Workations in Japan: Hot Springs and Remote Work Together

Japan's hot spring towns, national parks and farm villages have welcomed remote workers; here is how to blend laptop hours with soaking time.

Published October 26, 2026 at 10:03 AM JST | By Tokyo Paul

Quick answer: A workation combines remote work with a stay in a resort or countryside area. In Japan the idea grew through municipal councils and national programs from 2019 and 2020, and hot spring towns suit it well because they offer quiet rooms, scenic surroundings and baths. Choose lodging with reliable internet, plan work blocks around bath time and confirm what your visa status allows.

The word workation joins work and vacation, and it describes a simple idea: bring your laptop, keep your job, and change the view outside the window. Japan has embraced the concept, and hot spring towns in particular offer an inviting setting for it. This guide explains what a workation is, how it spread in Japan, what kinds of places and services support it, how to organize your working day around onsen visits, and which practical points deserve a check before you book.

What a Workation Is

A workation is remote work done from a tourist or resort area while also enjoying leisure time. It differs from working from home or from a rented office, because the purpose of the trip is to mix the two. People may work in the morning and sightsee in the afternoon, or take a long weekend that starts with a few focused hours.

The concept is said to have begun in the United States in the 2000s, when laptops and mobile broadband spread quickly. In Japan it expanded as companies began using resort-area training and recreation facilities as satellite offices for work that did not require commuting to a head office.

How Japan Built Support for Workations

Local governments led the way. In November 2019, the Workation Municipalities Council was founded with seven prefectures and 58 municipalities. In 2020 the Ministry of the Environment included funding in a supplementary budget passed on 30 April to promote workations in national and quasi-national parks. The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries promotes agri-workation in farming villages, building on its farm-stay programs.

Rail companies joined too. JR Central offered a limited-time Tokaido Shinkansen MY Workation ticket that bundled unlimited Shinkansen travel with lodging at partner hotels. These efforts show that workation is treated as a regional-revival tool as well as a travel style.

Types of Workation Stays

The variety is wide. Resort hotels and company-owned facilities serve employees, while owners of vacation condominiums, farm stays and minshuku, which are family-run inns, offer rooms to freelancers and entrepreneurs. Coworking spaces in regional towns give a shared desk and a social setting. Some services rent renovated traditional houses called kominka to people who move between locations.

For visitors from abroad, the simplest options are hotels and ryokan with strong Wi-Fi, desk space and flexible meal plans. Ask whether a room has a proper table and chair, because a low tatami table can be charming for dinner but tiring for an eight-hour workday.

Why Hot Spring Towns Fit So Well

Onsen towns combine quiet, scenic surroundings with a daily ritual that naturally divides the day. Japan has about 25,000 hot spring sources, and bathing has been part of life for roughly 1,300 years, according to historical summaries. Under the Hot Springs Act, a spring must meet standards for temperature and mineral content to be classed as an onsen.

Some towns are especially atmospheric. Ginzan Onsen in Yamagata has Taisho-era wooden ryokan along a river, with a pedestrian-only center lit by gaslight at night. Kusatsu Onsen in Gunma is famous for its public baths. Beppu in Oita Prefecture has more than 150 bathing facilities and the Jigoku Meguri tour of its colorful hot spring ponds. Each town has its own pace, so choose one that matches your working style.

Designing Your Day

A good workation has structure. A common pattern is an early work block, a late lunch, an afternoon bath or walk, a second work block and a relaxed dinner. Ryokan often serve dinner at a fixed time, so schedule video calls well before or after.

Use bathing as a reset between tasks rather than a break that eats the whole afternoon. Remember onsen etiquette: wash thoroughly first, keep towels out of the water and tie up long hair. Keep electronics away from the bath area.

Internet, Power and Workspace

Before booking, confirm the details that matter to you. Ask about Wi-Fi speed and whether it reaches the room, since signals in old wooden buildings can be uneven. Check that there are enough power outlets and whether you may use a portable router or mobile data as a backup.

Consider noise as well. Rooms next to a lively dining area may be harder to work in, while rooms with a view of a garden are often quieter. Many hotels can recommend a nearby cafe or coworking space for calls, so it is worth asking when you reserve.

Visa and Rules to Check First

Working while traveling raises important questions about immigration status, tax and your employer's policies. Visitors on short-stay status should check with the Immigration Services Agency of Japan about what activities are permitted, and anyone planning a long stay should look at the official guidance for remote workers. Rules change, so rely on official sources and your employer.

Respect local customs too. Keep calls quiet in shared areas, follow ryokan meal and bath schedules, and treat small communities with care. Workers who stay longer can contribute to the local economy by eating and shopping locally.

A Sample Four-Day Plan

Arrive on day one with a light schedule, enjoying a bath and a local meal. On days two and three, work from nine to noon, take a long break for lunch and a walk, and then work a short afternoon block. Reserve evenings for the baths and for exploring the town.

On the final day, pack early and leave a buffer before your train. Choose a town with direct rail or bus connections to a main station, so travel time does not eat your working hours. Ask the lodging about luggage forwarding if you are carrying heavy equipment.

Want to go deeper? Tokyo Paul's book Onsen Towns is available on Amazon.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a workation in Japan?

A workation is a trip that combines remote work with leisure in a resort, countryside or hot spring area. In Japan it has been promoted by local governments, national ministries and rail companies since 2019 and 2020. Typical stays use ryokan, hotels, minshuku or coworking spaces in regional towns.

Which hot spring towns are good for remote work?

Ginzan Onsen, Kusatsu and Beppu are well-known onsen destinations with plenty of lodging. The best choice depends on internet quality, desk space and transport links, not just scenery. Contact the lodging in advance and ask about Wi-Fi, work-friendly rooms and quiet hours.

Is remote work allowed on a short-stay visa?

This depends on your visa status and the nature of your work, so check with the Immigration Services Agency of Japan before you travel. Rules and conditions can change. For longer stays, look for official information on options for remote workers, and also confirm your employer's policy.

Keep Exploring

More guides from Tokyo Paul: Japan's Digital Nomad Visa: Who Qualifies and How It Works, Ginzan Onsen: A Gaslight Hot Spring Village and Beppu: The Steaming Hot Spring Capital of Japan.