Introducing a Digital Nomad Who Thrives in Our Co-working Space .andwork!
The Millennials Kyoto, like all of our hotels, features a convenient co-working space for members of .andwork. In this article, we will introduce Nuri, a digital nomad from Switzerland, who has experience using our co-working spaces in The Millennials Kyoto and The Millennials Shibuya. Learn about his journey to Kyoto, his strides in learning Japanese by using our co-working spaces and his personal and career goals for the future.
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Q: Hi Nuri, thank you so much for chatting with me this evening. May I ask about how your digital nomad lifestyle works?
I normally work online and I’m currently spending two months in Kyoto at The Millennials while also using the co-working space. I was looking for a co-working space and capsule hotel and that’s how I stumbled upon The Millennials. Last year I spent three months in Japan–two months in Kyoto and one month in Shibuya.
Q: What do you think of the co-working space?
Pretty good! It’s super social so I really like it. It’s easy to meet people. It was important for me to make progress in Japanese, so luckily I was able to meet a lot of friends here. The co-working space is open super late so I’m able to work on a different timezone. There’s also a kitchen, so that is convenient. Overall the staff is also really nice, so I have made a lot of friends in the staff.
Q: Where are you usually?
I travel a lot, so I usually change location every 2-3 months. I’ve been to Bali, South Africa, Australia, etc. Before I came to Kyoto this year, I was in Canggu, Bali for a few months, which is a good hub for remote workers. I’m quite excited for Japan opening up for digital nomads!
Q: I see. Can you tell me about what a digital nomad lifestyle is like and how you started doing it?
I co-founded a remote company with my brother and a close friend, which allows me to travel and work from different locations. As I’m still young, I’d like to build something meaningful, continue exploring the world and build meaningful relations.
Q: That makes sense. By the way, are co-working spaces common overseas? How about in Japan?
It’s super easy to work remotely because there are co-working spaces everywhere. In Bali, even in a small town, you can find a bunch of co-working spaces. It was the same in Australia and South Africa. Here co-working is mostly for teams, even though a lot of digital nomads travel alone. It can be difficult to find co-working spaces as a solo traveler in Japan, but the nice thing with The Millennials is you can be solo and use the space.
Q: Why are most co-working spaces geared towards teams in Japan?
I’m not an expert on Japanese work life, but I don’t think it’s as common to find digital nomads. I would guess that it’s common to be at the office and there aren’t many remote companies here. Older companies are not remote, but more newer companies are getting there.
Q: I see. By the way, when did you start learning Japanese?
Last year I spent a few months in Japan and I try to speak to everyone in Japanese. I studied at home one or two hours a week and since I came back, I began speaking even more. I’m currently functional but hope to be conversational next year.
Q: Nice. How does being in Japan help with your studies?
Most of my friends here are Japanese. Since I got so into the language, I got to meet people who speak the language and it was helpful for my studies, but also I think people in Japan are super open. I think it was just a matter of taking the first step. My interest in Japanese was because of music. I used to listen to a lot of music without understanding the lyrics, so my first goal was to understand. Now my goal has changed to connect to people.
Q: That’s great. Do you have any advice on meeting Japanese people?
Last year, I wanted to try as much japanese candies as possible, I would just say hi to the friendly staff and share some. I brought candies to share and then we would just talk. Just be a nice person. AlsoA lot of local people are trying to learn English aswell, we both meet in the middle.
Q: Good advice. And why spend your time in Kyoto?
It’s the best place in Japan. A lot of people make the mistake of going to Tokyo. I like to avoid the crowds and I like going to places with nature. Here people seem less rushed. Kyoto is a nice mix of everything you’d want. Nature, traditions and modernity.
Q: Nice. Do you have any recommended shops?
Stumptown coffee roasters & Blue Bottle for coffee. It’s delicious and I can also go there to work if I want a change in scenery. My favorite temple is Kodaiji temple. It’s a less visited temple but it has everything like a nice bamboo forest and a little cozy teahouse, where I like to read.
Q: Any final thoughts on The Millennials Kyoto?
The Millennials Kyoto offers the whole package. It’s a place to stay, meet people, work and share a good time. It’s close to temples and tourist sites so it’s convenient. Nothing is missing. Gold’s gym is 10 minutes away and it is one of the only gyms friendly to foreigners. If you have the same goals as me, you can choose who to talk to. If you want to spend time with guests, use English, but if you talk to improve your Japanese, then you can try speaking with .andwork users and staff.
Q: Nice. And any final words to aspiring digital nomads?
Just go for it sooner than later. It’s harder when you have kids and a stable job, if you try it out sooner, you have more opportunities. Don’t think too much about it, just enjoy the ride.
Q: Great, well thank you so much for your time today.
No problem. Thank you for the questions.
The Millennials Kyoto is the ultimate high-tech capsule hotel experience located in Kyoto’s bustling Kawaramachi district. IoT integration, and a lobby that doubles as a coworking space.
Click the button below to book your stay at The Millennials Kyoto.