In the fall of 2024, I went to Tokyo because my husband had a work trip, and I couldn’t pass up the chance to tag along. We’d talked about me joining him on one of these longer assignments, and this felt like the perfect excuse to see Japan together, even if we’d be on opposite schedules the whole time.
To make it work, we upgraded our hotel to a suite so we’d have separate spaces to focus. While he worked during the day, I was on the graveyard shift, keeping U.S. hours. Since I was working through the night, I ended up working in the living room while he slept in the other room – not exactly the cozy café vibe I’d imagined, but it got the job done.
The Routine: Less Glamorous, More Real
Every morning around 6:30, just as I wrapped up my shift, I’d head out for a walk with my husband before his day began. Then, I’d grab breakfast and squeeze in a couple hours of focused, heads-down work before taking a mid-morning break to explore. Around 3 p.m., I’d crash for a nap, wake up again around 7 or 8 p.m., eat dinner with my husband, say goodnight—and start my work shift.
Honestly? It was exhausting.
What Surprised Me
I expected the time difference to be tough, but it hit harder than I thought. I’d love to say I had an amazing time, but working through the night in a completely different time zone was more draining than dreamy. I didn’t see many remote workers during the day either, which surprised me. Maybe I was in the wrong parts of town, or maybe Tokyo doesn’t have the same café-culture-for-laptop-users that I saw when I lived in Seoul.
The Quiet That Calmed Me
For such a massive city, Tokyo is surprisingly quiet—and I really appreciated that. I have sensitive ears and tend to be more aware of sound than most people, so the calm, low-noise atmosphere was a welcome change. I’m always asking my husband to turn down the volume (he loves to test my limits), so being in a place where people move with quiet purpose felt like a breath of fresh air. It reminded me of my work setup back home in Tulsa: diffuser on, instrumental music playing, and a steady, focused vibe that makes it easier to get in the zone.
The Food (and a Lot of 7-Eleven)
I lived on sushi, ramen, and way too many snacks from 7-Eleven. Honestly, I got a stomachache almost every time, but that didn’t stop me. I found what I liked and stuck with it. It wasn’t a culinary tour by any means, but the comfort of familiar bites became part of the rhythm.
The Lesson I Didn’t Expect
What I learned most from this trip wasn’t some new hack for productivity – it was that sometimes, you need to not work.
I should’ve just taken a vacation.
Trying to be present in Tokyo while also staying on top of deliverables made the trip feel split in half. Once I committed to working remotely, I couldn’t back out, and I didn’t realize how much of a toll that would take. So, while the experience was valuable, my biggest takeaway was that working remotely isn’t always the right call. Sometimes, it’s better to unplug and just be in the moment.
If You’re Thinking About Working Remotely in Japan…
Consider the time difference – seriously. Tokyo is an incredible place, and I wish I could’ve given it more attention. But working through the night made it hard to enjoy the city. If I could do it again, I’d take the time off. No regrets about going, but next time, I’d go differently.
Two weeks in Tokyo didn’t give me a perfect Instagrammable remote work dream, but it gave me perspective. Focus can be found in the stillness. Flow sometimes comes with a belly full of noodles. And clarity? That often shows up when you’re honest about what’s not working.
Remote Work Resources for Tokyo
