Kira Bella: Rural Revitalization and Preserving Japan's Cultural Heritage

Kira Bella, Founder of Kirimeki and rural revitalization entrepreneur, joins CREATOR: The Podcast to discuss building a cultural tourism business in the Japanese countryside. In this episode, Kira shares how she went from house-sitting cats and koi fish to becoming the third foreigner in Hiroshima Prefecture to receive a startup visa, including her journey of joining a 2,000-year-old Kagura dance team and performing in a UNESCO World Heritage rice planting festival. Host Ross Borden explores Kira's transition from traveling to 40+ countries to settling in Kita Hiroshima, diving into the challenges of language barriers in rural Japan, the art of gaining community acceptance as an outsider, and her vision for scaling cultural exchange programs across Japan. Kira offers behind-the-scenes insights about navigating Japanese business culture without formal training, plus practical advice on building authentic relationships in traditional communities. Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur or simply interested in cultural preservation, this conversation delivers a valuable perspective on creating meaningful tourism that benefits local communities. Follow Kira on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/earthkira/ To learn more about CREATOR: The Podcast, visit https://creatorthepodcast.com/ Subscribe to CREATOR: The Podcast on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/creator-the-podcast/id1788987273 Subscribe to CREATOR: The Podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6aHdngxWvkUbpDlmmCq8Z6?si=zQjPxLneRaOUIwP-y5BmyA 00:00 - Introduction to Kira Bella 02:08 - How Kira Discovered Rural Japan 03:07 - What is Kira Meki? The Vision and Mission 07:40 - Creating Unique Experiences That Didn't Exist Before 09:08 - Building a Following and Growing the Business 11:38 - From One Program a Month to Viral Success 16:21 - The Town of Kita Hiroshima: Population Decline and Revitalization 19:37 - Getting to Kita Hiroshima: Accessibility and Location 21:28 - Why Hiroshima Prefecture is a Strategic Tourism Hub 23:16 - Learning Japanese Through Immersion 26:19 - Joining a 2000-Year-Old Kagura Dance Team 29:25 - Earning Trust and Acceptance from the Community 32:49 - The Moment Kira Decided to Stay in Japan 34:45 - Navigating the Startup Visa Process 36:42 - What's Next? Scaling Kirameki Across Japan 39:54 - Working with Tourism Boards and Prefectures 41:39 - Travel Tips: Off the Beaten Path in Japan 46:48 - Closing and Where to Find Kirameki Check out GuideGeek, Your New Personal AI Travel Assistant! http://bit.ly/3LKpHTj More From Matador Network Website: http://matadornetwork.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/matadornetwork TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@matadornetwork Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/matadornetwork Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/matadornetworktravel Join Our Newsletter: https://matadornetwork.com/content/newsletter For Epic Hotels & Airbnbs TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@epic.stays Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/epicstays_ For Beautiful Travel Content TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@visit About Matador Network Matador is the world’s largest independent travel publisher. Since 2006, we’ve redefined travel media by developing a global network of editors, writers, photographers, and filmmakers who’ve pushed the limits of what’s possible as travel storytellers. At Matador, we envision a world where travel is a transformative experience that enables us to find humanity in each other everywhere.