3 Days That Will Transform Your Career

As designers working day-to-day, we’re often consumed by the projects in front of us. Finding time to learn something new, explore different worlds, or connect with others can feel nearly impossible.

“Design Retreat Ishikawa,” a new program from Spectrum Tokyo, is a 3-day field retreat that takes you out of Tokyo to explore Ishikawa Prefecture (Kaga, Noto, and Kanazawa).

Why a Retreat?

This retreat is not just an expensive vacation — it’s an investment in yourself that could fast-forward your career by years. More than a simple refresh trip, this journey helps you reframe your career and bring back new perspectives. The encounters, discoveries, and invaluable connections you make will become a major milestone in your career.

What You Can Do

• Learn about rich cultural heritage and industries through artisan and studio visits
• Meet diverse, international designers — share meals, share rooms, deepen bonds
• Enjoy delicious local cuisine at accommodations and destinations

What You will Gain

• Broader Perspective: Gain wider horizons through encounters that transcend industries and borders
• Higher Viewpoint: Experience and learn from traditions and cultures that have preserved and evolved over time
• Deeper Reflection: In an extraordinary setting away from daily routines, rediscover your identity as a designer

Why Ishikawa Prefecture?

With 36 traditional crafts still thriving today and Kanazawa City designated as a UNESCO Creative City (Crafts and Folk Arts), Ishikawa is one of Japan’s regions with the richest design heritage. Kaga cuisine, representative of Ishikawa, was registered as a National Intangible Cultural Property in December 2025, reaffirming its value as a food culture that encompasses tableware and presentation.

Additionally, this region stands at a turning point for Japanese tourism and culture, with ongoing reconstruction efforts following the 2024 Noto Peninsula Earthquake and issues like overtourism from concentrated tourism in specific areas. Using KITAMAE BASE Kaga Hashitate—which newly opened in November last year in Kaga City—as our base, we’ve prepared an environment where you can enjoy quality accommodations and food while gaining insights into sustainable travel and preserving culture for the future.

Overview

Dates: Feb 27 (Fri) – Mar 1 (Sun), 2026
Format: Depart Tokyo → Kaga → Noto → Kanazawa (End in Tokyo or Kanazawa)
Capacity: 10 participants
Languages: Japanese & English

Transportation to/from Ishikawa Prefecture is not included

See more

For more details on the itinerary, accomodation and pricing, please visit the Design Retreat Ishikawa official.