Proportion of Extreme Commuters by Prefecture in Japan：Before and After the COVID-19 Pandemic　|ニッセイ基礎研究所

岩﨑敬子 (いわさきけいこ)

研究・専門分野
応用ミクロ計量経済学・行動経済学　

■Summary

A research team at Stanford University reported that the number of commuters traveling more than 120 kilometers one way rose by 32% in major U.S. cities after the COVID-19 pandemic compared with pre-pandemic levels¹. In Japan, interest in relocating from urban to rural areas reportedly increased during the pandemic². This raises the question of whether the proportion of long-distance commuters also increased in Japan.

This report examines the proportion of commuters traveling 90 minutes or more one way—hereafter referred to as “extreme commuters”³—by prefecture, based on analyses of the NLI Research Institute’s original survey conducted annually since 2019. The goal is to determine whether any changes can be observed before and after the COVID-19 pandemic⁴.

In summary, the nationwide proportion of extreme commuters increased between 2019 and 2025. At the prefectural level, increases were observed in Tokyo, Gifu, and Tochigi. At the metropolitan-area level, upward trends were identified in the Tokyo Metropolitan Area, the Nagoya Metropolitan Area, and Northern Kanto.

¹ Bloom, N and Finan, A (2024) The rise in super commuters. (https://nbloom.people.stanford.edu/sites/g/files/sbiybj24291/files/media/file/supercommuters_final.pdf., 20251114 accessed)
² Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism. White Paper on Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism in Japan, 2021
³ In this report, individuals who commute 90 minutes or more one way are referred to as “extreme commuters.” This definition is based on the concept of “extreme commuting” used by the U.S. Census Bureau.
⁴ While this report focuses on the proportion of extreme commuters, the results of the analysis on average commuting time can be found below.
Keiko Iwasaki (2025) Average commuting time by prefecture in Japan: before and after the COVID-19 pandemic. NLI Research Institute Report (https://www.nli-research.co.jp/report/detail/id=83965?site=nli).

■Index

1――Survey Overview
2――Proportion of Extreme Commuters by Prefecture
3――Comparison of the Proportion of Extreme Commuters Before and After the COVID-19 Pandemic
4――Conclusion

岩﨑敬子 (いわさきけいこ)

研究・専門分野
応用ミクロ計量経済学・行動経済学　

日付	タイトル	執筆者	媒体
2025/12/09	Proportion of Extreme Commuters by Prefecture in Japan：Before and After the COVID-19 Pandemic	岩﨑敬子	基礎研レポート
2025/12/09	都道府県別エクストリーム通勤者の割合－コロナ禍前後の変化分析－	岩﨑敬子	基礎研レポート
2025/12/08	Average Commuting Time by Prefecture in Japan: Before and After the COVID-19 Pandemic	岩﨑敬子	基礎研レポート
2025/12/08	都道府県別平均通勤時間－コロナ禍前後の変化分析－	岩﨑敬子	基礎研レポート

Proportion of Extreme Commuters by Prefecture in Japan：Before and After the COVID-19 Pandemic | ニッセイ基礎研究所