The “After-School Hotel,” Experienced by a Total of 889 People in Kobe, Comes to Nagoya Turning the Nakagawa Canal into a “Place Where Children and the Community Gather.” Preview Sessions Start in November! Jointly operated by EIGHT DESIGN, BALNIBARBI, and HOLONIC Building on the success in Kobe, we aim to create a “After-school experience that nurtures children in the community,” uniquely tailored to Nagoya

Holonic, a nonprofit general incorporated association (Headquarters: Higashinada Ward, Kobe; Representative Director: Ichiro Nagata), is expanding “Gakudo Hotel”—a new after-school program for children that it has been operating in Kobe—to Nagoya, and will hold pre-launch trial sessions for “Gakudo Hotel NAGOYA” starting in November 2026.In Kobe, a total of 889 participants took part in the program from September 2025 to September 2026, and the “Family Cafeteria” served a total of 1,997 meals.In Nagoya, rather than simply replicating the Kobe model, the initiative will be developed by combining the unique characteristics of the Nakagawa Canal area with the core businesses and expertise of the three partner companies: EIGHT DESIGN, BALNIBARBI, and HOLONIC.In addition to addressing the social issues of “experiential inequality” among children and “parents’ mental and time-related burdens,” we aim to generate new foot traffic and vibrancy along the Nakagawa Canal, creating a place where children, families, and local residents can visit, gather, and connect.

Flyer Front

Musical Instrument Experience

Mazda Maintenance Experience

Rainbow-Colored Market

■ Overview of Experiences and Information Sessions

Dates: November 9, 16, and 30, 2026; December 7 (Mondays / 4 sessions total)

Time: 3:00 PM – 8:00 PM (Hands-on Programs + Family Dining)

Eligibility: Elementary school students in grades 3–6 residing in Nakagawa Ward, Nagoya City

Capacity: 10 participants per session

Venue: EIGHT BASE UNGA 2F (2-1 Unagamachi, Nakagawa Ward, Nagoya)

Access: About a 4- to 5-minute walk from “Sasashima Live” Station on the Aonami Line

Participation Fee: Free

Inquiries: Gakudo Hotel Secretariat

　　　　　　　Email: info@gakudohotel.or.jp

[Pre-Experience Program Details]

Duration: Approximately 5 hours

(1) Opening Remarks

(2) Special Experience Program: *Varies depending on the date and time of participation

(3) Family Dining: Children and Parents

　　Dinner prepared by the chef

(4) Children: Free time

　　Parents: After dinner—information session on the after-school hotel program

(5) Closing Remarks | End of Event

*Registration opens 30 minutes before each session, so please arrive at least 10 minutes early.

After-School Hotel Official Website: https://www.gakudohotel.or.jp/

To reserve a trial session for the After-School Hotel NAGOYA, scan the QR code

QR Code for Registration

■“Gakudo Hotel,” which originated in Kobe. Its next location is the Nakagawa Canal.

Rather than simply replicating our past success, we’re building this project together with the city of Nagoya.

[What Is the After-School Hotel?]

As a “third place”—neither home nor school—this initiative transforms hotels and local communities into learning environments, providing children with authentic experiences free of charge. Through diverse encounters—such as career experiences with hotel staff, food education, crafts, nature, music, and programs with local businesses—it turns their “I want to try that!” into reality, fostering confidence and independence.

・Hotel Career Experiences

・Engagement with the Community

・Creating and Learning

・Mealtime

Making and Learning

■ Track Record Built in Kobe

Total Participants (Cumulative): 889

Number of Meals Served at Family Cafeteria: 1,997

Number of applicants for the first intake: Approximately 100

*After-School Hotel statistics as of the end of September 2026

■What Is the After-School Hotel?

Children’s daily lives are a continuous series of “firsts.” However, the reality is that opportunities for these experiences vary depending on a child’s home environment.The After-School Hotel was launched at Hotel Setre Kobe-Maiko with the goal of narrowing this experiential gap, even if only slightly. In the unique setting of a hotel, it provides a space where children can discover their “passions” and “strengths” through real-world work and encounters with people.

Furthermore, seeing their children thrive brings peace of mind to parents. As a “third place” that fosters learning, experiences, and interaction, the After-School Hotel continues to spread a cycle of smiles throughout the community.

Daily Schedule

■Transforming the Nakagawa Canal from a “place people just pass by” into a “place where people gather.”

[Bringing together the core businesses and expertise of three companies to create a “After-School Hotel” unique to Nagoya in partnership with the community]

Nakagawa Canal

While building on the After-School Hotel philosophy and operational know-how cultivated in Kobe, our goal in Nagoya is not simply to replicate the Kobe model, but to create an “After-School Hotel that only Nagoya can offer.” The area surrounding the Nakagawa Canal—the setting for this project—is home to people, jobs, and places in fields such as food, architecture, design, art, and craftsmanship that spark children’s curiosity.Three companies—EIGHT DESIGN, BALNIBARBI, and HOLONIC—are pooling their core expertise and local connections, while engaging local businesses and residents, to transform the entire neighborhood into a learning environment for children.Through the “After-School Hotel,” we aim to transform the Nakagawa Canal into a place where people think, “I want to go there” or “I want to come back,” a place where children, families, and local residents naturally gather and interact, thereby creating a new sense of vibrancy.

●EIGHT DESIGN

We channel our expertise in architecture, design, and craftsmanship—along with our local connections along the Nakagawa Canal—into creative experiences for children.

●BALNIBARBI

We combine the expertise of food and beverage professionals with the power of creating spaces where people gather to foster authentic learning and interaction among children.

●HOLONIC

Leveraging the operational know-how and local hotel network cultivated in Kobe to connect people, businesses, and experiences.

■Three Challenges Faced by After-School Hotel NAGOYA

01. Enriching Experiences for Every Child.

We aim to minimize the “experience gap” caused by factors such as family background, even if only slightly, and provide opportunities for meaningful encounters and learning that touch the heart.

02. Providing parents with peace of mind and free time.

By creating a place where children can spend their time safely and meaningfully, we also give parents time for themselves and a sense of peace of mind.

03. Creating Opportunities for People to Gather at the Nakagawa Canal.

We will create opportunities for children, families, and local residents to visit, meet, and interact, thereby generating a new flow of people and vitality along the Nakagawa Canal.

Back of Flyer

■Co-Operating Companies: Company Profiles

(1) EIGHT DESIGN Co., Ltd.

Guided by the motto “Let’s Design Fun!”, we engage in architecture, design, and urban development.

Based in Nagoya, the company operates a wide range of businesses, including the renovation of residences, retail spaces, and offices; spatial design; furniture; and food and beverage services. By leveraging the power of architecture and design, we are committed to creating places where people gather and new connections are formed.

At Gakudo Hotel NAGOYA, we offer experiential programs centered on crafting and design to nurture children’s creativity and imagination.

Company Name: EIGHT DESIGN Co., Ltd.

Representative: Fumiya Kamitsubo, Representative Director

Established: January 2010

Address: EIGHT BASE UNGA (Nagoya Office), 2-1 Unga-cho, Nakagawa-ku, Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture

Official Website: https://eightdesign.co.jp/

Eight Design

(2) BALNIBARBI Co., Ltd.

Connecting people and communities through “food” to create new vitality in local areas.

A company that operates restaurants and cafes nationwide and is committed to regional revitalization and community development centered on food. Going beyond simply operating dining establishments, the company promotes the creation of gathering places that highlight the unique charm of each region. At the After-School Hotel NAGOYA, the company fosters children’s learning and interaction with the local community through experiences that leverage its expertise in food and service.

Company Name: BarniBarbi Co., Ltd.

Representatives: Hirohisa Sato, Chairman and Representative Director / Fumio Ando, President and Representative Director

Established: September 1991

Address: 6F Nakazawa Karaki Building, 1-14-26 Minami-Horie, Nishi-ku, Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture (Osaka Headquarters)

Official Website: https://www.balnibarbi.com/

BarniBarbi

(3) Holonic (HOLONIC), General Incorporated Association

Providing children with “authentic” experiences. A new after-school space nurtured together with the community.

A nonprofit general incorporated association established in July 2025 with the goals of “bridging the experiential gap among children” and “giving parents peace of mind and more free time.” It operates “After-School Hotels,” which leverage the personnel, facilities, and expertise of hotels and local businesses to provide children with diverse experiences and learning opportunities free of charge.The organization began operations in Kobe in 2025; by September 2026, a total of 889 children had participated in its programs, and the “Family Cafeteria” had served a total of 1,997 meals. In Nagoya, through collaboration with local businesses, the organization is working to create a new space for learning and interaction centered around the Nakagawa Canal that highlights the area’s unique characteristics.

Organization Name: Holonic, General Incorporated Association

Representative: Ichiro Nagata, Representative Director

Established: July 2025

Business Activities: Planning and operation of “After-School Hotels,” creation of experiential opportunities for children,

　　　　　 collaboration with local businesses and organizations

Official Website: https://www.gakudohotel.or.jp/

Holonic