New Reasons To Visit Japan—Digital Nomad Visas And High City Rankings
4 min read
Ever wanted to live in Japan? Well, it’s quite possibly perfect timing. Japan announced it is launching a Digital Nomad visa for remote workers from 49 countries and territories, and Time Out placed Tokyo and Osaka in its Top 50 Cities for 2024. Plus if you’re used to New York City prices, Japan might feel cheaper.
Tokyo And Osaka Rank Highly In Time Out’s 2024 Cities
In its sixth annual list of the Best Cities in the World, Time Out places Tokyo at Number eight, after New York, Cape Town, Berlin, London, Madrid, Mexico City and Liverpool. The authors cite the teamLab Borderless digital art museum as one of the most exciting cultural openings of the year, as well as having some of the world’s best restaurants—Massimo Bottura’s Gucci Osteria, Antwerp’s Le Pristine (which is Michelin-starred), and MAZ. In addition, it has some of the most punctual public transport, is scrupulously clean and has some of the best architecturally-designed public bathrooms.
Osaka was placed in 48th place, citing how it is often called ‘the nation’s kitchen’ due to the delicious okonomiyaki (savoury pancake) restaurants and kushi-katsu (deep-fried skewer) counters, that won’t break the bank.
The Time Out ranking is partly based on polling of city-dwellers on the quality and affordability of the food, culture and nightlife and how their city makes them feel, from happiness to romance. This info is then cross-referenced with other cities they would most like to live in, as well as staff writers and editors who are based in cities worldwide.
Japan Currently Has A Favorable Cost Of Living Index
It obviously depends on where you currently live, but Tokyo and Osaka rank as relatively inexpensive in terms of cost of living compared to places such as New York City, for instance.
In current Numbeo rankings, both Osaka and Tokyo are about 50% cheaper for cost of living (plus rent) than New York City, and Japan generally has a cost of living that is 24% less than in France.
As a guide, in the Economist’s 2023 rankings of The World’s Most Expensive Cities, New York city came joint third with Geneva (after Zurich and Singapore).
Japan Will Launch Its Digital Nomad Visa In 2024
The Digital Nomad visa is part of a move to continue opening up the economy to tourists more generally, as well as to foreign workers—two million already live and work in the country. In 2023, 25 million visitors arrived, which is the largest number since 2019, partly due to the weak Yen, giving arriving tourists more spending power. A large percentage of these were from Singapore and Taiwan, whereas before the pandemic, visitors would have come from China and the U.S.
The Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry would like to see 60 million visitors annually by 2030, bringing a lot more spending with them.
People from all 27 EU member states (Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Republic of Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden) are entitled to apply for the Digital Nomad visa.
In addition, anyone from the U.S., U.K., Australia, Singapore and South Korea can apply as well as residents from a few other countries in and on the borders of Europe (Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, Iceland, Lichtenstein, Moldova, Monaco, North Macedonia, Norway, Serbia, Switzerland and Turkey).
However, there are strict rules, notably around revenue. Applicants must have a fixed annual income above 10 million Yen (roughly $63,000) plus they must arrive with their own private health insurance. The country is also targeting highly skilled professionals, notably in IT.
For anyone meeting these conditions, they will be allowed to stay in Japan for up to six months. Currently, travelers can visit Japan for a visa-free 90 days but they are not legally allowed to work. The bonus is that spouses and children can accompany you if they too have private health insurance.
It won’t be possible to organise Digital Nomad visas that run back-to-back allowing longer stays, but you would be able to apply for another after you’ve been out of Japan for six months. Holders of the visa won’t be eligible to apply for residency.
Japan is expected to start offering the Digital Nomad visa in March 2024.
Japan Joins An Increasing Number of Countries Offering Digital Nomad Visas
Since 2020 and the pandemic, more and more countries are offering some sort of Digital Nomad visa—Estonia was one of the first during Covid and Canada launched a six-month Digital Nomad visa in 2023.
The UN World Tourist Organisation (UNWTO) found that the norm, globally, is for around three to six months with the option of renewal. The Americas, mostly the small island states, offer 21 programs while 19 European countries have such a scheme, with Italy and Macedonia planning one. The UNWTO also found that in 40% of these countries (such as Albania and Croatia), Digital Nomads would not be subject to tax payments, as most people only have to pay tax after 183 days in a country.
The UNTWO study did highlight, however, that an influx of Digital Nomads often leads to a huge rise in short-term rental costs, because Nomads can afford to pay higher prices than the local population, causing increased hostility in communities.
