The Fernshore Index
The factors digital nomads look at first.
Each grade is against a published measure, with its source and the date we checked it. It is research information, not advice. Where we have no figure, the row says Unknown.
Internet
87 of 100Strong
38.63 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people (2023).
Source: Fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people, Japan. Checked 15 October 2026.
Work and career
85 of 100Strong
Strong: a residence route for remote workers exists (the Designated Activities status for digital nomads), and fixed broadband is 38.6 per 100 people (2023), over the 30 line. The route is limited: six months, no extension, no residence card, and annual income of at least 10 million yen (about US$63,000).
Source: Status of Residence "Designated Activities" (for Digital Nomad / Spouse or child of Digital Nomad); Fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people, Japan; Federal Reserve H.10 weekly release: foreign exchange rates, 13 October 2026. Checked 16 October 2026.
Cost of living
47 of 100Mixed
Price level 0.649 of United States prices (2025).
Source: Price level index (GDP), Japan. Checked 15 October 2026.
Visa, United States passport
Unknown
Research for United States passports is being checked
Visa, Canada passport
Unknown
Research for Canada passports is being checked
Visa, Australia passport
Unknown
Research for Australia passports is being checked
Visa, New Zealand passport
Unknown
Research for New Zealand passports is being checked
Community
46 of 100Mixed
Expat Insider 2026 Ease of Settling In: 24th of 31.
Source: Expat Insider 2026: Ease of Settling In. Checked 15 October 2026.
Climate
8 of 100Weak
Tokyo, the main city: 2 comfortable months a year (April (19.4 °C, 133.7 mm) and May (23.6 °C, 139.7 mm)); every other month has an average daily high under 18 °C or over 30 °C, or 150 mm of rain or more.
Source: Climate normals 1991–2020 (monthly values), Tokyo. Checked 16 October 2026.
Lifestyle
81 of 100Strong
Expat Insider 2026 Quality of Life: 4th of 31.
Source: Expat Insider 2026: Quality of Life. Checked 15 October 2026.
The country
The rest of the research on Japan.
The country page grades every factor, with its sources.
JapanQuestions from digital nomads about Japan.
Does the Japanese nomad status cover freelancers?
The Agency describes it as remote work for a foreign employer or selling services or goods to people abroad, so self-employed work for clients abroad fits that wording. You cannot be employed by a Japanese organisation. Whether your own work qualifies is the Agency's call; ask a consulate.
How long can I stay in a year on that status?
A stay is six months with no extension. The Agency says you must then wait six months before you can apply again, and no residence card is issued.
Can I work on a visa-free visit?
No. Canada says tourists need no visa for up to 90 days but working without the proper visa is illegal, and the US Embassy says visa-free visitors cannot work. Whether remote work for clients abroad counts as work on a visit is not stated on those pages; ask a consulate.
How do I count days for Japanese tax if I keep moving?
Japan's test is a year, not a day count: a resident has a domicile or residence continuously for one year or more. The Agency says tax conventions usually exempt pay for work in Japan only for 183 days or less in a tax year or 12 months. How a run of short stays counts toward residence is unknown here; ask an adviser.
What do coworking spaces cost in Japan?
Private guides list day passes of ¥1,650 to ¥3,500 and monthly desks of ¥22,000 to ¥50,000 in Tokyo, and day passes of ¥1,200 to ¥2,000 and desks of ¥12,000 to ¥20,000 in Fukuoka. Osaka and Kyoto spaces start at ¥27,500 and ¥22,000 a month. Fixed broadband is 38.63 per 100 people.
Sources
Where each figure comes from.
Every figure on this page links to the page we read, with the date we checked it.
- [K2] Fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people, Japan, International Telecommunication Union, via the World Bank. Checked 15 October 2026. 2023: 38.63 per 100 people (no 2024 figure published), read from the World Bank API on 15 October 2026.
- [K1] Status of Residence "Designated Activities" (for Digital Nomad / Spouse or child of Digital Nomad), Immigration Services Agency of Japan. Checked 16 October 2026. Remote work for a foreign employer, or services or goods sold to people abroad. Period of stay six months, no extension; a person must then wait six months to apply again; no residence card is issued. Annual income of at least 10 million yen at the time of application; private medical travel insurance with at least 10 million yen of treatment cover; no employment with a Japanese organisation. The Agency's nationality chart (PDF 001416932) lists Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United States.
- [K3] Federal Reserve H.10 weekly release: foreign exchange rates, 13 October 2026, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. Checked 16 October 2026. Japan: 158.34 yen per US dollar on 9 October 2026, the latest daily rate in the release. Used to convert yen amounts: 10 million yen is about US$63,000 and 30 million yen about US$189,000.
- [C1] Price level index (GDP), Japan, World Bank. Checked 15 October 2026. 2025: 64.87 (United States = 100), read from the World Bank API on 15 October 2026.
- [Q1] Expat Insider 2026: Ease of Settling In, InterNations (Expat Insider survey, private). Checked 15 October 2026. Japan ranks 24th of 31 countries.
- [W1] Climate normals 1991–2020 (monthly values), Tokyo, Japan Meteorological Agency. Checked 16 October 2026. Average daily high 9.8 to 31.3 °C; monthly rain 56.5 to 234.8 mm; 2 comfortable months (April, May). Normals period 1991–2020 (30 years), read from the agency's page (in Japanese) on 16 October 2026.
- [Q2] Expat Insider 2026: Quality of Life, InterNations (Expat Insider survey, private). Checked 15 October 2026. Japan ranks 4th of 31 countries.