A Complete Guide to Choosing Rentals for Workations and Rural Relocation—Understanding Rental Conditions in Urban and Rural Areas
For those considering workations and rural relocation due to the spread of remote work, this guide thoroughly explains the key points for selecting rental properties in rural areas, cost differences compared to urban areas, and relocation support programs.
Why Workations and Rural Relocation Are Getting Attention
With the widespread adoption of remote and telework, the ability to "work from anywhere" has become a reality. More people are choosing to leave behind the high rents and congested living environments of urban areas and embrace rural lifestyles—a practice known as "rural relocation"—or to work from multiple locations in what's called a "workation." According to surveys by Japan's Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, the number of urban residents who have considered moving to rural areas is increasing year after year, with particular interest growing among working-age adults in their 20s to 40s. The key to successful rural relocation or workation lies in choosing a home that fits your lifestyle.
Rural Rental Markets—Cost Differences Compared to Urban Areas
One of the major attractions of the rural rental market compared to urban areas is that rent is significantly lower.
Comparison of Average Rents in Major Cities vs. Rural Areas (1LDK, 2026)
In Tokyo's 23 wards, typical monthly rent ranges around ¥120,000–¥200,000, while in Sendai it's ¥50,000–¥80,000, in Matsumoto and Nagano it's ¥40,000–¥60,000, and in Kagoshima it's roughly ¥35,000–¥50,000. For the same total living budget, rural areas allow you to choose significantly more spacious, newer properties in better locations. However, in rural areas a personal vehicle is often essential, and parking fees plus vehicle maintenance costs (insurance, registration taxes, and fuel) typically add an extra ¥30,000–¥50,000 per month. It's important to compare both the lower rent and the additional vehicle costs.
How to Choose Properties for Workations and Remote Work
Internet Connection Is the Top Priority
The lifeblood of remote work is your internet connection. Before signing a rental agreement, always verify whether fiber-optic broadband (ideally 1 Gbps capable) is available. In rural and mountainous areas, fiber-optic service may not be available, and you may need to rely on 4G or 5G mobile connections for work.
Securing Dedicated Work Space
Choose a 1LDK or larger 2DK floor plan and secure a dedicated room or workspace for your job. This greatly impacts the productivity of working from home. Also check natural lighting and noise levels (from farm machinery, animal sounds, etc.).
Confirming Access to Daily Amenities
Verify that supermarkets, convenience stores, medical facilities, post offices, and other essential services are within a 15–30 minute bike ride or drive. In rural areas, what you thought was "nearby" might easily be a 20-minute drive away.
Understanding Postal and Delivery Services
In rural areas, delivery zones and pickup schedules for courier services may differ from urban areas. If you frequently use resale apps or online shopping, we recommend confirming service availability in advance.
Utilizing Relocation Support Programs
Many local municipalities offer various support programs for relocating residents in order to increase population and revitalize their communities.
Rent Subsidies and Housing Support
Some municipalities provide rent subsidies of ¥10,000–¥30,000 per month for newcomers. There's also growing use of "vacant property banks," where municipalities renovate empty houses and offer them to relocators at reduced rates.
Relocation Incentive Programs
The national and local governments jointly offer a "relocation support fund" of up to ¥1,000,000 for those moving from the Greater Tokyo Area (Tokyo and its three neighboring prefectures) to rural areas. However, there are conditions such as working in a telework capacity and moving to designated areas.
Job Search Support
Many municipalities also provide U-turn and I-turn (return and inbound migration) employment support, agricultural experience and succession training programs, and free coworking space passes for those seeking to establish themselves in rural areas.
Important Notes Specific to Rural Rentals
Many Older Properties
The rural rental market has a higher proportion of older buildings compared to urban areas, and insulation and facility standards may be lower. Especially in cold regions like Tohoku and Hokkaido, winter heating costs can run higher than expected. Check for features such as insulated windows, underfloor heating, and double-glazed sashes.
Insects and Wildlife
In nature-rich rural environments, you may encounter insects (like Japanese hornets and centipedes) and wildlife (such as raccoon dogs and wild boar) that you wouldn't experience in cities. We especially recommend checking pest control measures before moving into ground-floor or lower-level units.
Community Participation
In rural areas, there may be an unspoken expectation to participate in neighborhood association activities. It's reassuring to confirm rules about garbage disposal and participation in local events beforehand with neighbors or the building management.
Important Notes for Dual-Base Living
If you're maintaining a primary residence in an urban area while establishing a secondary base in a rural area, residency registration and tax or social insurance procedures can become complicated. In particular, if you wish to receive a relocation support fund from a municipality, relocation of your residency registration is almost always required as a condition. We recommend confirming these details in advance with a tax professional or your local government's relocation consultation office.
Summary
Workations and rural relocation are attractive options that simultaneously offer greater flexibility in how you work and reduce costs. The key to success lies in verifying internet connectivity and access to amenities beforehand, understanding relocation support programs available in your target area, and adapting to a rural lifestyle. To achieve your ideal rural living experience, trying out multiple candidate areas through trial moves and utilizing short-term rentals can be effective strategies.
