9 Years Running as the 'World's Happiest Country': Dive into Finnish Daily Life – A 9-Day 'Non-Touristy' Sustainable Experience Program in September 2026. Participants Now Being Accepted.
Finland, consistently ranked the world's happiest country, offers a unique 9-day 'living' experience program in September 2026, designed by Elama LLC. This 'non-touristy' journey focuses on immersing participants in Finnish daily life, sustainability, and well-being, aiming to inspire personal growth and a re-evaluation of life choices through activities like visiting a zero-waste restaurant, a Finnish home, and a forest sauna.
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- 📰 Published: April 15, 2026 at 19:00
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Elama LLC provides new learning opportunities to enrich life, based on Finland's lifelong education and well-being. Representative Yuumi Ishihara's designed Finland local program offers a valuable experience for participants to re-examine their way of life, supporting personal growth and corporate human resource development. Elama LLC (Headquarters: 235 Handata, Kokufu-cho, Takayama City, Gifu Prefecture, Representative Partner: Yuumi Ishihara) announces an innovative program to experience Finland's "happiness."
Why Japanese people should go to the country ranked #1 in happiness for 9 consecutive years
On March 20, 2026, the latest UN "World Happiness Report" was released, with Finland ranking first in the world for the 9th consecutive year. Meanwhile, Japan dropped further from 55th last year to 61st.
"Finland is happy because its social security is generous" — While this might be a simple explanation, Yuumi Ishihara, representative of Elama LLC and a long-term researcher of Finland's lifelong education and well-being, has a different perspective.
Comment from Yuumi Ishihara (Finnish Lifelong Education Researcher):
"Japan ranked 61st in the happiness rankings this year. But this doesn't mean Japanese people are unhappy, nor that Finns are particularly optimistic. Traveling between the two countries, I feel the difference in whether one can say 'I am satisfied with my life' often stems from subtle everyday perceptions.
When I first visited Finland, I was invited to a sauna in the forest. Honestly, I wasn't very good at saunas. But since it was an opportunity, I tried it, and felt a sensation as if the cold lake water and the scent of the forest merged with my body. I intuitively understood what 'finding your element' truly meant. The Finn next to me, without looking proud or embarrassed, simply said, 'Feels like being reborn, doesn't it?' Comfort and happiness are not 'special things' but 'ordinary things' within daily life. That one sentence felt like it revealed the true nature of this country's happiness.
I've continued this program for 7 years, having witnessed many moments where participants' 'quality of life' quietly changed. Some have changed jobs after returning, some have become independent, and some have found their daily priorities shifting. It's not about dramatically changing one's life, but about realizing what feels comfortable to oneself. That realization gradually changes the choices made after returning to daily life. We call this a 'change in the quality of life.' I want to share this feeling with more Japanese people."
Elama LLC (Takayama City, Gifu Prefecture), led by Ishihara, has continuously planned Finland local programs since 2019, making it one of the few specialized operators in Japan in this field. The 2026 September departure, co-planned with Meitetsu Kanko Service Co., Ltd., is recruiting participants for a 9-day program that immerses them in Finnish daily life and prompts introspection on their own way of living, rather than visiting tourist spots.
The program values "living" over "seeing." Participants are immersed in Finnish daily life, with carefully designed time to confront their own values and criteria for making choices.
Experience 1: Smart City Tour & Zero-Waste Restaurant (Helsinki)
Walk with a specialized guide to observe urban design where sustainability is naturally integrated into life, followed by dinner at a restaurant aiming for zero food loss. Experience firsthand why "being sustainable" is not special but ordinary in this country.
*Ethical shop in Helsinki*
Experience 2: Home Visit & Cinnamon Roll Making (Near Tampere)
Bake cinnamon rolls together in a Finnish home kitchen, chat over tea. A time to tangibly touch the "ordinary life" that lies beyond the statistics of the happiest country.
*Past program scene (home visit)*
Experience 3: Forest Walk & Reflection Session at Private Sauna (Tampere)
Open your senses in the silence of the forest, followed by dialogue and introspection among participants in a private sauna towards the end of the program. This is the program's climax, where participants articulate "What will I choose when I return to Japan?"
*Past program scene (forest walk)*
Profile of Planner:
Yuumi Ishihara, representative of Elama LLC, plans and produces this program.
Born in Osaka Prefecture. Completed Master's program at Waseda University Graduate School (International Relations). Researches Finnish lifelong education and well-being from perspectives of education, cultural anthropology, and international relations. She is a cross-disciplinary researcher in education, dialogue, and brand building, practically exploring "what it means to live as myself" through dialogue and learning, not just introducing Nordic countries.
After accumulating achievements in brand management and dialogue design, she expanded her activities to creating spaces for education, regions, and communities. Currently based in Takayama City, Gifu Prefecture, she researches and practices while traveling between Japan and Finland. In addition to lectures, corporate training, writing, and speaking engagements, she has experience as a tour interpreter and facilitator in Finland, establishing a unique position as a "researcher who can translate local culture."
Profile of Program Director:
Naoko Wada, the program director who accompanies participants throughout, is herself a "beneficiary of transformation" created by this program. Formerly worked at Starbucks Coffee, and after more than 20 years in a company with shift work, her participation in Elama's Finland program became a turning point in her life. She is now independent as an Elama-certified instructor and life design coach, and is also involved in operating a zero-waste restaurant.
Ishihara, the planner, supervises and designs the overall program, while Wada accompanies each participant's introspection on-site. Furthermore, a formal tour conductor from Meitetsu Kanko Service ensures itinerary management and safety, forming a three-party system that balances deep learning with travel security.
Participant Voices:
"Retiring from my company and living more freely. That 'ideal self' is beginning to be realized through this trip." (N.W., Female)
"It became a trip not just for sightseeing, but to gain 'insights' to reinforce my work strategy." (Y.T., Female)
"A profound experience connecting the culture and society of Finland 'as points and lines.' It fully satisfied my adult intellectual curiosity." (M.T., Male)
7 Years of Accumulation from Takayama City, Gifu Prefecture:
Elama LLC is an educational company named "Elämä," meaning "life" in Finnish. Since 2019, they have planned Finland local programs, with a cumulative total of 4 companies adopting them for corporate training. Some individual participants have utilized their employer's training subsidy system, making the programs useful for both "personal self-investment" and "corporate human resource development."
The company conducts two Finland programs annually. In addition to the September "Sustainable Way of Living" edition, another program themed "Working in the Age of AI" (Oulu City, Finland) is planned for October. Their strength lies in a network that allows collaboration with different local experts for each theme.
Explanatory Session Archive Video Now Available
A recording of the online briefing session held on April 4, 2026 (approx. 22 minutes) is now available.
Recruitment Details
Program Name: Program to Draw a Sustainable Way of Living Learned from Finland
Travel Period: Saturday, September 19, 2026 – Sunday, September 27, 2026 (9 days total)
Cities Visited: Helsinki / Tampere
Travel Cost: 781,000 JPY (per person, based on double occupancy) *Fuel surcharge and taxes separate (estimated as of March 2026: approx. 73,150 JPY)
Capacity: 16 people (minimum 10 participants to operate)
Application Period: Monday, March 23, 2026 – Friday, June 12, 2026
Planning: Elama LLC
Travel Arrangements & Application Reception: Meitetsu Kanko Service Co., Ltd.
Details & Application: https://elama.be/finlandprogram20260901/
Details & Application
Company Overview
Elama LLC
Location: 235 Handata, Kokufu-cho, Takayama City, Gifu Prefecture, 509-4114
Representative: Yuumi Ishihara (Finnish Lifelong Education Researcher), Master's degree from Waseda University Graduate School (International Relations)
Business Activities: Research and promotion activities related to Finnish lifelong education, well-being, and sustainability / Planning and production of Finland local programs / Training for corporations and local governments / Operation of the membership community "Elama no Mori" / Lectures and writing activities
URL: https://elama.be
Why Japanese people should go to the country ranked #1 in happiness for 9 consecutive years
On March 20, 2026, the latest UN "World Happiness Report" was released, with Finland ranking first in the world for the 9th consecutive year. Meanwhile, Japan dropped further from 55th last year to 61st.
"Finland is happy because its social security is generous" — While this might be a simple explanation, Yuumi Ishihara, representative of Elama LLC and a long-term researcher of Finland's lifelong education and well-being, has a different perspective.
Comment from Yuumi Ishihara (Finnish Lifelong Education Researcher):
"Japan ranked 61st in the happiness rankings this year. But this doesn't mean Japanese people are unhappy, nor that Finns are particularly optimistic. Traveling between the two countries, I feel the difference in whether one can say 'I am satisfied with my life' often stems from subtle everyday perceptions.
When I first visited Finland, I was invited to a sauna in the forest. Honestly, I wasn't very good at saunas. But since it was an opportunity, I tried it, and felt a sensation as if the cold lake water and the scent of the forest merged with my body. I intuitively understood what 'finding your element' truly meant. The Finn next to me, without looking proud or embarrassed, simply said, 'Feels like being reborn, doesn't it?' Comfort and happiness are not 'special things' but 'ordinary things' within daily life. That one sentence felt like it revealed the true nature of this country's happiness.
I've continued this program for 7 years, having witnessed many moments where participants' 'quality of life' quietly changed. Some have changed jobs after returning, some have become independent, and some have found their daily priorities shifting. It's not about dramatically changing one's life, but about realizing what feels comfortable to oneself. That realization gradually changes the choices made after returning to daily life. We call this a 'change in the quality of life.' I want to share this feeling with more Japanese people."
Elama LLC (Takayama City, Gifu Prefecture), led by Ishihara, has continuously planned Finland local programs since 2019, making it one of the few specialized operators in Japan in this field. The 2026 September departure, co-planned with Meitetsu Kanko Service Co., Ltd., is recruiting participants for a 9-day program that immerses them in Finnish daily life and prompts introspection on their own way of living, rather than visiting tourist spots.
The program values "living" over "seeing." Participants are immersed in Finnish daily life, with carefully designed time to confront their own values and criteria for making choices.
Experience 1: Smart City Tour & Zero-Waste Restaurant (Helsinki)
Walk with a specialized guide to observe urban design where sustainability is naturally integrated into life, followed by dinner at a restaurant aiming for zero food loss. Experience firsthand why "being sustainable" is not special but ordinary in this country.
*Ethical shop in Helsinki*
Experience 2: Home Visit & Cinnamon Roll Making (Near Tampere)
Bake cinnamon rolls together in a Finnish home kitchen, chat over tea. A time to tangibly touch the "ordinary life" that lies beyond the statistics of the happiest country.
*Past program scene (home visit)*
Experience 3: Forest Walk & Reflection Session at Private Sauna (Tampere)
Open your senses in the silence of the forest, followed by dialogue and introspection among participants in a private sauna towards the end of the program. This is the program's climax, where participants articulate "What will I choose when I return to Japan?"
*Past program scene (forest walk)*
Profile of Planner:
Yuumi Ishihara, representative of Elama LLC, plans and produces this program.
Born in Osaka Prefecture. Completed Master's program at Waseda University Graduate School (International Relations). Researches Finnish lifelong education and well-being from perspectives of education, cultural anthropology, and international relations. She is a cross-disciplinary researcher in education, dialogue, and brand building, practically exploring "what it means to live as myself" through dialogue and learning, not just introducing Nordic countries.
After accumulating achievements in brand management and dialogue design, she expanded her activities to creating spaces for education, regions, and communities. Currently based in Takayama City, Gifu Prefecture, she researches and practices while traveling between Japan and Finland. In addition to lectures, corporate training, writing, and speaking engagements, she has experience as a tour interpreter and facilitator in Finland, establishing a unique position as a "researcher who can translate local culture."
Profile of Program Director:
Naoko Wada, the program director who accompanies participants throughout, is herself a "beneficiary of transformation" created by this program. Formerly worked at Starbucks Coffee, and after more than 20 years in a company with shift work, her participation in Elama's Finland program became a turning point in her life. She is now independent as an Elama-certified instructor and life design coach, and is also involved in operating a zero-waste restaurant.
Ishihara, the planner, supervises and designs the overall program, while Wada accompanies each participant's introspection on-site. Furthermore, a formal tour conductor from Meitetsu Kanko Service ensures itinerary management and safety, forming a three-party system that balances deep learning with travel security.
Participant Voices:
"Retiring from my company and living more freely. That 'ideal self' is beginning to be realized through this trip." (N.W., Female)
"It became a trip not just for sightseeing, but to gain 'insights' to reinforce my work strategy." (Y.T., Female)
"A profound experience connecting the culture and society of Finland 'as points and lines.' It fully satisfied my adult intellectual curiosity." (M.T., Male)
7 Years of Accumulation from Takayama City, Gifu Prefecture:
Elama LLC is an educational company named "Elämä," meaning "life" in Finnish. Since 2019, they have planned Finland local programs, with a cumulative total of 4 companies adopting them for corporate training. Some individual participants have utilized their employer's training subsidy system, making the programs useful for both "personal self-investment" and "corporate human resource development."
The company conducts two Finland programs annually. In addition to the September "Sustainable Way of Living" edition, another program themed "Working in the Age of AI" (Oulu City, Finland) is planned for October. Their strength lies in a network that allows collaboration with different local experts for each theme.
Explanatory Session Archive Video Now Available
A recording of the online briefing session held on April 4, 2026 (approx. 22 minutes) is now available.
Recruitment Details
Program Name: Program to Draw a Sustainable Way of Living Learned from Finland
Travel Period: Saturday, September 19, 2026 – Sunday, September 27, 2026 (9 days total)
Cities Visited: Helsinki / Tampere
Travel Cost: 781,000 JPY (per person, based on double occupancy) *Fuel surcharge and taxes separate (estimated as of March 2026: approx. 73,150 JPY)
Capacity: 16 people (minimum 10 participants to operate)
Application Period: Monday, March 23, 2026 – Friday, June 12, 2026
Planning: Elama LLC
Travel Arrangements & Application Reception: Meitetsu Kanko Service Co., Ltd.
Details & Application: https://elama.be/finlandprogram20260901/
Details & Application
Company Overview
Elama LLC
Location: 235 Handata, Kokufu-cho, Takayama City, Gifu Prefecture, 509-4114
Representative: Yuumi Ishihara (Finnish Lifelong Education Researcher), Master's degree from Waseda University Graduate School (International Relations)
Business Activities: Research and promotion activities related to Finnish lifelong education, well-being, and sustainability / Planning and production of Finland local programs / Training for corporations and local governments / Operation of the membership community "Elama no Mori" / Lectures and writing activities
URL: https://elama.be