Large nomad scene
Good to know
Good to Know
- Colive Fukuoka is the largest and most established annual gathering; it grows each year and brings substantial temporary influx of nomads to the city in October—plan accommodation well in advance.
- Weekly meetups at Cheers provide year-round connection to the nomad community; this is the most consistent and accessible regular touchpoint for both long-term stays and short-term visitors.
- The city government actively supports the nomad scene as part of its strategy to position Fukuoka as a digital-talent hub and counter overtourism in other Japanese cities.
- Community is deliberately integrated with local startup ecosystem and Japanese cultural experiences—not siloed as Western-only; language exchange and cultural reciprocity are valued.
- Coworking infrastructure exists but is not extensive; event-based coliving is a primary model for accommodation + community during visits.
Flagship Events
Colive Fukuoka
- Dates
- October 1–31 annually (main conference October 1–10)
- Organizers
- Yugyo Inc. (founder Ryo Osera), Nomad University, Japan Digital Nomad Association, Japan Workcation Association
- Pricing Tier
- 3-day conference pass approximately ¥37,000 (USD 229), full month and extended 10-day passes available
- Program Includes
- Talks from entrepreneurs and industry leaders, coworking sessions, networking events, onsen experiences, shrine conferences, traditional Japanese cultural activities, Ramen Tech startup week collaboration, side events including art/music festivals, skill-share workshops
- Description
- Annual 10-day to 30-day coliving and conference event combining business networking, cultural immersion, and community building
Scale
- 2026 Expected
- larger than 2025
- 2023 Participants
- 50
- 2024 Participants
- 800
- 2025 Participants
- 1000
Coworking And Infrastructure
CIC (Fukuoka Startup Incubator)
- Type
- Paid shared office space
- Details
- Houses local startups; excellent for networking
- Location
- One Building Fukuoka
- Notes
- Located near Awabar/Tenjin
Skylobby
- Type
- Free coworking space
- Details
- Available for work and meetings
- Location
- One Fukuoka building (lobby and cafe area)
The Company Mina Tenjin
- Type
- Coworking space
- Scale
- 760m² facility with 22 private offices and 40 flexible seating arrangements
Recurring Meetups And Groups
Nomads Meet Fukuoka / Japan Digital Nomad Association Meetup
- Visa fee
- ¥300
- Time
- 8:00 PM – 11:30 PM
- Location
- Cheers Fukuoka (Tenjin)
- Frequency
- Weekly (Wednesdays)
- Notes
- Drinks at own expense; connection point to larger Digital Nomad Community Japan network (WhatsApp group, online community)
Cheers English/Japanese Language Exchange Lounge
- Location
- Cheers Fukuoka (Tenjin)
- Frequency
- Weekly
- Notes
- Dual table setup (English table for Japanese learners, Japanese table for English learners)
- Description
- Language exchange and cultural mixing; non-Japanese participants from Colive Fukuoka attend free; venue requests 1 drink purchase
Weekly Language Exchange
- Frequency
- Weekly
- Organizer
- @Ryota
- Description
- Dedicated language exchange events hosted independently
Local Expat Media And Resources
Fukuoka Now Magazine
- Founder
- Nick (Canadian, started 1998)
- Location
- Near Cheers/Tenjin area
- Description
- English-language magazine about Fukuoka with travel guides and city information
Overall Scene Assessment
Fukuoka has developed a substantial and growing digital nomad and expat community, anchored by annual flagship events and regular meetups. The city is positioned as Japan's primary hub for international remote workers and has gained city government support.
Community Infrastructure Notes
Growing ecosystem with official city government backing; volunteer-powered events (nearly 50 Japanese digital nomads and local university student volunteers support Colive); multiple entry points for networking year-round beyond the October event; strong integration with local startup scene (Ramen Tech) and Japanese cultural experiences; organized WhatsApp and online communities for sustained connection outside events
Sources cited for this category
These are the sources cited in this nomad & expat scene density research for this city. Individual figures may not each trace to one of them.
More About Fukuoka
Data last updated July 2026 · Verify anything important.