90days
project
Stay Program
for Participation
The 90 Days Kyoto Stay Program offers a unique opportunity to live and work in the heart of one of Japan’s most vibrant and culturally rich cities. Over a 90-day period, we provide comprehensive support tailored to your needs, ensuring your relocation and business development are seamless.
We provide language assistance and interpretation services to ensure non-Japanese speakers can fully engage in all program activities.
-
Free co-working space
The space is called “QUESTION” which is located in the very central of the city. - Connections to local companies and entrepreneur organizations
- Introduction to pitch events and business exhibitions
-
Exclusive Networking Events
Participate in curated business and cultural exchange events designed to connect you with Kyoto’s local business community and like-minded foreign entrepreneurs.
- Arrangements for transportation between the airport in Kansai and Kyoto city
- Introduction to accommodation options for you and your family
- Help with local educational institutions and nursing care facilities
- Cultural and community integration through local events and activities
- Help for procedures in case medical care is needed
We provide online support prior to your arrival in Japan, including needs assessment consultations, assistance with entry procedures, and business matching opportunities.
Upon completing the program, you’ll join an alumni network that continues to offer business support, everyday life support, networking opportunities, and access to Kyoto’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.
- Co-working space usage fee
- Transportation costs for round trips between the airport in Kansai and Kyoto
※Note: While the program is free of charge, participants are responsible for travel, accommodation, visa application,living and personal expenses.
2025 program is conducted during beginning of January 2025 to the end of March 2025.
- Must hold a nationality other than Japanese and not have a residence in Japan
- Business executives, entrepreneurs, sole proprietors, investors, researchers, and other high-level human resources
※While a minimum one-month stay is recommended for the best outcome, we offer flexibility based on your needs.
Here is the team who will back you up day to day to go through the program journey with you.
Hila Yamada
Programme Manager: 90 Days Kyoto Stay Programme
Chief Coordinator: NPO Glocal HUman Development Center
Co-organizer: KIEC (Kyoto International Entrepreneurs Community)
Hila Yamada has served as the Chief Coordinator at NPO Glocal Center, leading educational and community-building initiatives. She oversees QUESTION/Students Lab, a unique “third space” she designed for providing a welcoming environment for young people to learn and explore new opportunities. Alongside this role, Hila organizes workshops for companies, coordinates educational programs for university and high school students, and manages the Kyoto International Entrepreneurs Community (KIEC), which she founded to foster true diversity and openness in Kyoto.
Recognized for her commitment to bridging international and local communities, Hila was appointed as an advisor for the Kyoto International Startup Center, where she supports the development of innovative businesses in the region. Her dedication to cross-cultural engagement recently culminated in her role in the 2024 Kyoto Stay Program, a 90-day initiative by the Kyoto Prefecture Government to promote cultural exchange on an unprecedented scale, solidifying Kyoto’s place as a global city.
Hila's skill set is both diverse and robust. She is proficient in English-Japanese interpretation and moderation, with a wide range of experience in art exhibitions, business meetings, cultural events, and design awards.
A graduate of Kyoto Saga Art College's Japanese painting course, Hila has also pursued cross-border projects in olfactory art and exhibited her work in France, the UK, and Sweden. Blending creativity, international insight, and a dedication to sustainable development, Hila continues to empower young people while enriching Kyoto’s cultural and entrepreneurial landscape.
Sesto Keisuke Ueda
Manager, coach & janitor at LYNX
Co-organizer: KIEC (Kyoto International Entrepreneurs Community)
Sesto, originally from Milan (Italy), moved to Kyoto in 2010. After gaining insights into the local business landscape, he founded LYNX in 2015, initially offering English-language training courses to hotels and tourism-related establishments. As demand for his consulting services grew, Sesto transitioned to an internationalization process advisor, assisting Japanese companies in expanding abroad and vice versa.
Among his achievements:
- Sesto played a key role as a consultant for the localization of the Italian wine trade show "WTFood Expo" in 2017, eventually becoming the Strategic Planner in 2019 and later the Country Director for Japan in 2023, during the post-Covid reboot.
- In 2021, he launched HATS, a highly-gamified app that digitizes LYNX's training methods, making them accessible to a wider audience nationwide.
- That same year, Sesto obtained a whisky export license to introduce several brands to the European market.
With first-hand experience navigating Kyoto's complex business environment, Sesto is now dedicated to supporting incoming international businesses. He has been active in the Kyoto International Entrepreneurs Community (KIEC) since 2018 as a co-organizer and, starting in 2024, began offering free consultation services to international entrepreneurs with the support of Kyoto Prefecture. Sesto is now committed to enriching Kyoto's entrepreneurial ecosystem by supporting innovative ideas from international startups, recognizing their potential to bring fresh perspectives and drive growth in the local market.