[Applications Open July 1]Nagasaki Nomad Residency 2026

The Nagasaki Nomad Residency is a one-month, in-person, contribution-based program. Each applicant proposes what they will bring to Nagasaki: a content creation, a workshop, a documentary, strategic advice for a local business, or a session with students. Selection turns on contribution quality and fit with local hosts. In January 2026, The New York Times named Nagasaki #17 on its "52 Places to Go in 2026" list, citing the city's layered history and renewed urban infrastructure. The Residency runs in dialogue with that moment, giving working professionals a deliberate month inside the place itself — and a chance to leave something useful behind.

Dates: Check-in 10/18 (Sun) ｜ Program 10/19–11/14 ｜ Check-out 11/15 (Sun)
Duration: One month
Capacity: 20 participants (at least 2/3 international)
Covered by the Program: Accommodation, in-prefecture transportation between bases, access to designated coworking spaces
At Participant Expense: International flights, daily meals, and optional cultural activities
Self-Extension: Available before, during, and after the program at the participant's own expense
Visa: The program does not facilitate working visas or residency.
Applications Open: Wednesday, July 1, 2026 — delivered via the program newsletter

How to Apply

Applications open Wednesday, July 1, 2026. Subscribe to the newsletter at nagasakinomad.com — the application form will arrive in subscribers' inboxes when it opens. Newsletter issues over the next three weeks will share program details, the contribution model, and selection criteria. Selection is rolling. Final cohort confirmed by mid-August. All applicants receive a response.

Live Where Histories Cross.

Feel the stories, and connect where histories meet in Japan.
Many visitors come to Japan expecting difference — in culture, language, and rhythm. In Nagasaki, they find echoes of shared pasts. From Portuguese ships to British missionaries, from Dutch merchants to Vietnamese exchanges — the threads of their home countries have already touched this land. Through this program, we invite participants to connect the dots — to see Nagasaki as a place where history, identity, and future possibilities intertwine.

What 2025 Produced

A pawnshop launched a new product line with cohort input. A Nagasaki pawnshop owner developed a new product over the course of the residency. The 2025 cohort became its first customers before they left.
Students received an unconventional career and English education — working international professionals in classrooms at local high schools and universities. English conversation that doubled as career exposure to alternative ways of working.
A regional Japanese newspaper journalist conducted an 8-hour on-site interview, then flew to Chiang Mai to continue reporting. The resulting feature ran in a major Japanese international-affairs publication in early 2026
A new Nagasaki guidebook launched with the cohort's city walk as its cover story.
Three participants extended their stay at their own expense. One extended for another month in Nagasaki City; two on the Goto Islands. The longest total stay reached 64 days.

In Their Own Words — 2025 Alumni

"Coming from Lisbon, Nagasaki felt surprisingly familiar — the hills, the bridges, the energy, and the history Portugal and Nagasaki share. I felt embedded, welcomed, and part of the city."— Lígia Gomes (Portugal), former General Manager at Remote Year. Returning as 2026 Community Manager host.

"After coming to Japan many times, I felt for the first time that I could stay here long-term. After the program ended, I came back at my own expense. I'm exploring a new partnership with local business owners."— RJ Macalanda (USA), CEO and digital marketer.

"I plan to travel back in the next two years with my family — to be in a city that now feels like a part of me."— Mat Boyle (UK / Denmark), brand design specialist.