A day as a digital nomad in Kotohira is exactly the kind of routine I didn’t know I was craving before coming to Japan. You like to try new coliving? You want to escape busy cities, crowds and touristic spots in Japan and experience coliving in an authentic countryside? You’re in the right place. Come with me, I introduce you to Kotohira, Kotori, and my digital nomad daylight life in this little peaceful paradise.

Table of contents

• First steps in Kotohira
• A day as digital nomad in Kotohira
• Final thoughts

First steps in Kotohira

Rare for a traveller in Japan, I didn’t discover Japan by exploring Tokyo, Kyoto, or any other well known destinations. No, my first ever location in Japan was Kotohira. It can seem weird… well, to me it was the best way to start. It was the best first place to immerse myself in a country so far away from everything I’m used to.

I don’t speak Japanese, I didn’t know anything about Japanese food, and I’ve never watched or read a manga. Is that a problem in Kotohira? Not at all, as long as you settle yourself in Kotori Hostel & Coworking.

Alt x Kotori pop up

I didn’t arrive in Kotohira with a random choice. I joined the first ever pop-up program organised by Alt and Kotori. 7 digital nomads landing in the Japanese countryside for a month of work and travel experience. It was one of the best experiences in my life.

I met wonderful people, nomads and locals, and made great friends. I discovered the story of this town with Mr Candy, Buddhism with a monk, made my own udon noodles or onigiris, wore a traditional kimono, enjoyed a traditional kabuki show… But there was nothing like crowds of tourists. It was with friends, with exchanges, with a shared desire to discover each other.

I loved it so much that I came back to Kotohira a few months after and enjoyed two more months of digital nomading in this city.

Kotohira, a place for digital nomads

You’re scared of going to a small town, far from big cities. You think you’ll get bored quickly? I promise, you won’t. Definitely not in Kotohira.

Why? Because even if it seems small and quiet, there are plenty of things to do in town and around. There are also plenty of amazing people to meet. And once you have friends, you’ll never get bored.

Choose Kotori in Kotohira if you’re looking for:

• a digital nomad spot in Japan to set up a good working routine
• quiet vibes and a good coworking
• exploring a country deeper with day trips, hiking, cycling, and island hopping activities
• meeting Japanese people not as a tourist, but to make real friendships

I could give you more and more reasons. But now you should try it, and you’ll have your own reasons to come back.

A day as digital nomad in Kotohira

A day as a digital nomad in Kotohira is very smooth and easy. There are many possibilities to organise your day, depending on your preferences and your work schedule.

I’m an early bird, so I like to be up early and start my day when Kotori is still very quiet. I have a cup of tea in the kitchen, then I head to the 3rd floor to enjoy the first light of the day in the Green Room. I can grab a mat to practice some yoga or stretching.

Now I’m ready to properly start my day.

Morning & work

Sometimes I prefer to work in a quiet spot in the coworking room. But most of the time, I settle myself on the 1st floor. I open my computer, start working, and I can enjoy small breaks with my coworkers: Kotori staff, some remote Japanese workers, or other digital nomads staying in Kotori.

It changes every day and that’s perfect. It’s sometimes quiet, sometimes vibrant. There are always nice coffee or snack break conversations.

Lunch break

For lunch, I like to walk out of Kotori and choose one of the restaurants in Kotohira. If I need to stay focused and work longer, I choose Sando Sand. Stand. Here I can open my laptop and stay in my zone with a delicious sandwich. If I want good food and a nice talk, I stop at Hemp Heart, where Shinji-san is always happy to start a conversation, talk about travelling, or give advice.

More cafes to work from in Kotohira? Have a look on my list.

Walk in Kotohira

It’s time for a break and a little walk. I like to enjoy the simplicity of this town. I grab my camera and follow my instinct.

Sometimes I follow the main path that leads me towards the stairs, the shops, and finally Kotohira-gu Shrine.
Some days, I prefer to lose myself in the forest just a few steps from the main streets. I climb to the top of the hill for a great view over the city and some fresh air.
Sometimes I walk along the river, in town first, then quickly surrounded by rice fields and flowers. It’s perfect to reset my mind.

On the way back to Kotori, a stop at the free foot bath is a perfect chill moment before going back to work for a few more hours.

Evening as a digital nomad in Kotohira

Dinner time? I always find someone to spend time with. On weekdays, I can grab something from the 7/11 next door and stay inside Kotori for board games, a movie night, or just a nice talk with other guests and locals.

On weekends, I join a group for dinner in one of the delicious restaurants nearby. We might enjoy some music at Hemp Heart, or we continue for a fun karaoke.

At first sight, you can feel like nights are going to be long and empty here, but not at all. There’s a lot to do in Kotohira, around, or simply a lot of gatherings in Kotori itself. Moments with friends that I’ll never forget.

Then it’s time to go back to my little lovely room for a good sleep. Tomorrow, more surprises are coming in Kotohira.

Final thoughts

If you’re looking for a place where you can actually focus, breathe, and still feel connected to people, living as a digital nomad in Kotohira makes a lot of sense. It’s not about rushing from one highlight to the next. It’s about building a routine that feels good, working in a space that’s calm but social, and stepping outside for real nature and real local life whenever your brain needs a reset.

Kotohira gave me that balance, and Kotori made it easy from day one. If you’re curious about coliving in the Japanese countryside, and you want a base that feels welcoming even if you don’t speak Japanese, this little town might surprise you the same way it surprised me.

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