Japan with Kids: Where Nomad Families Could Base, Real Costs and the Six-Month Catch (2026)

🇯🇵 Japan Is Still on Our Wish List

Can a nomad family actually live in Japan? Yes, for a while. If one parent earns at least ¥10 million a year from outside Japan, the digital nomad visa gives the whole family six months. Without that income, most families are looking at a shorter visa-free visit. Either way, plan Japan as a chapter, not a permanent base.

🔎 Researched, not visited yet. Figures checked on 08-10-2026.

We haven’t been to Japan. None of us. Japan was meant to be my 40th birthday trip, and then Leo had other plans. That story lives on our Japan visa guide.

So why does it keep coming up at our dinner table? Because Japan seems made for each of us in a different way.

Marty loves gardens, especially the kind that feel like they’ve been thought about for centuries. I love design, and Japan seems to treat everyday objects, from shop signs to a train ticket, as worth getting right. Louie builds things, constantly. Leo loves puzzles and sings all day long.

And me? I want to see the lights of Tokyo at night.

We still haven’t booked a flight back to the Netherlands. So, honestly, you never know. 😉

🛂 The Visa Picture in Brief

We cover the visa in detail in our Japan Digital Nomad Visa for Families guide. Here’s what matters for planning:

• Income: at least ¥10 million a year, roughly €54,000 at current rates. Nothing extra is required per child.
• Length: six months, no extension. Then a six-month gap before you can use it again.
• Family: your spouse and children apply for their own matching visa. Your partner can’t work in Japan.
• Insurance: every family member needs private medical cover of at least ¥10 million.
• No residence card: you can’t join Japan’s public health insurance.
• Fees: about ¥15,000 per person for a single-entry visa from 01-07-2026.

Below the income bar? Australian and Dutch passports can visit Japan visa-free for short stays, currently up to 90 days. Visitor status isn’t designed for working, though, so check current details with the Japanese embassy before you plan remote work around it. Our guide to staying longer without a nomad visa covers the wider options.

Visa details checked against Japan’s Immigration Services Agency and Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Rules change, so check current details before you apply.

🗾 Where Nomad Families Could Base in Japan

Japan stretches from snowy Hokkaido in the north to subtropical Okinawa in the south. A 2023 digital recount by the Geospatial Information Authority of Japan put the number of islands at 14,125, more than double the old official figure.

Most nomad families would choose one city and use the trains to explore. The shinkansen (bullet train) runs from Tokyo to Kyoto in just over two hours, so weekend trips feel easy rather than ambitious.

Choosing your base

It comes down to the daily life you want:

• Tokyo: the most international schools, services and English.
• Kyoto: temples, gardens and a slower pace.
• Osaka: big-city food culture at lower rents than Tokyo.
• Fukuoka: smaller, calmer and the most affordable of the cities we looked at.
• Okinawa: beaches and island life, a long way from mainland Japan.

🏙 Tokyo

A Huge City That Runs on Time

Tokyo is enormous, with around 14 million people in the metropolis alone. Yet it’s known for running smoothly: trains on time, clean streets, and neighbourhoods that each feel like their own small town.

For families, Setagaya, Kichijōji and Meguro come up again and again. They’re residential, close to parks, and have more space than central Tokyo, though “more space” in Tokyo is still compact. Families who want an international school often look near the schools themselves, especially in Minato or around Chōfu.

Working From Tokyo

Tokyo has the biggest coworking scene in Japan. WeWork has several locations across the city. Impact Hub Tokyo, tucked into the backstreets of Meguro, is known for its community events. Prices change often, so check current rates directly.

Day Trips by Train

Kyoto is just over two hours away by shinkansen, and Osaka around two and a half. For hot springs, the Romancecar from Shinjuku reaches Hakone-Yumoto in about 80 minutes. Heading west by shinkansen, sit on the right-hand side for a chance to see Mount Fuji on a clear day.

Tokyo After Dark: Neon and a Karaoke Room for Leo

I want to see Tokyo lit up at night. Not from a tour bus. From a busy crossing in Shibuya, with Leo on Marty’s shoulders and Louie trying to count the screens.

Then I want to find a karaoke room. Leo sings in the shower, in the pram and at breakfast. Handing him a real microphone could be the highlight of his year. 🎤

Japanese karaoke is private. You book your own small room by the hour and order drinks and snacks there. Prices depend on the time of day, and weekday daytime is usually the cheapest.

The catch is late at night. Rules on when under-18s can be in karaoke venues are set by each prefecture, and they vary. With little ones, go in the afternoon or early evening, and check the venue’s own policy first.

Tokyo With Kids: Our Wish List

• teamLab: immersive digital art spaces that kids can walk, touch and play through.
• The Ghibli Museum in Mitaka: for families who love the films. Book tickets well ahead.
• Akihabara: electronics, games and anime, a lot of it at a child’s eye level.
• Riverside bike paths: our bike-friendly cities guide covers cycling in Tokyo with kids.
• Kids’ independence: it’s common to see Japanese children riding trains alone, which says a lot about how safe the city feels.

🏯 Kyoto

Temples, Gardens and More Than 1,200 Years of History

Kyoto became Japan’s capital in 794 and stayed that way for more than a thousand years. It shows. The city has well over a thousand temples and shrines, from the red torii gates of Fushimi Inari to the bamboo groves of Arashiyama.

If one city matches Marty’s love of gardens, it’s probably Kyoto. Zen rock gardens, moss gardens and the canal-side Philosopher’s Path are all part of everyday life here, not just tourist stops.

A Slower Pace

Life in Kyoto moves more slowly than in Tokyo. Streets are narrower, buildings are lower, and the northern and western neighbourhoods feel quieter still. The trade-off is crowds: popular sights get very busy in cherry blossom season and in November.

For work, Kyoto’s coworking scene is smaller than Tokyo’s. FabCafe Kyoto combines a café, workspace and digital fabrication tools, which could suit a family with a young maker. Check current details before you go.

Kyoto With Kids: What We’d Do First

• Cycle or walk Arashiyama early in the morning, before the crowds.
• Climb part of Fushimi Inari. You don’t need to reach the top for the tunnels of gates to impress.
• Visit the Arashiyama Monkey Park, a short hillside walk with macaques and city views.
• Try a tea ceremony workshop. Many welcome older children.
• Eat your way through Nishiki Market, Kyoto’s covered food market (ask about dashi if you’re vegetarian).

🍜 Osaka

Japan’s Kitchen

Osaka is famous for food and for being a bit more outgoing than other Japanese cities. Okonomiyaki (savoury pancakes), takoyaki (octopus balls) and kushikatsu (fried skewers) are local favourites. The Dōtonbori canal area and Kuromon Market are the places to start.

Vegetarians will need to ask questions here, because many street foods contain seafood or dashi. Okonomiyaki can often be made without meat, but check the batter and toppings.

Family Life in Osaka

Rents are lower than in Tokyo, and the transport links are excellent. Kyoto is about 15 minutes away by shinkansen, Kobe around 30 minutes by train, and Hiroshima roughly an hour and a half.

The coworking scene is smaller than Tokyo’s but active, including WeWork. Families wanting international schools usually look north towards Minoh or west towards Kobe.

Osaka With Kids: Top of Our List

• Nara’s deer: less than an hour away by train, sika deer roam the park around Tōdai-ji temple.
• Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan: one of Japan’s best-known aquariums, built around a huge central tank with whale sharks.
• Universal Studios Japan: better for older kids who can manage the rides and the queues.
• Day trips: Kyoto, Kobe and Hiroshima are all easy by train.

🏝 Okinawa

Subtropical Island Life

Okinawa sits hundreds of kilometres south of mainland Japan, closer in feel to a Pacific island than to Tokyo. It has its own history, music, food and dialects, shaped by the old Ryukyu Kingdom.

Okinawa is also known as one of the world’s “Blue Zones”, places where people tend to live long lives. The local diet leans on vegetables, tofu and goya (bitter melon), which is good news for vegetarian families, although pork is also central to Okinawan cooking.

Living in Okinawa

Naha and Chatan are the most popular areas with international families. Both are close to beaches and have good internet. Okinawa’s large US military presence means more English around some areas, but international school options are far fewer than in Tokyo, so check them directly.

Weather is the big consideration. Summers are long, hot and humid, and typhoons are a real part of life in late summer and autumn.

Okinawa With Kids: Our Wish List

• Churaumi Aquarium: in the north of the main island, known for whale sharks and manta rays.
• Island hopping: the Kerama Islands and Miyako Island are known for clear water and snorkelling.
• Okinawan culture: sanshin music, Eisa drumming and local food that’s very different from mainland Japan.
• Beach days: the reason most families choose Okinawa in the first place.

🌸 Fukuoka

Smaller, Calmer and More Affordable

Fukuoka sits at the northern tip of Kyushu, facing South Korea across the strait. It’s a proper city with an international airport close to the centre, yet it’s far more manageable than Tokyo.

Fukuoka’s rents are much lower than Tokyo’s. On Numbeo, three-bedroom apartments in Fukuoka average about half the Tokyo price, though Fukuoka’s data comes from far fewer contributors.

The yatai, open-air food stalls along the river, are a local institution. Expect ramen, yakitori and oden, so vegetarians may end up mostly watching and soaking up the atmosphere.

Beyond the City

Fukuoka is a gateway to the rest of Kyushu. Beppu’s hot springs, Mount Aso’s volcanic caldera and Nagasaki’s Peace Park are all realistic weekend trips. Busan in South Korea is a short hop away too.

Fukuoka With Kids: Why It Appeals

• Lower costs than Tokyo or Osaka, especially rent.
• Easy weekends to hot springs, volcanoes and historic sites across Kyushu.
• Seaside parks, including Uminonakamichi Seaside Park, for big outdoor days.
• A compact city that’s easier to learn than Tokyo in a six-month stay.

🧭 Which Japanese City Suits Your Family?

No single city wins on everything. Tokyo has the schools and services. Kyoto has the history and gardens. Osaka has the food and lower rents. Fukuoka has the calm and the best value. Okinawa has the beaches.

For a six-month chapter, we’d think hardest about two things: rent and how easily you’ll manage day to day without much Japanese. Those usually decide more than any list of sights. 🇯🇵

🏠 Family Life in Japan

Structure, Safety and Small Rituals

Daily life in Japan runs on precision. Trains leave on the minute, shops open exactly on time, and rubbish collection follows a strict weekly schedule. Some families find this calming. Others find the rules a lot to learn at first.

For parents juggling work and kids, that reliability helps. When transport and services just work, there’s more energy left for everything else.

Seasons Shape Everything

Food, festivals and even convenience store snacks change with the seasons. Spring brings cherry blossom, summer brings festivals and fireworks, autumn brings maple colour, and winter brings hot pots and snow in the north. For worldschooling, it’s a calendar of lessons that arrives on its own.

Children in Japan

Safety is what parents mention most. Japanese children often walk to school and ride public transport on their own from a young age. Kids are generally welcome in family restaurants, parks and museums, though quiet is expected on trains.

With a toddler, think about prams. Stations in big cities usually have lifts, but trains get very crowded at rush hour, so plan outings for mid-morning or early afternoon.

🥢 Eating Vegetarian in Japan

This is our biggest Japan question. We cook vegetarian, and Japanese food looks like it should be easy: tofu, rice, noodles, pickles and vegetable tempura.

The catch is dashi, a stock usually made with fish. It hides in broths and sauces in dishes that look vegetarian, along with bonito (dried fish) flakes. A bowl of vegetable udon often isn’t vegetarian at all.

What Helps, From Our Research

• Learn one phrase. Dashi o tsukawanaide kudasai means “please don’t use dashi”.
• Ask about kombu dashi. It’s a seaweed broth, but it’s sometimes mixed with bonito, so check.
• Look for stickers. Some restaurants display vegan or vegetarian approval from groups like the Japan Vegan Society, VegeProject Japan or the Japan Vegetarian Association.
• Try shojin ryori once. This Buddhist temple cuisine is traditionally vegan, but it’s mostly served at temples, so it won’t feed you every day.
• Cook at home. Supermarkets are full of tofu, natto (fermented soybeans), vegetables and noodles. That’s how we’d eat most meals, and it keeps the budget in check.

The Japan National Tourism Organization’s vegetarian guide is a good place to start planning.

Our honest take: vegetarian families who eat out a lot will find Japan harder work than Vietnam or Taiwan. Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka are the easiest places to start. See our guide to vegetarian travel with kids for how Japan compares.

🏡 Finding a Family Home in Japan

Small Homes, Clever Design

Homes in Japan are smaller than most Europeans or Australians are used to. A three-bedroom apartment in Tokyo can feel like a two-bedroom at home. Good design helps: built-in storage, sliding doors and compact kitchens make the space work harder.

Why Furnished Monthly Rentals Make Sense

The standard Japanese rental market isn’t built for short stays. Leases often need a Japanese guarantor, and move-in fees can add up to several months’ rent. On the nomad visa you also won’t have a residence card, which makes a normal lease harder still.

That’s why most nomad families would look at furnished monthly apartments, sometimes called “monthly mansions”. They cost more per month, but you skip the guarantor, the furniture and most of the upfront fees.

Where to Look

• Sakura House: furnished apartments in Tokyo and Kyoto, including family-sized units. According to its FAQ, there’s no guarantor and you don’t need a Japanese visa to rent.
• Monthly apartment operators: search “monthly mansion” plus your city to find furnished flats from a month upwards.
• Airbnb and Booking.com: useful for the first few weeks. Japan regulates private short-term rentals, so check that monthly stays are allowed for the listing.
• GaijinPot Housing: a listings site aimed at foreigners, useful for seeing what’s available in English.

Our family accommodation guide covers how we check a place before we book.

💻 Working Remotely in Japan

Reliable Internet, With a Few Catches

Internet in Japan’s cities is fast and reliable, and fibre is common in newer buildings. Older buildings and rural areas can be slower, so ask for a speed test before you commit to a rental.

Mobile coverage is strong across populated areas. Without a residence card, a long-term phone contract is harder to get, so an eSIM or a prepaid data plan is usually the easier option. Pocket Wi-Fi rentals are also widely available at airports.

Coworking

Tokyo has the most choice, including several WeWork locations and Impact Hub Tokyo in Meguro. Osaka, Kyoto and Fukuoka have smaller scenes. Cafés are often fine for an hour, but long laptop sessions aren’t always welcome, so a coworking space is worth it for proper work days.

Time Zones

Japan is on JST (UTC+9) all year. That’s handy for clients in Australia and East Asia, but working with Europe means late afternoons and evenings.

See our remote work guide for families for how we split work and parenting.

🎒 School, Worldschooling and Childcare in Japan

Do kids have to go to school in Japan? Not if they’re foreign nationals. Japan’s compulsory education laws don’t apply to foreign parents, so you’re not legally required to enrol your children.

Public schools still accept foreign children whose families want to enrol, and lessons are in Japanese. Public elementary and junior high school tuition and textbooks are free, according to the Tokyo Metropolitan Government. We couldn’t confirm whether children on the digital nomad visa can enrol, so ask the local board of education first.

For a six-month stay, most nomad families will worldschool or use online school. We’d keep Louie’s daily bookwork going, just as we do now.

International Schools

International schools are concentrated in Tokyo, the Osaka and Kobe area, and Fukuoka. Fees are high: Numbeo puts international primary school in Tokyo at about ¥2.9 million a year per child. Popular schools have waiting lists, and mid-year places for a short stay can be hard to find.

• Tokyo: The American School in Japan in Chōfu, Tokyo International School and The British School in Tokyo.
• Osaka and Kobe: Canadian Academy in Kobe and Osaka International School in Minoh.
• Fukuoka: Fukuoka International School.

Our international schools directory lists more options by city.

Worldschooling in Japan

Japan is full of hands-on learning. Temple architecture brings in history, maths and engineering. Seasonal food teaches where things come from. Calligraphy, origami and martial arts classes are open to children in most cities.

For a kid like Louie, who builds things all day, traditional Japanese woodworking could be the highlight. Temple carpenters have long used interlocking joints, and joinery workshops and museums show how they fit together.

Check the rules for your own situation in our worldschooling legal guide, and see what our days look like in Homeschooling While Travelling.

Childcare

Japan has hoikuen (daycare centres) and yōchien (kindergartens, usually from age three). Private full-day preschool in Tokyo averages about ¥212,000 a month per child on Numbeo, or around €1,160.

We couldn’t confirm whether families on the nomad visa can use public daycare, so check with the city ward office. For a toddler like Leo, we’d plan on one parent covering mornings while the other works, as we do now.

🧘 Health and Wellness in Japan

High-Quality Care, Private Insurance Required

Japan’s healthcare is excellent, and clinics are easy to find in cities. Residents use public health insurance, but digital nomad visa holders can’t join it.

That’s why every family member needs private medical cover of at least ¥10 million for the visa. Make sure your policy covers a six-month stay in Japan, not just short tourist trips. Our health insurance guide for nomad families compares options.

English-speaking doctors are easiest to find in Tokyo, Osaka and other big cities. The AMDA International Medical Information Center offers medical information and interpreting help in several languages.

Onsen and Everyday Wellbeing

Onsen (hot spring baths) are part of everyday life in Japan, from Hakone near Tokyo to Beppu in Kyushu. Most are split by gender and you bathe without swimwear. Some don’t allow visible tattoos, and some have rules for small children, so check before you go.

Daily walking, public transport and seasonal food make a healthy routine easier to keep. Summer heat is the main health risk for families, so plan outdoor time for mornings and evenings in July and August.

🚅 Things to Do in Japan With Kids

The Shinkansen

For a lot of kids, the first shinkansen ride is the highlight. The trains arrive on the minute, doors line up with markings on the platform, and the ride is smooth at around 300 kilometres an hour.

Festivals and Seasons

Cherry blossom season runs from late March to early April in much of the country. Kyoto’s Gion Matsuri fills July, Obon festivals come in August, and autumn colour peaks in November. The Sapporo Snow Festival in February is a big draw for families who don’t mind the cold.

Our best time for families to travel guide covers when Japan is busiest and most expensive.

Wildlife Kids Won’t Expect

• Nara’s sika deer, who bow for deer crackers.
• Snow monkeys bathing in hot springs at Jigokudani in Nagano in winter.
• Whale sharks at Osaka’s Kaiyukan and Okinawa’s Churaumi Aquarium.
• Fireflies along rural rivers in early summer.

Building and Making

Japan is a good fit for kids who make things. Origami teaches spatial thinking, temple carpentry shows how big buildings fit together, and craft workshops let kids try pottery, paper-making or dyeing.

💰 What Six Months in Japan Could Cost a Family

Japan has a reputation for being expensive. For families earning in euros, the weaker yen has helped, but Tokyo rents are still high and furnished short-stay housing costs more than a normal lease.

Our assumptions: two adults, a 9-year-old and a 2-year-old. A furnished monthly apartment, mostly home cooking, public transport, worldschooling rather than international school, and no car. Converted at about ¥183 to €1. Checked on 08-10-2026.

These are estimates, not quotes. We haven’t lived in Japan, so treat them as a starting point for your own sums. Compare Japan with other bases in Where Can Nomad Families Afford to Live?

🌿 Culture and Sustainability in Japan

Three Ideas Worth Knowing

Monozukuri means the craft of making things well. You see it in the way trains are cleaned, food is wrapped and old temple doors still close smoothly.

Wabi-sabi is the idea that imperfect, ageing and short-lived things can be beautiful. It’s one reason cherry blossom matters so much: it’s lovely because it doesn’t last.

Mottainai describes regret over waste. It shows up in careful recycling, repaired objects and finishing your food.

Living Lightly

Japan makes car-free family life easy, and that’s the biggest sustainability win for most nomad families. Packaging is the downside: individually wrapped snacks and plastic bags are common, so bring reusable bags and containers.

Eating at family-run restaurants, shopping at local markets and choosing small workshops over big tours all help keep money in local communities.

🧳 Making the First Weeks Easier

Get an IC card for transport

Rechargeable cards like Suica and PASMO work on trains, metros and buses, and at many shops and vending machines. You can also add them to some phones. Top up at station machines.

Carry some cash

Cards are accepted more widely than a few years ago, but small restaurants, temples and market stalls may still be cash only. Convenience store ATMs, especially at 7-Eleven, usually accept foreign cards.

Sort data before you land

An eSIM is the simplest option for a nomad family without a residence card. Pocket Wi-Fi can be rented at major airports if you’d rather share one connection.

Learn katakana

Japanese uses three scripts. Katakana is used for foreign words, so learning it helps you read menus and signs where English words are written phonetically. With daily practice, it’s very learnable before you go.

Use the convenience stores

7-Eleven, Lawson and FamilyMart sell fresh food, coffee and basics, and offer ATMs, printing and bill payment. They’re a lifeline in the first weeks.

Learn the rubbish rules

Waste is sorted carefully, with different collection days for burnable rubbish, plastics, bottles and cans. Ask your host for the local schedule on day one. Neighbours notice.

🤝 Finding Community in Japan

Smaller Than Southeast Asia’s Nomad Hubs

Japan’s nomad family scene is much smaller than in Bali, Chiang Mai or Da Nang. The language barrier and the six-month visa both keep numbers down. Expect to work harder to find other families.

Where to Start

• Tokyo has the largest international community, with expat meetups, coworking events and international school parent networks.
• Kyoto has a strong academic and creative crowd around its universities.
• Fukuoka has a growing international community in a compact city, which makes repeat meetings easier.
• Facebook groups for expats in Tokyo, Osaka and other cities are useful for housing leads and questions before you arrive.

Kids’ activities are often the easiest door in. Sports clubs, art classes and parks on weekend mornings are where local and international families cross paths.

More ideas are in our guide to how nomad families find community.

⚠️ The Honest Downsides

The income bar is high

At ¥10 million a year, roughly €54,000, the nomad visa rules out many families. Below that, a short visa-free visit is the realistic option, and remote work on visitor status isn’t clearly allowed.

Six months is the limit

The visa can’t be extended, and you need a six-month gap before using it again. Japan works as one chapter in a longer plan, not a home base.

No residence card means fewer systems

On the nomad visa you’re not a registered resident, so public health insurance is out. Expect extra hurdles with standard leases and phone contracts. Furnished monthly rentals and eSIMs are the easier route.

Language

English is common in tourist areas and big hotels, but much less so in clinics, offices, schools and housing contracts. Translation apps help a lot. Learning some basic Japanese before you go helps more.

Homes are small

Families who need a big home office, a garden or lots of room for kids to run around indoors will find Japanese housing tight, especially in Tokyo.

Eating out vegetarian takes effort

Dashi turns up in many dishes that look vegetarian. It’s manageable with planning, but it takes more effort than in Vietnam or Taiwan. 🥢

Summer heat and typhoons

July and August are hot and humid in Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto. Typhoon season mostly runs from late summer into autumn and can disrupt travel, especially in Okinawa and Kyushu. Spring and autumn are the most comfortable seasons for a family stay.

❓ Japan for Nomad Families: FAQs

Is Japan good for digital nomad families?

For a planned stay, yes. It’s very safe, transport is excellent and kids can do a lot independently. The six-month visa limit, high income bar and small apartments make it a chapter rather than a long-term base.

Can kids come on Japan’s digital nomad visa?

Yes. Spouses and children apply for their own matching visa, each with their own insurance. See our Japan visa guide.

How much does it cost a family to live in Japan?

Our estimate for a family of four is about €2,000 to €3,250 a month in Fukuoka and €2,700 to €4,300 in Tokyo. That excludes insurance, flights and school fees.

Do foreign children have to attend school in Japan?

No. Japan’s compulsory education laws don’t apply to foreign nationals, though public schools accept foreign children who want to enrol.

Which Japanese city is best for families?

Tokyo has the most international schools and services. Fukuoka is smaller, calmer and cheaper. Kyoto suits families who want history and a slower pace.

Is Japan easy for vegetarians?

Easier in big cities than in small towns. Dashi (fish stock) hides in many dishes that look vegetarian, so learn to ask for food without it.

Is Japan safe for children?

Japan has a strong reputation for safety, and children commonly travel alone on public transport. Normal precautions still apply, especially around traffic and summer heat.

Can we work remotely in Japan without the nomad visa?

Visitor status isn’t designed for work, and the rules aren’t clearly spelled out for remote workers. Check current details with the Japanese embassy before relying on it.

🌸 Our Takeaways

Japan won’t be the easiest place we ever live. The visa is short, the income bar is high, the apartments are small, and I’ll be asking about dashi at every meal.

But it might be the place where each of us finds something we didn’t know we were looking for. A garden for Marty. A design detail I can’t stop photographing. A wooden temple for Louie to study. A microphone for Leo.

If you’re thinking about Japan, plan it as a six-month chapter, sort your insurance first, and choose your city by how you want your days to feel. For the six months after, nearby South Korea and Taiwan are worth a look, and our Asia guide compares more options.

And if we turn up in Tokyo one day, you’ll be the first to know. We still haven’t booked that flight home. 🌍

🔗 Sources We Checked

• Immigration Services Agency of Japan: Designated Activities (Digital Nomad)
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan: Digital Nomad visa
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan: Visa fees
• Tokyo Metropolitan Government: Enrolment in public elementary and junior high schools
• Numbeo: Cost of living in Tokyo and Fukuoka
• Japan National Tourism Organization: Vegetarian and vegan guide
• Odakyu Electric Railway: Romancecar

Last checked 08-10-2026. Visa rules, fees and prices change, so check current details before you plan.