With its buzzing environment, wide selection of cultural actions, and entrepreneurial scene, Tokyo is the darling of digital nomads headed to Japan, one of many Asian international locations which were most receptive to them lately.
As fascinating as Tokyo could also be, it may be a tad overwhelming at occasions: it is the most important metropolis on the planet, with a inhabitants of over 9 million, and no quantity of metropolis parks and aesthetic espresso retailers will prevent from the concrete jungle woes.
Fortunate for nomads on the lookout for the blissful medium between a megalopolis and a sleepy city, this lesser-known metropolis an hour away is far smaller however not one bit much less thrilling:
Why Yokohama Could Be Japan’s Subsequent Digital Nomad Haven
A historic port metropolis mendacity simply south of the Tokyo city sprawl, Yokohama is a vibrant conurbation 3.7 million folks name house, greatest identified for its audacious skyscrapers that appear to defy gravity, lush inexperienced areas, and fashionable waterfront.
It might not be as worldwide or host as massive an expat neighborhood as Tokyo or Osaka, but it surely has lots going for it on the nomad entrance, significantly when you’re coming to Japan with each cultural immersion and a better high quality of life in thoughts.
For starters, it has one of the crucial sizable Chinatowns in Japan, with a whole lot of Chinese language eating places the place you may eat hen noodle soup for underneath a thousand yen––everyone knows how essential consuming affordably is for nomads on a price range.
In actual fact, Yokohama is among the least expensive Japanese cities to reside in: a daily cappuccino in a downtown cafe is underneath $3, a meal in a reasonable restaurant is underneath $7, and when you’re ordering a 3-course menu in a mid-range eatery, you will pay roughly $33.
A Plethora Of Kawaii Nomad-Pleasant Cafes
Talking of cafes, laptop-friendly venues are quite a few, with Enokitei Honten being a well-loved brunch spot dishing up creamy cheesecakes and matcha in a European-style mansion overlooking a scenic Motomachi Park.
Then there’s an cute Pompompurin Cafe: for these of you who do not know, Pompompurin is the less-famous companion to Whats up Kitty, and a chubby golden retriever with a trademark beret hat: count on Pompompurin-shaped buns, coasters, pillows, and even chairs!
For brunch, our prime advice is JS Pancake Cafe, the place they serve high-quality fluffy pancakes with the choice of assorted toppings, from candy to savory, in addition to the greatest salmon and avocado toast and eggs Benedict on the town.
A Vigorous Marina And Lush Japanese Gardens
Whether or not you are an introvert or a sociable form, Yokohama has an enormous selection of actions, from quirky displays just like the Cup Noodles Museum, the place you may discover the historical past of prompt noodles and be taught extra about their inventor, to peaceable inexperienced oases like Sankeien Backyard.
Essentially the most well-known public park in Yokohama, it’s a peaceable stroll by means of stunning landscaping, with avenues flanked by colourful flowers and well-preserved Japanese buildings from totally different historic intervals, as much as the fashionable period––and there is even a tea home!
In the meantime, Kisamichi Promenade is the place all of the motion is centered, with its landmark ferries wheel and marina bars catering to a various crowd, and to our fellow hopheads, you do not need to miss the Kirin Yokohama Beer Village, the place a pint will set you again by $2.
The Professionals And Cons Of Residing In Yokohama
As seen on Nomads, the most important platform for monitoring digital nomad developments globally, Yokohama is the fifteenth most sought-after metropolis within the nation at the moment, with distant employees favoring it for its ‘good’ high quality of life, ‘nice’ security and ‘okay’ walkability.
Based on guests, among the professionals embrace:
- Very secure
- Quick web
- A lot of enjoyable stuff to do
- Good air high quality
- Spacious and never crowded
- Protected for ladies
Among the cons embrace:
- It isn’t as low cost as different Asian locations (to not say it is costly by native requirements)
- It will get chilly within the winter
- It is troublesome to make mates (there should not that many nomads round, keep in mind?)
- Folks do not converse English effectively
People Can Keep 3 Months In Yokohama Visa-Free
Not too long ago, Japan launched its personal Digital Nomad Visa, aiming to draw highly-qualified, higher-income entrepreneurs to its shores.
It isn’t precisely the best visa to get, with a minimal yearly income requirement set at a whopping $66,662, and the licensed keep being solely six months.
That is hardly interesting to price range nomads, and we doubt Japan would have turn into as popular a nomad hub had been it not for the actual fact U.S. residents, and a majority Europeans, can nonetheless come to the nation visa-free, with no requirement aside from nationality, for as much as 90 days.
That is greater than sufficient time to find all that Yokohama has to supply, and get a style of life as a foreigner in Japan.
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This text initially appeared on TravelOffPath.com
Opinions expressed listed here are the writer’s alone, not these of any financial institution, bank card issuer, resort, airline, or different entity. This content material has not been reviewed, accepted or in any other case endorsed by any of the entities included throughout the publish.
