepting Applications for Monitor Tours, Business Seminars, and Community Manager Training Starting Today, July 3rd

Yugyo Inc. (Headquarters: Fukuoka City, CEO: Ryo Osera), commissioned by Nagasaki Prefecture for the "Nagasaki Prefecture Digital Nomad Acceptance Promotion Project," has launched its second year today, July 3rd, simultaneously opening applications for three initiatives: monitor tours, seminars for local businesses, and community manager training.

This project, the first of its kind nationwide for a prefectural government (*), aims to foster "global relational population" by building continuous relationships between local residents and businesses, with an assumption of medium- to long-term stays of 10 to 60 days.

(* According to internal research as of July 2026, for digital nomad attraction projects organized by prefectural governments)

Three Application Streams Open Simultaneously Today, July 3rd

This project welcomes digital nomads for medium- to long-term stays of 10 to 60 days, expanding the acceptance framework across the prefecture. In its second year, fiscal year 2026, the project will focus on three pillars: "Monitor Tours" to welcome participants, "Seminars for Local Businesses" to enhance their capacity, and "Community Manager Training" to circulate relationships within the prefecture. Applications for these three entry points open today.

1. Monitor Tour (October 18th - November 14th / 20 participants)

Applications are open to creators, entrepreneurs, and professionals worldwide to live and remote work in various locations within Nagasaki Prefecture for one month, based in Nagasaki City. The project will cover accommodation, local transportation, and co-working space usage during the stay. Airfare, food expenses, and cultural experiences will be the responsibility of the participants. In fiscal year 2025, over 600 applications were received for 10 slots. This year, 20 participants will be selected (with over two-thirds being non-Japanese nationals), with an estimated total of up to 560 person-nights.

Applications are accepted via the official newsletter.

Registration: https://www.nagasakinomad.com

2. Seminars for Local Businesses (Jointly held with Toyama Prefecture / Online, Free)

To ensure digital nomads settle in, understanding and responsiveness from local businesses are crucial. In fiscal year 2026, these seminars will be held online jointly with Toyama Prefecture, allowing regions promoting acceptance to exchange knowledge and leverage their respective strengths. The seminars are aimed at businesses, government officials, tourism associations, and chambers of commerce within Nagasaki Prefecture, with five sessions offered online (Zoom) and available via archive streaming. Participation is free, and applications open today.

Application: https://nagasaki2026.japandigitalnomad.com/

3. Community Manager Training CMA (5 sessions / English / Free / Selection required)

To continuously foster relational population in various parts of the prefecture, it is necessary to have local facilitators for community interaction. In collaboration with the Japan Digital Nomad Association (JDNA), a 5-session online course (English, free) will be held for Nagasaki Prefecture residents interested in managing digital nomad communities. The aim is to train community managers in different areas of the prefecture and build a comprehensive acceptance framework for Nagasaki Prefecture.

Application: https://japandigitalnomad.com/cma202607/

Evolution in Fiscal Year 2026: Two Previous Participants Appointed as Special Advisors

The most significant structural change in fiscal year 2026 is the expansion of participant roles from "those being welcomed" to "those co-creating." Lígia Gomes (Portugal) and Samanta Berga (Latvia), who made the most significant contributions in fiscal year 2025, have been appointed as Special Advisors and will be involved in all stages of CMA, local business seminars, and monitor tour design.

Lígia Gomes has a background leading the operation of one of the world's leading remote work programs and community building as General Manager for Remote Year. During her participation in fiscal year 2025, her content, centered on the historical connections between Portugal and Nagasaki, was widely shared domestically and internationally, attracting new interest in Nagasaki. Samanta Berga is an entrepreneur and experience designer who extended her stay at her own expense after her fiscal year 2025 visit and co-created new initiatives with local businesses.

Background: "Live Where Histories Cross" and the Global Digital Nomad Market

The global digital nomad population is projected to reach approximately 40 million by 2025, with about 60 countries establishing dedicated visas or residency systems for remote workers. Japan introduced its digital nomad visa in March 2024, but stays are concentrated in urban areas, and many regions lack the infrastructure for medium- to long-term stays.

Nagasaki Prefecture boasts a rich history of international exchange, including its trading history with the Netherlands through Dejima, its 500-year relationship with Hirado and Portugal, the Joseon Tongsinsa (Korean missions) to Tsushima, and peace education as a city that experienced the atomic bombing. This project unifies these not as tourist attractions but as "starting points for stories," under the concept "Live Where Histories Cross," creating opportunities to experience Nagasaki's history and culture through interactions with local residents and businesses. The program is built around five pillars: Stay, Work, Connect, Learn, and Share.

In January 2026, The New York Times selected Nagasaki as the 17th place in its "52 Places to Go in 2026," citing the historical significance of the city center, which miraculously escaped the atomic bombing, and the modern functionality created by redevelopment around the station. This project aligns with such international interest to build a foundation for long-term inbound tourism.

Market Response Demonstrated by Last Year's Results (2025)

In its inaugural year, fiscal year 2025, 25 digital nomads from 15 countries participated in monitor tours, traveling through 10 municipalities in Nagasaki Prefecture. Key figures are as follows:

Total Person-Nights

696 person-nights (386% of the target of 180 person-nights)

Participants / Countries of Origin

25 participants / 15 countries (100% non-Japanese nationals)

Average Length of Stay

33 days / person

Participant Satisfaction

9.19 / 10

Recommendation Rate (NPS equivalent)

+87.5 (Intention to Revisit 9.50 / 10)

Local Spending by Participants

Approximately 27.87 million yen (over 2.5 times the project expenditure)

Total Number of Event Attendees

1,110 people (244 Nagasaki residents, 691 international nomads, 175 others)

Attendees of Local Business Seminars

92 people (72 from within the prefecture)

After the program concluded, three participants extended their stays for over a month at their own expense, with the longest stay being 64 days. One of them is continuing discussions for collaboration with a fishery business in the Goto Islands. The year demonstrated the creation of lasting relationships, not just short-term consumption, both in terms of numbers and actions.

Participant Testimonials

"For me, coming from Lisbon, Nagasaki felt surprisingly familiar. The hills, the bridges, the atmosphere of the city, and the shared history with Portugal – everything made my stay more profound. Through the program, I felt I had blended into the city, was welcomed, and became a part of Nagasaki."

― Lígia Gomes (Portugal) / Former General Manager at Remote Year. Special Advisor for FY2026.

"I've visited Japan many times, but Nagasaki is the first place I've wanted to stay for a long time."

― RJ Macalanda (USA) / CEO & Digital Marketer.

Scenes from Last Year (YouTube): DIGITAL NOMAD NAGASAKI 2025 ~ Live Where Histories Cross ~

Comment from Ryo Osera, Representative Director of Yugyo Inc.

"What we witnessed were people from overseas who wanted to make Nagasaki a part of their own story. Three individuals extended their stays at their own expense, and several participants expressed their desire to return with their families. It was a year where we grasped the clear signs of a shift from tourism to relationships. In 2026, we are entering a phase of rooting these relationships within the region."

FY2026 Project Overview

Project Name

Nagasaki Prefecture Digital Nomad Acceptance Promotion Project (Second Year)

Client

Nagasaki Prefecture, Regional Promotion Department, Community Development Promotion Division

Contractor

Yugyo Inc.

Collaborating Organizations

Japan Digital Nomad Association (JDNA) / Japan Workation Association (JWA)

Special Advisors

Lígia Gomes (Portugal) / Samanta Berga (Latvia)

Monitor Tour

October 18th, 2026 (Sun) - November 14th, 2026 (Sat) / 20 participants / Estimated up to 560 person-nights

Main Tour Destinations

Based in Nagasaki City, planned to include Iki, Saikai, Ojika, Shimabara Peninsula, Shin-Kamigoto, Higashisonogi, etc.

Concept

Live Where Histories Cross

Application Guidelines

Seminars for Local Businesses

Target Audience

Businesses, government officials, tourism associations, chambers of commerce, etc., within Nagasaki Prefecture (Jointly held with Toyama Prefecture)

Format

Online (Zoom, Japanese) + Archive Streaming / 5 sessions total

Participation Fee

Free

First Session Date

July 22nd, 2026 (Wed)

Application Link

https://nagasaki2026.japandigitalnomad.com/

Community Manager Training (CMA)

Target Audience

Nagasaki Prefecture residents (nationality not specified)

Content

5 online sessions (Zoom, English)

Participation Fee

Free (Selection required)

First Session Date

August 4th, 2026 (Tue) Orientation August 11th, 2026 (Tue) First Session

Application Link

https://japandigitalnomad.com/cma202607/

About Yugyo Inc.

"Be where you are meant to be." - Towards a world where you can be where you are meant to be. Based in Fukuoka City, Yugyo Inc. operates "Colive Fukuoka" (since 2023), a community with over 1,300 participants from approximately 60 countries, and is involved in projects such as the Japan Tourism Agency's Digital Nomad Acceptance Environment Development Project.

Company Name: Yugyo Inc.

Representative Director: Ryo Osera

Location: ONE FUKUOKA BLDG. 7F, 1-11-1 Tenjin, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Prefecture

URL: https://yugyo.work

Official Information & Hashtags

Project Official Website: https://www.nagasakinomad.com

Instagram: @nomads_ngs

Facebook: Digital Nomads Nagasaki

#DigitalNomadNagasaki #LiveWhereHistoriesCross #NagasakiNomad #デジタルノマド #関係人口 #長崎