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Nomad Experience Japan
Nomad Experience is a one-month program in Shimoda, Japan, where a small international group tries 10 remote-friendly careers, before committing to any of them.
It is not a language school and not a job placement. Over four weeks you go hands-on with 64 hours of workshops, live like a temporary resident, and leave with a clearer sense of how you want to work and where you want to live.
We try food before we order and clothes before we buy but we are expected to choose how we work and where we live in one shot. Nomad Experience exists to change that: try first, then decide!
Each week you work directly with new skills including web design, writing, video editing, digital marketing, community management and more, guided by working digital nomads. No experience is needed. Just curiosity.
Between workshops you live in a real local community two and a half hours south of Tokyo: cooking together, joining local events, and becoming friends with the people of Shimoda. Everything runs in English, so no Japanese is required, though you will naturally pick up living Japanese along the way.
Participants come from all over the world and from many backgrounds, tech and non-tech alike. The program runs four times a year, and Nomad Experience and its Shimoda community have been featured by NHK World, Nikkei Asia and Yahoo Japan.
You do not need a perfect plan. You just need to show up and try.
What’s included?
Japanese lessons
Try 10 remote careers in one month
In just four weeks, you experience what would otherwise take years to explore on your own. Each career is a focused 2-day workshop: day one covers the basics and a hands-on task, day two goes deeper with mentor feedback and real-world tips on how the work actually gets done.
Skills vary by season but typically include: Virtual Assistant, Graphic Designer, UI/UX Designer, Web Developer, Digital Marketer, Social Media Manager, Community Manager, Online Teacher and Video Editor.
The approach is learning by doing, not lectures. A single job title is really a bundle of smaller skills and trying them directly is the fastest way to see which ones fit you. Discovering what you do not enjoy is just as valuable as finding what you love.
Workshops run fully in English, so no Japanese is required to take part. But Shimoda is a genuine local community, not a tourist resort, Japanese is part of everyday life here, so while you may naturally pick up real, if you want to go further, optional private Japanese lessons can be arranged alongside the program.
You are guided throughout by experienced facilitators who are remote workers and digital nomads themselves. No advanced tech skills are required; if you are comfortable typing, managing files and copy-pasting, you are ready.
Trip Schedule
Sample schedule
Mornings and afternoons are workshops; the rest is real life in a Japanese coastal town. The program is built around the local community and nomads living side by side and you get access to regular get-togethers every week:
Note
Past season activities have included:
- Beach clean-ups and surfing on the Izu coast
- Temaki and sushi-making nights with a local sushi studio
- Takoyaki and hot-pot parties at the share house
- Kimono dressing and traditional culture sessions
- Morning pilates and mindfulness sessions
- Hiking with ocean views, onsen trips and local festivals
The activities themselves are pay-as-you-go so you only cover the ones your take part in. The point is the same every time: you leave with local friends, a global network, and a real sense of what living abroad feels like.
Accommodation
Available accommodations
Accommodation is arranged through our local coliving partners in Shimoda and is not included in the program fee. You can select your option when you apply.
Our official partners include Kazemachi Shimoda, elenanchi and elenanchi Annex, comfortable shared houses within easy reach of the main venue, where much of the group lives together.
Expect roughly USD 1,300 per month for accommodation and basic living costs. Final pricing and room options are confirmed at booking. Meals are not included; you will cook at the house and eat out locally.
Nomad Experience Japan
Optional add-ons
Private Japanese lessons
Optional 1:1 classes to build real, usable Japanese during your stay
Skill Up support
Extra help on any skill you want to take further after a workshop
1:1 Consultation
Personal guidance on goal-setting and your next step
SIM card and pocket WiFi
SIM card and pocket WiFi through our connectivity partner
Insurance
Travel and medical insurance for nomads through our partner
Arrival support
Arrival support and guidance for getting to Shimoda from Tokyo
Pay-as-you-go Local activities
Choose which ones you would like to attend
Tell us when you apply if you would like any of these and our team will help you set them up.
Nomad Experience Japan
Good to know before you apply
Who joins Nomad Experience?
Ages 18–45, with most participants in their 20s and 30s, from all over the world. Past participants include corporate employees, freelancers, teachers, students, and civil servants from both tech and non-tech backgrounds. No prior experience is required.
Do I need to speak Japanese?
Everything in this programme runs in English and our on-site team helps you with daily life. Because Shimoda is a real local community where Japanese is spoken every day, you will naturally pick up living Japanese, and optional private Japanese lessons can be arranged.
How do I apply and pay?
Your place is confirmed once you complete the application and pay the program fee, which is due within one week of applying. Please only apply if you are committed to joining, places are limited, and an uncertain application can block a spot for someone else.
What is the cancellation policy?
Within 7 days of payment – no fee. From the 8th day after payment – USD 500. Within 7 days before the start date – the full amount applies. If a season does not reach its minimum number of participants (decided around two months before the start date), it may be rescheduled with no cancellation fee.
Do I need insurance and a visa?
Travel and medical insurance is strongly recommended (a nomad-friendly provider can be introduced), and you are responsible for your own visa and travel documents.
Does the program guarantee a job or income?
The Nomad Experience is about exploration and direction; outcomes vary by individual and the program does not guarantee employment or income.
Nomad Experience Japan
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