Fukuoka City - Japan’s Epicentre for ‘Slomadism’ in 2026

Fukuoka City - Japan’s Epicentre for ‘Slomadism’ in 2026

Fukuoka City is gaining attention as Japan’s most attractive destination for ‘slomads’ as the digital nomad community slows down and looks for places to stay put for a few months rather than a few weeks. Fukuoka was the first city in Japan to introduce the Startup Visa (in 2015), an initiative allowing foreign nationals to live in the city long-term while launching businesses or working as freelancers. Numerous digital nomads have been drawn to the ‘startup hub of Asia’* by its urban convenience, noted food scene, access to nearby nature, mountains and beaches, affordable living costs and diverse network of coworking spaces and communities. These are some of Fukuoka City’s unique spots designed to support this dynamic community.

On the trail of Peaky Blinders, Black Sabbath and the perfect pint – an alternative guide to Birmingham

On the trail of Peaky Blinders, Black Sabbath and the perfect pint – an alternative guide to Birmingham

As the Peaky Blinders film is released this week, we follow in the footsteps of the Shelbys, make a heavy metal pilgrimage and find the city’s best places to eat, drink and dance The runaway success of the TV crime drama Peaky Blinders has been credited with boosting tourism to Birmingham and the West Midlands since it first aired in 2013, even though much of the series was actually shot farther north, in Merseyside, Yorkshire and Manchester. The release this week of the Peaky Blinders movie The Immortal Man (much of which was filmed in and around Birmingham this time) will undoubtedly generate a new wave of interest, particularly in the Black Country Living Museum in nearby Dudley, whose authentic recreations of streets, houses and industrial workshops appear in key scenes in the TV show and the film – most notably as the location for Charlie Strong’s yard (pictured below). Continue reading...