Release of the Survey Report on the Actual Status of Foreign Digital Nomads in Japan

### Survey Summary

The Digital Nomad Study Group of the Sharing Economy Association (Secretariat: MIRAI-INSTITUTE Co., Ltd.), in cooperation with Telecom Square, Inc. and Professor Keita Matsushita of Rikkyo University's Faculty of Business, conducted a survey on the actual status of foreign digital nomads in Japan from August to December 2025.

This survey revealed the existence of new inbound segments: those with companions (10%) and non-self-identified types (7%), in addition to the typical digital nomad image of 'always working remotely and traveling.' It was also found that 24.1% of visitors for tourism or vacation purposes perform some kind of work during their stay.

### Background and Purpose of the Survey

In recent years, the 'digital nomad' lifestyle of working while traveling has spread globally and has become an important theme in Japan's inbound tourism measures. However, the actual situation has often been discussed within limited communities, making it a challenge to grasp the real picture across a broader range of people.

The purpose of this survey was to understand the actual state of a wide range of foreign digital nomads visiting Japan and to collect basic data useful for attracting visitors and improving the environment for their reception.

### Survey Overview

- Period: August 18 to December 15, 2025
- Method: Online survey conducted by distributing flyers with QR codes at airport counter stores operated by Telecom Square, Inc.
- Locations: Airport counters at Narita, Haneda, Kansai, Chubu, Shin-Chitose, Fukuoka, etc.
- Targets: Foreign travelers visiting Japan
- Valid Responses: 109
- Cooperation: Telecom Square, Inc., Professor Keita Matsushita (Rikkyo University)

### Survey Result 1: Four Categories of Digital Nomads

In this survey, four types (personas) were organized by combining the respondents' self-perception with their actual stay behavior and the presence of companions.

### Survey Result 2: One in Four Tourists is Working

### Expert Comment: Professor Keita Matsushita, Rikkyo University

'The most notable finding is the existence of a segment that "overlaps" work during their stay (doubling of time) while focusing on vacation and cultural experiences, regardless of whether they identify as digital nomads. The existence of those with companions (10%) and non-self-identified types (7%) suggests that nomadism is not just a job or work style, but a "lifestyle mobility" that integrates travel and life. Digital nomads are not just "tourists" (exchange population) who consume and leave, but can become "relationship populations" with sustainable ties to the region. The key to becoming a more attractive city or region is for the local community to welcome them as "partners" who create the region together, rather than just as "guests."'

### Representative Comment from MIRAI-INSTITUTE Co., Ltd.

'What this survey has revealed is the reality that the boundary between "tourists" and "working people" is already beginning to dissolve. The figure of 24.1% means that one in four visitors is working while staying in Japan, connected to the world. This is not a story of a consumer market, but the birth of a market for creation and collaboration.'

'At MIDORI.so, there is a Swiss designer who comes to work every spring without fail. They are neither tourists nor immigrants; they are "people who came again." And every year, their revisit triggers new collaborations with existing members. This is precisely the image of "nomads as relationship population" that we aim for, and it is proof that MIDORI.so is not just a co-working space, but a place where chemical reactions continue to occur.'

MIRAI-INSTITUTE will actively approach the 'atypical new inbound segments' revealed through this survey and promote the formation of an international creative community centered around MIDORI.so Nihonbashi.

### How to Obtain the Report

Details of the survey report are available on the website of the Sharing Economy Association.

### About MIRAI-INSTITUTE Co., Ltd. / MIDORI.so Nihonbashi

MIRAI-INSTITUTE Co., Ltd. serves as the secretariat for the 'Digital Nomad Study Group' of the Sharing Economy Association and leads the planning and operation of this survey. In particular, MIDORI.so Nihonbashi, operated by the company, is a lodging and shared office in Nihonbashi, Tokyo, where creative classes, including digital nomads, gather. It functions as a platform where domestic and international creators, entrepreneurs, and freelancers intersect, giving birth to new culture and business.