Digital nomadism is often associated with laptops on beaches and constant international travel. In Japan, however, a new survey conducted using the Freeasy research platform suggests a different reality.

Proton VPN commissioned the survey to better understand how Japanese attitudes toward remote work are evolving as more professionals work from cafes, coworking spaces, hotels, and public networks outside traditional office environments. 

The initial survey gathered responses from 1,000 adults aged 20 to 99 across Japan. Respondents consistently prioritized stable internet access and work-life balance over travel or lifestyle experimentation. But although they say digital security is important, a majority of respondents still aren’t taking the basic steps necessary to secure their networks and protect their accounts.

Japan’s few digital nomads mostly travel within Japan

  • 67% of respondents have neither experience with nor interest in remote work abroad.
  • 14% have no experience with remote work abroad but want to try it.
  • 10% have worked remotely within Japan but not abroad.
  • 3% have worked remotely while living abroad.

Among experienced remote workers, two-thirds say they primarily work from home, while overseas remote-work locations remain relatively uncommon.

Several cultural and structural factors help explain this caution, including low passport ownership and language barriers. For many respondents, remote work appears to be less about travel and more about improving flexibility without disrupting familiar routines.

Japanese remote workers prioritize reliability over lifestyle perks

  • 32% say ensuring a stable internet connection is their biggest remote-work challenge.
  • 28% struggle to separate work and personal life.
  • 16% cite maintaining productivity and focus as their main hurdle.
  • Only 5.3% say lower living costs are the biggest advantage of remote work abroad, making cost savings the least-cited benefit in the survey.

When working outside a traditional office, respondents value quiet environments for concentration (52%) and fast, stable internet (48%) far above scenic locations or lifestyle perks.

These practical worries extend to traveling. The top concern about living abroad while working is handling illness or emergencies (46.3%), followed closely by money management and overseas payments (44.8%).

Rather than escaping routines, remote work in Japan is about gaining flexibility while maintaining stability. Among experienced remote workers, 31% say the lifestyle made them value freedom more, but 23% say it increased their appreciation for stability.

Japan’s remote workers worry about security but take no precautions

  • 37% of experienced remote workers use two-factor authentication as a security measure.
  • 34% avoid logging into important accounts on public networks.
  • 30% use a VPN when working remotely.
  • 19% take no specific online security measures at all when working outside their normal environment.
  • 14% rely on mobile hotspots instead of public networks.

Many respondents lack consistent security habits when working outside their home or office, creating a clear gap between awareness and behavior. While 37% rely on two-factor authentication and 34% avoid public logins, only 30% use a VPN. Most strikingly, nearly 1 in 5 (19%) admit to taking no specific online security measures at all.

As remote professionals increasingly rely on public WiFi, cafes, and coworking spaces, security habits are not always keeping pace with changing work environments. 

VPNs are viewed as work tools, not entertainment tools

  • 66.7% of VPN users say their primary reason is secure access to work systems.
  • 50% use them to protect communications when using public WiFi networks.
  • 33.3% use them to protect personal information online.
  • 30% use them to access Japanese websites and services while abroad.
  • 23.3% use them for personal reasons, such as watching videos.

Among respondents who do use a VPN, the technology is viewed primarily as a professional security tool rather than for entertainment or personal use. Over 66% use a VPN for secure work access and 50% use it to protect communications on public WiFi. In comparison, recreational use cases rank much lower. Only 30% use VPNs to access Japanese sites from abroad, and just 23.3% to watch videos.

Respondents consistently prioritize reliability, security, and stable access to work systems over lifestyle or entertainment-focused perks. Rather than being viewed primarily as consumer tools, VPNs appear to be used mainly as part of the practical setup for secure remote work.

apan’s version of digital nomadism is evolving differently

Ultimately, Japan’s version of remote work is moving away from the borderless nomad stereotype. It is evolving into a pragmatic, reliability-first model shaped by a desire to gain professional flexibility without sacrificing the comfort, safety, and quality of life found at home.

Key conclusions

  • Reshaping the lifestyle: Japanese professionals are not rejecting remote work; instead, they are shifting the concept away from a travel-first ideal toward domestic stability and predictable infrastructure.
  • Safety over adventure: The standard for mobile work remains highly cautious, with a clear preference for familiar home routines, dependable connectivity, and robust data protection.
  • A pragmatic future: Instead of full location independence, the data points to a reliability-first model built entirely around “Japan-standard” expectations for convenience, focus, and peace of mind.