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Japan's national parks join destinations seeking to woo remote workers

Watch: Japan Wants People to Take Working Vacations to Its Stunning National Parks

Japan is billing its national parks as the latest scenic base for remote workers.

These “workation” options come with improved internet access, designated work spaces and the added benefit of nature-based activities, such as canoeing or trekking.

Picturesque surroundings of fishing villages, waterfalls and colourful foliage may entice Japanese workers who’ve spent months in home offices.

Several national parks, including Setonaikai, Nikko and Aso-Kuju, have installed Wi-Fi and workstations to rent at hotels and campsites, and have received support from the Japanese Environmental Ministry.

nikko national park - Getty
nikko national park - Getty

“We want people to engage in remote work while relaxing in an environment away from their usual daily life,” an official at the Kyukamura Kishu Kada resort hotel at Setonaikai National Park told the Japan Times.

The scheme was given a trial run between April and July and received positive feedback – it has restarted this month.

Most British tourists are unlikely to be able to take advantage of the scheme, at least in the immediate future, given strict entry requirements in place for Japan.

Japan is slowly moving towards relaxing entry requirements – from October 1, the rules will allow entry for non-Japanese visitors who will have permission to stay three months or longer.

This change will not permit entry to those on a tourist visa, but will allow, in stages, different types of longer-stay visitors. At first, this will include those working in medical, cultural or sports-related activities.

Coronavirus Japan Spotlight Chart - cases default
Coronavirus Japan Spotlight Chart - cases default

Daily arrivals are expected to be capped at 1,000 people and visitors must test negative for Covid-19 and self-isolate for 14 days in Japan.

For those planning a long stay, a 14-day quarantine might not be so off putting, once other restrictions have eased.

However, those travelling from countries with high infection rates could be excluded from relaxed entry requirements.

Yasutoshi Nishimura, Japan’s economic revitalisation minister, said: “We will start relaxing entry restrictions by looking at the situation of infections in each country and also considering the degree of need (for travel).”

Japan's seven-day infection rate per 100,000 people is 36.2 as of September 29.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) advice on Japan’s entry requirements states:

“From 1 October, non-Japanese nationals who need to move to Japan to study, work or join family should be able to do so, subject to necessary visa requirements.”

As it stands, it does not seem that a “workation” would fall under these categories.

The FCDO advice continues: “Other entry to visit Japan on a short-term basis continues to be denied in principle for any non-Japanese nationals who have been to the UK or this list of countries in the last 14 days, other than in exceptional circumstances.

“There is currently no indication of when this might change. You may wish to confirm possible eligibility with your nearest Japanese Embassy for any other exceptions to enter Japan, including for humanitarian reasons, or as the family member of some kinds of resident.”

Japan is one of a number of destinations to look at the potential of combining tourism (whether domestic or international) with remote work. The ‘Barbados Welcome Stamp’, for example, offers visitors the opportunity to work on the island remotely for up to a year, as does Estonia’s ‘digital nomad visa’.

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