How I Live as a Digital Nomad in Japan

Being a digital nomad is more than just having the ability to work wherever you go. The digital nomadic lifestyle is one of freedom, opportunity, and adventure because if you have the work available and the funds to sustain yourself, you can go wherever your heart desires.

For me, this lifestyle is the only one that has scratched an itch no 9-to-5 job has ever satisfied. But in a country like Japan that values overwork, company jobs, and balance, how does one live as a digital nomad?

Today, I’m going to answer some of those questions.

The Digital Nomad Scene in Japan

First off, I’m going to start by telling you that there’s no such thing as a long-term digital nomad life open in Japan. I’ve lived in Japan on and off for over 6 years now, so I know. The country isn’t open to the idea of “freelancing” and “self-proprietorship” yet, and getting a visa for these things can be difficult if you don’t have the capital or the sponsor. However, for those who seek to cross the country on a visitor visa or tourist visa—giving you anywhere from 90 days to 6 months—being a digital nomad is highly doable. It’s also probably the only way you can sustain yourself while on a visitor visa in this country.

The problem here is that on either of these visas, you can’t do “real” work within Japan. If you get a working holiday visa, though, this solves most of those problems. Unfortunately for me, I have an American passport, and we’re not allowed to receive working holiday visas for a number of countries – Japan included.

Possible Jobs as a Digital Nomad in Japan

Here are some jobs I have personally done and those held by other digital nomads in Japan:

Tourist visa/Visitor visa

• Unpaid internships – sometimes you get money from the employer for the cost of living
• Online-based jobs from Japanese companies, such as blog and article writing, translation, and teaching languages
• Television extra
• Freelancing websites – blogs, articles, etc.
• Photography
• Virtual assistant

Working Holiday visa (permitted to work at a Japan business)

• Bartender
• Chef
• Assistant
• Farmhand
• Hairdresser
• Caretaker – of children and the elderly
• Teacher – yoga, fitness, languages, and beyond
• Construction
• Business seminars
• Engineering
• Internships – paid
• Modelling
• Television extra

Budgeting Tips

Lastly, I’m going to touch on some budgeting tips for living as a digital nomad in Japan. The amount of money you spend is directly relative to where you are in the country. Tokyo is the most expensive place in terms of accommodation, food, and entertainment. Therefore, I wouldn’t recommend hanging around too long. See what you need to then go to less populated regions, such as Hokkaido, Kansai (Osaka, Kyoto, Nara), and Kyushu (Fukuoka).

A quick note on accommodation: Japan recently passed a law limiting Airbnb use, so the cost of hotels, hostels, and everything in between has skyrocketed. Most of your money is going to be going towards lodgings unless you pitch a tent in a low-cost campground.

Food & Drink

Food prices are relatively the same no matter where you go, but instead of buying fast food all the time, buy groceries and make your own meals. Fruits are costly in the summer, but vegetables are reasonable. Don’t rely solely on convenience stores for your food and drink either. Buying from a supermarket is much cheaper.

Transportation Cards

When you first arrive, invest in an IC card. That might be Suica, Pasmo, Sapica, or something else. You get a couple cents knocked off your transportation, regardless of where you go.

Getting Around Japan

If you want to save money hopping from one major city to the next, compare the cost of the shinkansen (bullet train) to domestic flights. Usually, the domestic flight is cheaper than the bullet train.

In cities, use the trains and subways. Buses are great, too, but if you don’t know Japanese, you might have some trouble navigating. Taxis are off limits if you’re looking to stretch your JPY. And for those who usually like Uber and Lyft, that’s a no-go here.

Final Thoughts

The digital nomad lifestyle in Japan calls for some creativity because this isn’t the country you come to bootstrapping.

Yet, if you have the means to stay afloat, such as writing travel blogs and selling your photographs, you can wander the country for as long as your visa allows.

• Check out: Our Japan Campervan Adventures

Seize the opportunity when you find it, and spend your money wisely!

Disclaimer: The views expressed in the article are the author’s and in no way reflect the views and/or opinions of Fat Starfish.

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