Demand for office space in central Tokyo is higher than ever, with vacancy rates falling to below 2 percent last year for the first time since 1991. With such high demand comes increased competition, driving the prices higher on traditional office leases.
The average monthly rent for a 50-square-meter office in Tokyo is $2,090 USD. This doesn’t include a broker’s fee (typically another month’s rent) or the security deposit (up to 10 month’s worth of rent). For flexible office space, the monthly rate continues to climb.
Workspace solutions like WeWork help solve this, providing flexible, all-inclusive offices to accommodate businesses of all sizes. Whether you’re a creative freelancer who needs a dedicated workspace or an established firm that’s expanding into a new market, WeWork helps you secure office space in Tokyo—and takes the complexity out of moving in.
Here’s where you can find unexpectedly affordable office space in Tokyo.
The creative heart
A bustling hub of arts and culture located northeast of Tokyo’s downtown, Ikebukuro is a perfect landing spot for creatives. Its skyline is dominated by the Sunshine 60 building, marking the center of Sunshine City and the host of an assortment of anime and manga shops.
Buzzing with independent artists and publishers, Ikebukuro is an exciting place to put down roots—and WeWork Metropolitan Plaza Building puts you at the center of this cultural renaissance. Boasting art-filled lounges, private offices, and state-of-the-art conference rooms, this location is an excellent environment for creatives looking to meet clients and showcase their latest work. The Tokyo Metropolitan Theatre is a short walk away for after-work entertainment, and commuting is simple with a transit station right next door.
A hub of finance
Located in the Akasaka commercial district of north Minato, WeWork Nogizaka is only a few miles east of downtown Tokyo. Its strategic location makes this prime real estate for businesses that work frequently with clients in the finance and insurance sectors. Plus, its amenities are suited to entrepreneurs, freelancers, and startups alike.
A quaint residential and professional hub, Akasaka is a thoughtful landing spot for growing teams. As well as close proximity to downtown, it also offers easy access to Roppongi’s nightlife—the perfect destination for entertaining clients and celebrating team wins.
The global sector
Tokyo’s Shimbashi neighborhood is well-known for its industrial roots that continue to be expressed by the community’s strong work ethic. Today, it’s a downtown Tokyo district that sits between global commercial districts like Shiodome and Toranomon, making it perfect for businesses that work with local and international clients. Despite its central location, the area’s real estate is relatively affordable—well-suited to small-business overheads.
This convenience is optimized at WeWork Shimbashi, which offers a versatile range of hot desks, dedicated desks, and private offices catering to teams of all sizes. It’s convenient in practice, too, thanks to nearby Shimbashi Station.
A cultural playground
Located on the outskirts of Old Tokyo, WeWork Hibiya Park Front puts you just blocks away from the Imperial Palace at Chiyoda. This smaller office building provides a marvelous view of Hibiya Park and easy access to the area’s nightlife, eateries, and cultural sites, like the Hibiya Open Air Concert Hall.
The business district caters to bustling crowds of tourists who come from all over the world to see Chiyoda’s historic landmarks and cultural events. It’s a great location for freelancers who work with clients in Japan’s cultural, tourism, and arts community.
The Palace’s backyard
Finding affordable business workspace in Tokyo’s Chiyoda district can be challenging, but there are options like WeWork Hanzomon PREX North, which is only a few blocks east of the Imperial Palace. This is a great option for startups and small businesses that need a central Tokyo location without paying premium corporate office rental rates. There are flexible plans for temporary and long-term members who need to keep their overhead expenses low.
Boasting a decor that mirrors iconic Japanese culture and reflects the historic surroundings, this is an inspiring, focus-fueling workspace. Plus, the corporate, cultural, and tourist businesses lining the streets of the Kōjimachi neighborhood ensure that your team will never grow bored.
An entertainment bubble
Tokyu Yotsuya is also located in the Kōjimachi neighborhood on the eastern edge of Chiyoda. The area is home to foreign embassies, Nippon Television, and Sony Music Entertainment, making it one of Tokyo’s prime business and tourist districts. It features plenty of food and cultural attractions, making it an excellent work environment for meeting business partners and organizing nearby team-building events. Transit stations are within walking distance of the building, which means commuting isn’t difficult from outlying areas of Greater Tokyo.
WeWork Tokyu Yotsuya offers seven floors of workspace at this prime location near Sophia University and a major freeway, which positions it well for travel and receiving clients from other business districts. Our flexible plans can accommodate individual or small business members who want to move to Chiyoda.
If you’re searching for the most affordable workspace as a freelancer, startup venture, or established business, WeWork has these and many other options available in Greater Tokyo. All are designed to help you expand your business and your network, without breaking the bank.
