Design for Japan

Design Workshops in Japan

Join likeminded creatives from around the world to work on short projects for Japanese communities. Explore the potential of a career in design in Japan.

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Design for Japan

Contributing to Japan's Rural Revitalization with the Power of Design

In 2024, over 1700 Japanese regional towns were identified as at risk of disappearing by 2050 due to aging populations and declining industry. That same year saw a record number of foreign tourists visit Japan, concentrated in Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto. Regional towns are missing out on the tourism boom and the chance to grow their economies.

Design for Japan was started by a group of Tokyo-based designers to help these communities use design to create better experiences for their residents & visitors. Our programs allow designers from around the world to contribute their expertise while connecting with Japanese communities and experiencing what it's like to be a designer in Japan.
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Join us in September 2025

Make connections to last a lifetime

Our programs bring together talented designers, researchers, engineers and students from around the world. Small groups allow you to get to know each other on a deeper level - creating lifelong connections.
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Rediscover the Power of Design

Looking to rediscover why you got into design in the first place? Our programs are designed to allow you to get back to basics and use UX techniques to understand real human problems and create simple but effective solutions that have a lasting impact on communities.
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Explore a Design Career in Japan

Some of our past participants have ended up moving to Japan and landing jobs at Japanese tech companies. We offer programs to help you explore your interest in working in Japan and make connections with local designers & companies.
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Programs

Discover our Programs

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Shimoda
Design Workshop

Learn More
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More Programs Coming Soon!

Stay Tuned

Participant Reviews

Reviews from our 2024 workshop participants
“The entire time I was thinking to myself - if only this could be my job! I'm having so much fun!”
Rachel Puvvada
Product Researcher
USA
“It's such a brilliant concept. Most workshops are too short to make real connections, but this one resulted in meaningful long term connections.”
Yoshio Kaneko
Product Designer
Japan
“You reignited my passion for design. I'm leaving feeling refreshed, recharged, and so excited to keep growing as a designer.”
Jazlyn Lim
UI/UX Designer
Singapore
“The hands-on experience of working on real-life problems was invaluable, and the passionate individuals I met made it all the more enriching”
Pallavi Joshi
Project Manager
India
“I made some great friends and learned a lot about the UX process. Thank you for the well thought out program!”
Madoka Suganuma
Researcher
‍Japan
“As designers, we can get stuck behind our desks. This rejuvenated us. I'm already looking forward to the next one!”
Ng Choon Wee
Designer
‍Singapore
See More Reviews
Contributing to Japan's rural revitalization with the power of design.
Design for Japan
Shimoda Workshop 2025Participant StoriesAbout UsContact Us
Design For Japan is an initiative of Wayfinder Japan