Japan's Digital Nomads Don't Aim for the Beach? They Seek 'Safe Freedom'

When you hear 'digital nomad,' many people might imagine someone opening a laptop on a tropical beach, moving between countries while working freely. However, the reality in Japan appears to be quite different from this image.

According to a survey conducted by Proton VPN, Japanese respondents, when considering overseas remote work, focus on caution, stability, a concentrated environment, language and cultural barriers, stable internet, and online safety, rather than beaches, adventure, or low cost of living.

Only 3.0% of all respondents have experience living abroad while working remotely. Furthermore, 66% of those with remote work experience have only worked remotely within Japan, and 66% primarily work from their homes in Japan.

What emerges from this survey is a uniquely Japanese view of remote work: rather than working freely across borders, the emphasis is on working flexibly while maintaining stability, work quality, and peace of mind.

Key Findings

Japan's digital nomads are still domestically focused. Only 3.0% have experience working remotely while living abroad, and 66% of remote workers have only experienced remote work within Japan.

The 'working on the beach' image is far from the reality in Japan. 66% of remote workers primarily work from their homes in Japan, and only 15% have experience working in overseas hotels or short-term accommodations.

The value of remote work lies not in travel but in 'freedom of lifestyle.' Only 2% of experienced remote workers cited ease of travel as the greatest benefit. Meanwhile, 'freedom of where and how to work' (31%) and 'improved work-life balance' (30%) were the top choices.

What people would miss most when working abroad is Japanese food. 52.2% chose 'Japanese food and convenience stores,' suggesting that daily comfort is deeply related to anxiety or reluctance about living overseas.

The primary purpose of using a VPN for remote work is work-related security. 66.7% of VPN users cited 'secure access to work systems' and 50.0% cited 'communication protection when using public Wi-Fi' as their purpose.

Survey Results

Only 3% have experience working remotely while living abroad

Survey Question: Please choose the option that best describes your experience with remote work and living abroad.

Figure 1: Experience with Remote Work and Living Abroad

First, it became clear that the work style of living abroad while working remotely is still very limited in Japan.

Of the 1,000 respondents nationwide, 67.0% answered 'I have no experience or interest in remote work or living abroad.' 14.0% said 'I have no experience but would like to try it,' and 9.9% said 'I have experience working remotely in Japan, but not abroad.'

On the other hand, only 3.0% of respondents answered 'I have experience working remotely while living abroad.'

While the term 'digital nomad' is gaining global attention, actual experience with overseas remote work is still limited to a very small portion of Japanese respondents.

Even for remote work veterans, the primary workplace is their home in Japan

Survey Question: In what locations have you primarily worked remotely? (Multiple answers allowed)

Figure 2: Locations Where Remote Workers Have Worked

A follow-up survey of 100 remote workers also showed that workplaces are concentrated in Japan, especially at home.

The most common answer was 'My home in Japan,' selected by 66% of remote workers. This was followed by 'Cafes or co-working spaces in Japan' (32%) and 'Other locations in Japan (hotels, temporary stays, etc.)' (25%).

In contrast, experience working remotely abroad was limited. 'Overseas hotels or short-term accommodations' was 15%, 'Overseas co-working spaces' was 10%, and 'Overseas long-term accommodations' was only 8%.

This result contrasts sharply with the common image of a digital nomad. For Japanese remote workers, the primary workplace is not a beach, resort, or overseas co-working hub, but their own home in Japan.

The Value of Remote Work is Freedom and Balance, Not Travel

Survey Question: What do you think is the greatest benefit remote work brings to your life?

Figure 3: Greatest Benefits Perceived by Remote Workers

The appeal of remote work also showed results different from the travel-centric digital nomad image.

The most frequently selected benefit by remote workers was 'High degree of freedom in where and how to live/work' (31%). Closely followed by 'Improved work-life balance' (30%), 'Flexible working hours' (18%), and 'Reduced commute time' (16%) were also mentioned.

On the other hand, only 2% cited 'Ease of travel and visiting new places' as the greatest benefit.

In other words, the value of remote work in Japan is considered to be the ability to control one's daily work style, rather than travel itself. The focus is on achieving a freer, more balanced way of working, not on living like a traveler.

What Would Be Missed Most Abroad: Japanese Food and Convenience Stores

Survey Question: If you were to work remotely while living abroad, what aspects of Japan do you think you would miss? (Multiple answers allowed)

Figure 4: Aspects of Japan People Think They Would Miss When Working Remotely Abroad

The survey also asked respondents what they think they would miss if they worked remotely abroad.

The most common answer was 'Japanese food and convenience stores,' selected by 52.2%. This surpassed 'Japan's public safety and daily life security' (37.1%) and 'Family and friends' (33.4%).

Other answers included 'Japanese entertainment and media' (19.9%), 'Japanese customer service' (18.6%), and 'Japanese digital services and apps' (14.9%).

This result shows that anxiety about working abroad is not limited to visas, work, language, or communication environments. Familiar comforts like Japanese food, convenience stores, safety, service, and the feeling of daily life running smoothly hold significant meaning for Japanese people when considering life overseas.

VPN Usage is Primarily for Work Security

Survey Question: What is your main purpose for using a VPN while working remotely? (Multiple answers allowed)

Figure 5: Main Purposes for Using a VPN While Working Remotely

When asked about their purpose for using a VPN, respondents who use one while working remotely indicated that the primary purpose is work security.

Of the 30 remote workers using a VPN, 66.7% cited 'Secure access to work systems' as their purpose. 50.0% chose 'Communication protection when using public Wi-Fi,' and 33.3% selected 'Protection of personal information.'

Meanwhile, 'Access to Japanese websites and services' was 30.0%, and 'Personal use like video streaming' was