Japan’s capital city has been ranked as the world’s foremost location for a “workation,” a word describing a working vacation, The Japan Times reports.
The annual Work from Anywhere Barometer survey, compiled by Swiss-based firm International Workplace Group, assessed 40 cities on factors including the availability of flexible workspaces, the accessibility of digital nomad visas, broadband quality, and proximity to natural landscapes.
Tokyo secured the highest position for its “exceptional broadband speeds, transport infrastructure, safety, culture, and new digital nomad visa.” The survey further noted that Tokyo “also benefits from proximity to mountains, coastal regions, and national parks,” which are considered “ideal for hybrid workers seeking an exciting urban atmosphere alongside natural escapes.”
2025 is the first year Tokyo has been included in the rankings, and it immediately surpassed last year’s winner, Budapest, as well as other competitors like Barcelona, Beijing, and Paris. It remains the sole Japanese city featured in the study, which expanded its list for 2025 to include new entries such as Seoul, Cairo, Cape Town, Melbourne, Rome, Mexico City, Orlando in Florida, Prague and Reykjavik.
A significant development boosting Tokyo’s appeal was the April 2024 launch of Japan’s digital nomad visa, a move that aligns with strategies adopted by other nations eager to attract a growing global workforce of remote professionals.
The visa permits individuals with an annual income of ¥10 million ($68,300) or more to reside and work in Japan for a duration of up to six months. It is accessible to passport holders from 51 designated countries and territories. Self-employed individuals are also eligible. The scheme typically extends to include the spouses and children of the primary applicant.
Japan’s allure is further amplified by a tourism boom, partially driven by a weak yen making the country more affordable for visitors spending stronger currencies. According to the Japan National Tourism Organisation, a record 21.52 million foreign visitors were recorded in the first half of this year.
The workation trend, which had been growing in the corporate world for several years, was significantly accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Estimates on the number of digital nomads globally vary, though a commonly cited figure from data marketing firm Demand Sage suggests there are approximately 40 million.
