Working remotely doesn’t have to mean working from home, and it shouldn’t mean fighting for table space and outlets at Starbucks either. Luckily, Tokyo has endless options for the perfect working spot whether you need something every day or just need a refreshing spot to get stuff done. This article is divided into three different categories: hourly or daily drop-in options, monthly rental options for a fixed seat or desk, and the best uncommon alternative workspaces like cafes and bookstores.
3 Types of Rental Spaces for Remote Work in Tokyo
Daily or hourly rental: For occasional or temporary remote workers, these are drop-in or daily rental “hot desks” at coworking spaces or lounges with included perks, like free coffee or lounge use.
Monthly rental: If you are self-employed or need a consistent working space, coworking communities rent shared or private desks on a monthly basis, and their members have access to other facilities and benefits, too. Usually these places offer hourly or daily rental too, but not always.
Alternative workspaces: Not your average bookstore or coffee shop, these picks are not branded as “coworking spaces”, but are well-suited environments for productive work, and you don’t have to feel weird about spending the entire day there.
Daily or Hourly Rentals
Connecting The Dots: Motivate Yourself by Connecting With Others
This bright and minimalist space reflects the founder’s philosophy that connecting with others and sharing a productive environment is the best motivation for your own work. You can see this brought to life with office quirks like the “give and take cards”, where you can post a note on the wall to request work or recruit partners or the use of Amazon Alexas throughout the facility to increase efficiency and communication. Drop in for a day of work at either the central Shibuya or Yoyogi location, or freely come and go between the two if you opt for one of their monthly plans. Both locations have open seating areas for group or individual work, semi-private dedicated desks, rental conference rooms, event spaces, a small kitchen and a cafe. They also recently introduced “spot office”, a completely private rental office available on an hourly basis, something that other coworking spaces usually only offer with monthly membership. If you are a startup or small business, they offer free business consultation services with lawyers and accountants for their monthly members (in Japanese).
Try a 1 day plan from 1,400 yen (from 10:00-19:00) or get a “dots card” for multiple visits at a discounted rate. Monthly plans start from 16,500 yen per month and include 24 hour facility access. For serious community building, or if your work requires a full getaway, check out the newly launched coworking resort, a luxurious private house in Enoshima specially designed for company camps or retreats. Unfortunately it’s not included in the monthly membership, but it’s another way this innovative company is helping people connect.
| Name | Connecting the Dots |
|---|---|
| Price | 1 day for 1,400 yen |
| Address | (Shibuya location) 4th and 6th floors of Kawahara Building, 1-20-7 Jinnan, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 渋谷区神南1-20-7川原ビル4階・6階 Google Maps (Yoyogi location) B1 and 4th floors of YK Building, 1-29-5, Yoyogi, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 1-29-5渋谷区代々木YKビルB1階、4階 Google Maps |
| Access | (Shibuya) 4-minute walk from Shibuya JR station (Yoyogi) 30-second walk from Yoyogi station, 10 minutes walk from JR Shinjuku station |
| Website (Japanese) | https://dots.bz/ |
Hanarie Hibarigaoka: Get Cozy in a Homestyle Working Space
Hanare Hibarigaoka is a down to Earth, no frills, homey workspace. It’s an especially great choice for working parents, because children under elementary age are welcomed and free of charge. There are private rooms for group work, workshops, and meetings, or just cozying up with a book for some quiet downtime. This is the cheapest option for drop-in working, starting at 500 yen for up to 2 hours or 1 day for 1,000 yen (with advance reservation). Use the projector, whiteboards, etc. for free, and make use of their workshops like knitting or programming!
| Name | Hanare Hibarigaoka |
|---|---|
| Opening Hours | Weekdays 10:00 am – 7:00 pm, Saturdays 10:00 am – 4:30 pm |
| Closing Days | Sunday |
| Price | 2 hours for 500 yen or 1 day for 1,000 yen |
| Address | 5-7-2, Kurihara, Niiza City, Saitama 埼玉県新座市栗原５丁目７−２ Google Maps |
| Access | About a 7-minute walk from the north exit of Hibarigaoka Station on the Seibu Ikebukuro Line |
| Website (Japanese) | https://hanare-hibari.info/ |
Hapon Shinjuku: Capturing Japan’s Essence
Only in Japan will you find tatami mat meeting rooms, and only at Hapon Shinjuku can they pull off a Japan-themed space that is both traditional and stylish. There’s a long table that flows through the common area and is beautifully carved into the shape of Japan, and the on-site cafe serving local food and drink really makes you feel at home. In addition to the coworking space, there is also a small library, 2 conference rooms, and an event space.
Choose from 4 different plans to cover any long or short-term work need: visitor, traveler, open member, or booth member, with the shortest rental period being just 3 hours for 1,000 yen. Work 1 day for 2,000 yen including 1 drink. You can also purchase a discounted multi-use pass, either 5 visits for 8,000 yen or 10 visits for 14,000 yen.
| Name | HAPON Shinjuku |
|---|---|
| Opening Hours | Every day 6:00 am – 12:00 pm |
| Closing Days | None |
| Price | 3 hours for 1,000 yen, 1 day for 2,000 yen |
| Address | 5F of Musashi Building, 7-4-4, Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 東京都新宿区西新宿7-4-4武蔵ビル5F Google Maps |
| Access | 3 minutes walk from Shinjuku station (west exit D5) |
| Website (Japanese) | www.hapon.asia |
Monthly or Long Term Rentals
Grid Workspace: The Professional’s Playground
With 8 floors, including a basement event space and rooftop, Grid is more like a networking playground than an office space. The interior here is seriously cool, polished enough for business meetings but comfortable and inviting enough to hang out with friends. The entry floor is home to cafes, a donut shop, and media exhibitions. Floors 1 through 7 function as various types of working spaces, from open seating lounges to private offices and conference rooms. There is even a massage room with an on-site massage therapist as well as a kids’ room. Members are encouraged to use the rooftop for lunch, yoga, or gathering with friends on the lawn and enjoying the terrace garden.
While most of the plans offered here are on a monthly rental basis, the 5th floor offers drop-in hourly rental for 2,000 yen/hour with the admission fee, or you can get 11 coupons at a discounted rate. Get a personal plan for free desk use from 35,000 yen per month. Members can access the facility 24 hours/day, use the printers, and enjoy free coffee and water.
| Name | Nagatacho GRiD |
|---|---|
| Opening Hours | Drop-in: weekdays 10:00 am – 7:00 pm, members: 24 hours a day |
| Price | Monthly from 35,000 yen, or drop in for 2,000 yen/hour |
| Address | 2-5-3, Hirakawacho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 東京都千代田区平河町2-5-3 Google Maps |
| Access | 2-minute walk from Exits 4 or 9b of Nagatacho Station, 7-minute walk from Exit 1 of Kojimachi Station, 5-minute walk from Exit D or Exit 7 of Akasaka Mitsuke Station |
| Website (Japanese) | www.grid.tokyo.jp |
Creative Lounge Mov: Join a Stylish and International Working Community
Home to a diverse, multi-cultural membership, the name “creative lounge” says it all. It’s hip, it’s cozy, and it’s right next to Shibuya Station. Stroll through art exhibitions and design rooms as you make your way to the work lounge, a giant open floor-plan with a different work vibe happening around every corner, from couches and coffee tables to bar seating to semi-private enclosed seating. In addition to the lounge, there are shared or private desks rented on a monthly basis and private conference rooms. These residence areas are accessible 24 hours a day for members. Check out the newly opened work pods, designed to be the perfect place for a private online meeting or Zoom call.
If you are dropping in, it is 1,100 yen per hour (with free coffee), or a full-time monthly rental is 23,400 yen/month. They also have other rental plans, such as ones with limited daytime hours, or nights and holidays only for a cheaper price. Don’t forget to stay late for their member parties, including “Beer Fridays!”
| Name | Creative Lounge MOV |
|---|---|
| Opening Hours | Every day 9:00 am -10:00 pm |
| Closing Days | None |
| Price | Monthly rental from 23,400 yen or drop-in for 1,100 yen/hour |
| Address | 8th floor of Shibuya Hikarie, 2-21-1, Shibuya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-0002 2-21-1、渋谷区渋谷区渋谷ヒカリエ8階 Google Maps |
| Access | Directly connected to Exit B5 of Shibuya Station on the Tokyu Toyoko Line, Denen-toshi Line, Tokyo Metro Hanzomon Line, and Fukutoshin Line |
| Website (Japanese) | www.shibuyamov.com |
Ryozan Park: Integrated Community for Living, Working and Even Childcare
Ryozan Park goes above and beyond the original idea of a coworking space and rather is branded as an “integrated international community” to include accommodation, offices, and childcare. Luxury share-house-style apartments, sophisticated and modern working spaces, and even an international preschool are spread across their 2 locations in the quiet neighborhoods of Sugamo and Otsuka. For working, the Sugamo site takes a more casual approach, with inspiring workspaces that can also function as cozy chill spots. Enjoy a craft beer next to the fireplace in their European style lodge, or get some work done in their kitchen/workspace fusion, where artists have hand-sculpted the interior out of natural and sustainable materials. Private pods or meeting rooms are available, too. The Otsuka office is a more structured working area, offering both open seating and private booths, but they also have standing desks, a Scottish-style lounge, reading deck with beanbags, and a rooftop garden.
Choose your access and get full membership across locations for 19,800 yen per month, or 15,000 yen per month for use of the Otsuka coworking space, and only the lounge and open seat area in Sugamo. Private offices are available for 2-6 people at both locations from 70,000 yen monthly.
| Name | Ryozan Park |
|---|---|
| Opening Hours | Depends on plan |
| Closing Days | Depends on plan |
| Price | Open seat from 15,000 yen/month, private office from 70,000 yen/month |
| Address | (Sugamo location) 2F of RYOZAN PARK Annex, 1-7-6, Sugamo, Toshima-ku, Tokyo 巣鴨豊島区東京1-9-1 Google Maps (Otsuka location) 3-36-7, Minami Otsuka, Toshima-ku, Tokyo 5東京都豊島区大塚南3-36-7 Google Maps |
| Access | |
| Website (Japanese) | www.ryozanpark.com |
| Website (English) | www.ryozanpark.com/en |
Pasela Cowork: Work then Relax with Nap Pods and Massage Chairs
The three locations: Higashi Shinjuku, Higashikanda, and Shinjuku Station South Exit all share a clean, sophisticated work vibe and super fast wifi, but offer some different services. Higashi Shinjuku has 3 stylish open workspaces, meeting and workshop rooms, and private desks. Higashikanda includes all of those, plus an additional free space for relaxing, a super sleek cafe area with 30 kinds of drinks, massage chairs, and books. At the Shinjuku Station location, there are free seats overlooking the city, private capsule offices, and meeting rooms. For men, there is an onsite public bath and napping capsule pods for rental. On the website you can see the crowdedness of each building before you go.
Get a monthly membership for access to all locations from 20,000 yen per month, or drop in for 400 yen per hour if you get your pass online. Private offices are also available from 50,000 yen per month. All of the reservations are cheaper if made online in advance, and the facilities are cashless, so be sure to do this or bring your card.
| Name | Pasela Cowork |
|---|---|
| Opening Hours | Weekdays 9:00 am – 11:00 pm, Saturdays, Sundays and holidays 9:00 am – 10:00 pm, Shinjuku South Exit location is open 24 hours/day |
| Closing Days | Open all year |
| Price | Open seat membership from 20,000 yen/month, drop-in for 400 yen/hour |
| Address | (Higashi Shinjuku) 1F of Bixel Shinjuku, 7-26-7, Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 東京都新宿区新宿7-26-7ビクセル新宿1F Google Maps (Higashikanda) Sentopia Higashikanda Building, 1-15-9, Higashikanda, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 東京都千代田区東神田１丁目１５−9 セントピア 東神田ビル Google Maps (Shinjuku South Exit) Shinchika Building, 4-2-10, Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 日本、〒160-0022 東京都新宿区新宿４丁目２−１０ 新近ビル Google Maps |
| Website (Japanese) | www.pasela.co.jp |
Tokyo Chapter: Coworking, Coliving, and Exhibition Space with Vintage Style
Hot desks, private offices, and reserved desks all available in a cool, vintage setting. A global community gathers here for working and sometimes living, as the facility also has private apartments and a share house. There is a bilingual (English and Japanese) reception, and if you are a monthly renter you can access the kitchen, lounge, gym, and even showers. There is also a huge rooftop for chilling or hosting events, with 360 views of the city and room for more than 150 people. Daily use of a hot desk is 2,000 yen, or get monthly access for 29,000 yen/month plus utilities. Fixed desks go from 36,000 yen/month plus utilities.
| Name | Tokyo Chapter |
|---|---|
| Opening Hours | Weekdays 10:00 am – 7:00 pm |
| Closing Days | Weekends |
| Price | Monthly membership from 29,000 yen or daily use from 2,000 yen |
| Address | 9-2-13, Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo 東京都港区赤坂9-2-13 Google Maps |
| Website (Japanese and English) | www.tokyochapter.com |
Alternative Workspaces
Fab Cafe: Good Food and Gadgets
The resources here are geared more towards the tech and IT industries, but the cafe is a great productive environment for drop-in work of any kind. They have some cool gadgets available for use or rent like laser cutters, tape creator, and UV printers, plus occasional workshops like “making your own music” where you can learn some tech skills and have fun. You can work any time during opening hours, but if you want to use the equipment, there are specified drop-in time periods throughout the day or you can make a reservation online.
| Name | FAB Cafe |
|---|---|
| Opening Hours | Weekdays: 8:30 am – 8:00 pm, weekends and holidays: 10:00 am – 8:00 pm |
| Closing Days | Open all year |
| Address | 2F of Dogenzaka Pier, 1-22-7, Dogenzaka, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 東京都渋谷区道玄坂1-22-7道玄坂埠頭2F |
| Access | 3-minute walk from Keio Inokashira Line Shinsen Station, South Exit, 10-minute walk from JR Shibuya Station |
| Website (Japanese and English) | www.fabcafe.com/jp/tokyo |
Starbucks x Thinklab Circles Ginza: Not Your Average Starbucks
Here, Starbucks partners with ThinkLab, the producers of sleek and functional private coworking pods. Grab your favorite drink and then head to the SmartLounge, an open meeting area for everyone, or get a private booth complete with a power supply for 300 yen for 15 minutes. It’s recommended to use the ThinkLab app to reserve private seats in advance. If you like the concept, check out ThinkLab’s standalone location in Shiodome, where you use the app to rent pods at your convenience.
| Name | Circles Ginza |
|---|---|
| Opening Hours | Every day 7:00 am – 8:00 pm |
| Closing Days | Open all year |
| Address | 3-7-6, Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 東京都中央区銀座3丁目-7-6サークル銀座 |
| Website (Japanese and English) | https://thinklab.jins.com/jp/ja/ |
Paperback Cafe: Part Cafe, Part Library, Perfect for Working
Yummy food and a cool book-filled environment for peaceful work. This is a no-frills cafe and book store, but the food is good, wifi is free, and seating with outlets are aplenty. They are open every day of the week, but the opening hours are a little short so get in early. Get 10% off every 10th of the month. They are also the owners of a rental conference room and meeting space, but this is separate from the cafe/bookstore.
| Name | Paperback Cafe |
|---|---|
| Opening Hours | Every day 10:00 am – 6:00 pm |
| Closing Days | Open all year |
| Address | 1-17, Kanda Jinbocho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 東京都千代田区神田神保町１丁目１７ |
| Website (Japanese) | http://www.tokyodo-web.co.jp/cafe/ |
Trunk Lounge: Stay for Drinks After Work
Part hotel, part event space, and part restaurant/bar, there is a lot going on here. No matter the occasion, Trunk’s stylish facilities can take you through the whole day, from the cafe, to lunch on the terrace, to the bar at night. Plenty of large, versatile seating areas are available for working and there is free wifi. Stay late for near daily showcases and events.
| Name | TRUNK (Hotel) |
|---|---|
| Opening Hours | Lounge: every day 9:00 am – 10:00 pm |
| Closing Days | Open all year |
| Address | 5-31, Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 東京都渋谷区神宮前5-31 |
| Access | 5-minute walk from Shibuya Station, Exit B1 |
| Website (Japanese) | www.trunk-hotel.com |
Conclusion
From collaboration to isolation, environment is everything when it comes to getting things done. Ditch the crowded cafes and be your most productive self at one of these unique workspace picks, where the people are creative, the surroundings are inspirational, and the coffee is neverending.
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The information in this article is accurate at the time of publication.
