How to Choose a Coworking Space in Tokyo: A Checklist for Teams and Freelancers

The best coworking space in Tokyo is the one you will actually use: close to your home or clients, with the right desk type, a quiet way to take calls and contract terms you can live with. Trial two or three spaces for a day each before you sign anything.

What should you decide before you start looking?

Write down four things first, so you can compare spaces fairly:

• How often you will go: a couple of days a week or every day.
• Who will use it: just you, or a small team that needs to sit together.
• What your work needs: many calls, confidential files, client visits or mostly quiet writing.
• Your monthly ceiling: prices vary a lot, so set a budget and ask each space for its current price list.

Where should the space be?

Tokyo is large and its neighborhoods have very different characters, so pick the location by your routine rather than by reputation. Choose a space near a station on a line you already use, and compare the door-to-desk time for your real commute. If clients visit you, check how easy it is for them to find the entrance and whether reception can greet them.

Which desk type fits you?

How do you handle calls and noise?

This is the most common reason people leave a space. Ask where calls are taken: phone booths, a quiet room, or open desks. Visit during the hours you work, since a space that is calm at 11:00 can be busy at 15:00. If your calls are with colleagues overseas, check that early or late hours are permitted.

Teams that run client sessions may also like a space with bookable rooms; our piece on using coworking spaces to host workshops shows what to look for.

Is the seating comfortable enough for a full day?

Sit at the desk you would be given for at least an hour. Check that the chair adjusts, the screen can sit at a comfortable height and your forearms rest naturally. The US occupational safety agency OSHA publishes a computer workstation guide that is a useful reference when you assess a chair and desk setup. If you carry your own gear, see our portable home office kit.

What about connection and equipment?

• Run a speed test and a real video call during your trial.
• Ask whether there is a wired option for important calls.
• Check printing, lockers, mail handling and after-hours access if you need them.

If a connection test goes badly, our guide to reliable internet for remote workers explains what to ask for and what to carry as backup.

What contract terms should you read?

Ask for these in writing before paying:

• Minimum term and the notice period for leaving.
• Whether you can pause, upgrade or downgrade.
• What is included, and what is billed extra (meeting rooms, printing, guests).
• Deposit and how it is returned.
• Whether the contract and house rules are available in English, if you need them.

If the contract has terms you do not understand, ask the operator to explain them or seek advice from a professional before you sign.

How do you compare spaces fairly?

After each trial day, score the space from 1 to 5 on location, noise, calls, seating, connection, community and terms. Weigh the scores by what matters to you. The scoring will not decide for you, but it shows which trade-off you are making.

Summary

Decide how often you will go and what your work needs, shortlist spaces by commute, trial each one at your normal hours and read the terms closely. A short trial costs little and can save you months in the wrong space.