Japan continues to be one of the world’s most coveted destinations for digital nomads and travel geeks. By 2026, Tokyo has fully cemented itself as a global tech hub, blending its unique culture with a rapidly growing international community.
With the Japanese Yen hitting an all-time low, it is the perfect time to combine an upskilling or career change with the trip of a lifetime.
If you are from one of the 74 visa-free countries list, which includes most of Europe and North America, you do not need to apply for a visa in advance. You can simply fly into Japan and receive a 90-day tourist visa upon arrival. This is the most common route for our 9-week full-time students.
If your country is not in the above list, you will still need to obtain a short-term tourist visa for 90 days. Le Wagon Tokyo will be able to assist you with a required invitation – Book a call with an advisor to confirm your eligibility.
If you are joining our 24-week part-time courses, you have several options:
Working Holiday Visa: Available for citizens of 30 countries (under 30 years old)
Tourist Visa Extension: Some nationalities (like UK, Germany, or Mexico) can extend their 90-day tourist visa for another 90 days at the immigration office
From Day 1 to Demo Day, our full-time bootcamps last for exactly 61 days, and 68 days if you are also planning to join our Career Week, giving you 3 to 4 weeks to make the most of your trip outside of the bootcamp.
We usually recommend flying in a few days before start date to get used to the time difference – most of our students coming from abroad also plan a couple of weeks to visit the country afterwards. Check out some of our graduates’ trip advice!
Tokyo is vast, but your life will revolve around Meguro. Our campus is an 8-minute walk from Meguro Station, which is on the Yamanote Line (the main loop connecting Shibuya, Shinjuku, and Tokyo Stations).
For a 2-month stay, share houses remain the most convenient and social option. They handle the paperwork and often provide a community.
Sakura House: Large inventory of rooms in popular neighborhoods
Oakhouse: Often features “Social Residences” with gyms and cinema rooms
Borderless House: Focuses on cultural exchange (50% locals, 50% foreigners)
GGHouse: Known for being very budget-friendly and clean
Other options also include TokyoCityApartments, Hmlet, BeGoodJapan or Homestay.
If you prefer more privacy or a “hotel-style” lifestyle:
Section L: Upscale apartment-hotels designed specifically for short term staus
MetroResidences: High-quality serviced apartments
Haun: Although normally longer-term contracts, they can potentially offer accommodation for 3 to 6 months
Lastly, Airbnb tends to be quite expensive, but you may be able to get a decent deal for a 2-month stay if you reach out to the owner.
Budget: 90,000 – 120,000 JPY / month ($600–$800)
From convenience stores, supermarket bento to mom-and-pop stores, the (inexpensive) choice is yours!
Lunch: 800 – 1,100 JPY for a lunch set or ramen – check out the Le Wagon Tokyo staff favorites around the campus!
Dinner: 1,500 – 2,500 JPY for a standard restaurant meal
Convenience Stores (Konbini): 7-Eleven, Lawson, and FamilyMart are still the gold standard. You can get a high-quality “Bento” for 600-800 JPY.
A lot of places offer all you can eat & drink for as low as 2,500¥, but if you’re the party type you’ll probably hop from one bar to another, and finish your night (or early morning) in one of the local clubs.
Budget: 2,000 – 3,000 JPY / day
Although they are back in stock, physical IC cards can still be hard to find at airports. We highly recommend adding a Digital Suica or Pasmo to your Apple or Google Wallet before you arrive. You can top it up with your credit card and tap-and-go for all trains and vending machines.
You will see small green electric scooters and bikes everywhere, and sign that LUUP has taken over Tokyo. You do not need a Japanese driver license to use it, making it one of the top choices for tourists and nomads.
Our campus has a free bicycle parking. If you stay for 2 months, buying a cheap “Mamachari” (city bike) on Facebook Groups or Mercari is highly recommended.
Make sure to use Google Maps for the most accurate directions and train times – A few of our international students got lost using Apple Maps!
eSIM: This is now the standard. Use Airalo, Ubigi, or Nomad. They are easy to set up and provide instant data upon landing. Revolut now also offer it as an added service in their banking app.
Physical SIMs: If you need a long-term data plan, Nippon SIM remains a reliable choice available on Amazon Japan.
Since you’re here to code, a few tips to make sure your gear is in order:
Power Plugs: Japan uses Type A (2-pin) plugs. If your laptop charger has a 3-pin “grounded” plug (common in US/UK/AU), you will need to get your hands on an adapter.
Voltage: Japan operates on 100V. Most modern laptops are dual-voltage, but check your hair dryer or monitor before plugging them in!
Hardware: If you need a second monitor or a replacement charger, head to Yodobashi Camera or Bic Camera in Yurakucho or Akihabara.
We recently published an article covering our favorite international tech communities in the city – Check it out here!
As you probably already know, the official currency in Japan is the Yen – It is at its lowest right now, with no sign of getting stronger, which is great news for international travelers!
Most ATMs, especially in convenience stores, are now VISA-friendly, and you will be able to withdraw cash easily. We do not recommend bringing cash in with the hope to exchange it: banks do not offer that service, and your only option will be the very expensive Travelex.
The low Yen also makes our Tokyo programs the cheapest option compared to other Le Wagon international campuses:
AI Software: ~4,900 EUR / 5,750 USD (890,000 JPY)
Data Science & AI: ~5,200 EUR / 6,100 USD (950,000 JPY)
Data Analytics: ~4,300 EUR / 5,100 USD (790,000 JPY)
Let’s look at a realistic budget for your 2-month stay:
Accommodation: 200,000 JPY
Food & Drinks: 220,000 JPY
Transportation: 25,000 JPY
Entertainment/Travel: 60,000 JPY
Total Monthly Budget: ~250,000 JPY (approx. 1,650 USD / 1,550 EUR).
You don’t need Japanese to survive in Tokyo, but “Nihongo” will unlock a much deeper experience:
WaniKani: The absolute best for learning Kanji via mnemonics.
Bunpro: Excellent for grammar.
With over 75 different nationalities among our 1,100 graduates, the Tokyo branch of Le Wagon remains one of the the most international campuses worldwide. This creates a unique coding bootcamp experience, mixing different backgrounds, cultures and life aspirations!The whole team is looking forward to welcoming you soon in Tokyo!
Full-Time (9 weeks)
Part-Time (24 weeks)
Ready to change your life? Book a call with our advisor to discuss your goals!
Haken (派遣) is the Japanese word for temporary employees dispatched to companies by staffing agencies.
After studying languages, Annmarie worked several administration and communication roles. Feeling like there was more
AI has advanced significantly in Natural Language Understanding (NLU) with tools like ChatGPT, now equipped
Seira’s career at the United Nations and the Red Cross has sent him across the
Elevate web design with animations and transitions for a more modern UI in 2025.
Did you know that you can work full-time and still learn to code? Our part-time
