Richard Kershaw: Sharing the Region’s Charm Through Global Experience
How Meeting Minami-Shinshu Changed My Life

In October 2026, SILKURA Arts Ryokan, a new accommodation and cultural experience destination in Takamori Town, held the soft opening of its café. At the heart of the project is Richard Kershaw, a UK native who is dedicated to creating new value by building on the traditions, resources, and cultural heritage of the local community.
Drawing on his extensive international experience, he is working to create a place that connects Southern Nagano with the rest of the world.
Richard’s connection with Southern Nagano dates back to 1996. After studying history at the University of Oxford, he came to Japan through the JET Programme. He spent two years working as an Assistant Language Teacher at a junior high school in Achi Village.
As a history enthusiast, Richard notes that the history of Southern Nagano is particularly fascinating. According to him, the region offers a historical narrative that stretches from the ancient Jomon period, predating even the world of the Manyoshu, through to the era following the Taika Reforms.
Richard himself grew up in a small rural town in the United Kingdom with a population of about 3,600. As a result, he was drawn to Southern Nagano’s rich natural environment and the warmth of its local communities.
“Even though I could hardly speak Japanese, the local people welcomed me warmly. Nearly thirty years later, I still feel the same gratitude.”

From Global Experience to a New Journey in Minami-Shinshu
After leaving Southern Nagano, Richard lived in cities including Tokyo, Hong Kong, Zurich, and Shanghai. For more than twenty years, he worked in risk consulting. At Deloitte Tohmatsu, he served as Asia Pacific Head of Forensic Technology.
At the same time, he never gave up on the idea of one day returning to Southern Nagano. At the age of 51, he decided to take early retirement and moved to Shimojo Village in 2024. There, he began a new chapter of his life focused on regional revitalization.
Part of that vision is Silkura.

“Silkura”: Bridging People and Cultures
The building itself is a historic storehouse that was used to store silk products during the Meiji era. More than 100 years old, it has been carefully renovated and repurposed.
“I wanted to preserve this historic building while giving it a new purpose, creating a place that connects Southern Nagano with the wider world. The name ‘Silkura’ combines ‘silk,’ reflecting the building’s history, with the Japanese word ‘kura,’ meaning a traditional storehouse.”
The facility will include guest accommodation, a café, and exhibition space. One of its main focuses is immersive stay programs that allow visitors to experience the traditional crafts and culture of Southern Nagano.
Programs include workshops led by local artisans featuring traditional Japanese papermaking with Hisakata Washi, mizuhiki decorative cord crafts, Ajima umbrellas, and katazome stencil dyeing. Visitors can enjoy a two-night, three-day experience that provides meaningful engagement with local culture.
Richard hopes to offer travelers more than sightseeing.
“I want to provide journeys where people not only see places but also meet local people and experience the culture firsthand.”
In the spring of 2025, he invited overseas participants to join a pilot version of the tour. Participants enjoyed not only the workshops but also opportunities to interact with artisans and experience everyday life in the community.
“The time spent learning directly from the artisans was truly special. I felt that conversations with local people themselves became one of the greatest attractions.”

A Community Challenge Sparked by a 30-Year Connection
Interestingly, the network of artisans supporting this initiative is rooted in relationships formed thirty years ago. Friends and teachers Richard met during his time in the JET Programme introduced him to many of the people involved today, helping to build the current collaborative framework.
“The seeds that were planted thirty years ago are finally growing and beginning to bloom.”
Richard also promotes the attractions of Southern Nagano through the website Visit Shimoina and social media in Japanese, English, and Chinese.
https://visit-shimoina.jp　
For international travelers, one of the main challenges in visiting rural areas is the lack of accessible information.
“Southern Nagano has so much to offer. However, information in foreign languages is limited, and many people hesitate to visit because they do not know what they can do here. Rather than thinking, Southern Nagano is too far away,’ I want people to see Southern Nagano’s location, nestled high in the beautiful mountains, as part of its appeal. The journey here should be part of the experience, not simply a means of reaching the destination. Places like the Scottish Highlands and Machu Picchu are far away too, but travelers still make the effort because they are worthwhile destinations. I constantly think about how we can make people want to come all the way to Southern Nagano. It is not something I can achieve alone, so I hope to work together with local residents.”
That is why he believes it is important not only to introduce tourist attractions, but also to provide practical information such as what visitors can do in half a day or what experiences are available during a two-night, three-day stay.
The thing Richard values the most in his activities is creating new value by building on the traditions, resources, and assets that have long been part of the local community.
His current home is also a renovated vacant house. He has preserved as much of its history and character as possible, following the same philosophy that guides the operation of Silkura.

Building the Future Together with the Local Community
Finally, he shared his thoughts on community involvement:
“I think it’s important to consider what I can do for the community, but equally important not to decide that on my own. I believe we should work together with the people who live here to identify what is needed and what we can achieve together.”
When asked to describe himself in a single phrase, Richard calls himself “a bridge between Southern Nagano and the world.” As a way of giving back for the kindness he received from local people three decades ago, his efforts to share the appeal of Southern Nagano with audiences in Japan and abroad are only just beginning.

Instagram: Arts Ryokan & Cafe (@silkra.shinshu)
　　　　　Shinshu Viking (@shimojoneko)