The Fernshore Index
The factors remote workers 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 remote workers about Japan.
Can I live in Japan while working remotely for a foreign employer?
The Agency's Designated Activities status for digital nomads covers remote work for a foreign employer or selling services or goods to people abroad. The stay is six months with no extension or residence card, and you cannot be employed by a Japanese organisation. The Agency's chart lists all four passports.
What income and insurance does the remote-worker status need?
A set annual income at the time of application, and private medical travel insurance with at least ¥10 million of treatment cover. To be safe on income, have more than ¥11 million a year (about US$69,700). Insurance prices are unknown here.
How good is the internet in Japan?
Japan has 38.63 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people (ITU, 2023). That counts subscriptions, not speeds or call quality. A private guide says fibre at about 300 Mbps is standard in Tokyo. Test upload speed and call quality at the exact address before you sign a lease.
What does a month cost in Tokyo or Fukuoka?
Private guides (verified 13 August 2026) give all-in budgets for a comfortable single expat of ¥250,000 to ¥370,000 in Tokyo and ¥180,000 to ¥280,000 in Fukuoka. Central one-bedrooms run ¥130,000 to ¥200,000 and ¥70,000 to ¥90,000. They cite no sources; costs for couples are unknown.
Would my foreign salary be taxed in Japan?
Japan treats you as a resident with a domicile or residence for a year or more, presumed if your work normally needs that long. A six-month plan points to non-resident status, unless it runs longer. Non-residents pay tax on Japan-source income, including pay for work done in Japan even if paid abroad. Ask an adviser.
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.