So you’ve read our list of reasons not to get an office in Japan, but decided to get one anyway. Perhaps it’s because you’re on a self-sponsored work visa, and you need to provide a fixed office address without having to pay extremely pricey rent. Or maybe you need that clear home/office separation and your own private space. Now what? A serviced office might be the best option for you. What’s that, you ask? This handy little guide to Tokyo serviced offices will do the explaining.

Looking for an easy way to get started without all the language and bureaucracy hassle? Regus has the widest range of services at a reasonable price.

Why consider a serviced office?

A tensho office location in central Tokyo | Photo by Tensho Office

Tokyo serviced offices are fully furnished office spaces; as such, they work on a pay-per-use basis. These offices can be quite small, having a capacity of about 1-5 people. Unlike co-working spaces, they are actual offices with doors, and not just shared desks. Here are the main reasons that make serviced offices ideal for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and start-ups:

1. Cost-effectiveness

They save you the trouble of spending on utilities, furniture and equipment, making it easy to set up your business immediately. Not only do you no longer have to look for providers or take a small truck to IKEA, you also don’t have to worry about maintenance costs. Usually, the only additional costs you have to pay are telephone and internet bills, as well as fees for the use of conference rooms. This does make monthly payments higher than those of typical offices, but considering what’s included in your rent, you’re generally getting a good deal.

Suggested Activity
Challenge Sumo Wrestlers and Enjoy Lunch
Eat, train, and fight like a real Japanese sumo wrestler during this sumo demonstration and authentic 'Chanko Nabe' (hotpot) meal.

2. Flexibility

Unlike typical office spaces, which are leased for about five years, serviced offices offer short-term leases for (depending on provider) 1, 3, 6 or 12 months. Serviced offices are thus extremely advantageous in Tokyo, where the office rental market often demands an advance payment of a year’s worth of rent, and, at times, an additional payment called key money, which is a non-refundable “deposit” equivalent to up to six months of rent. Flexibility makes serviced offices great for short-term projects and those who eventually want to relocate. It also gives companies the freedom to expand or downsize.

Tokyo serviced offices: top options

“Great! So where do I sign up, and how?” you ask. You could start with one of these options, both of which have (to the best of our knowledge) English-speaking staff. Most providers (except for the extremely cheap ones) have shared lounge/kitchen spaces, which are great for the occasional coffee break or some socialization. Working in a one or two-person office can be lonely, after all.

Compass Habitat's shared kitchen
Compass Habitat’s shared kitchen. | Photo by Greg Lane

While signing up for a lease can be burdensome, it’s not really any more of a bother than other contracts in Japan. You’ll need a certificate of company registration (toukibo touhon, 登記簿謄本) and the company’s certificate of seal impression (inkan shoumeisho, 印鑑証明書), both of which you can get from a nearby Legal Affairs Bureau (Hōmukyoku).

Regus

The view from a Regus office in Akasaka. | Photo by Greg Lane

Regus has locations all over Tokyo, covering the main business districts such as Otemachi, Shinjuku, Akasaka, Ginza, Roppongi and Marunouchi. Although they’re cagey about their prices, small offices are available for about ¥80/month. Note that their “from XXXyen per person per month” pricing is based on larger offices. This makes sense as the per person cost goes down as the office gets bigger.

Becuase of their network, Regus has some advantages over the other providers. One of the best features is access to all their business lounges. This is a great feature if you have a meeting far from your office. Instead of going all the way back to the office after your meeting, you can pop into a nearby bsuiness lounge and then meet-up with friends nearby or do some prep for your next meeting.

Name:Regus
Pricing info:From ¥31,900/month + tax
Locations:Everywhere in central Tokyo
Phone:03-6871-9331

Tensho Office

With a large variety of locations across Tokyo starting from one-man booths to spacious corner offices, Tensho Office will more than likely have something to suit your needs.

Choosing an office location can be tricky, especially as the particular district may bring a certain status or “cool” to your business card. Tensho Office covers most central Tokyo locations from stylish Aoyama to strictly business Shimbashi. Other locations include, Kanda, Nihombashi, Akihabara, Shirokane, Ikebukuro, Otsuka, Shinjuku, Yoyogi and more.

Name:Tensho Office
Pricing info:From ¥31,900/month + tax
Locations:Kanda,
Nihombashi,
Akihabara,
Shimbashi,
Aoyama,
Shirokane,
Ikebukuro,
Otsuka,
Shinjuku,
Takadanobaba,
Yoyogi
Phone:03-3567-4214

Compass

Compass is an international provider of serviced offices, co-working spaces, and virtual offices, with the company originating in Hong Kong.

A cheapo at work at Compass | Photo by Greg Lane

Compass has two locations in Tokyo: one in Ebisu in the Ebisu Green Glass Building (1 minute from Ebisu Station or 15 minuites from Shibuya by foot), and another, with private offices atop Kamiyacho Station in Toranomon.

Suggested Activity
Get Tickets To the Samurai Restaurant in Shinjuku (Up to 30% Off)
Experience one of the craziest, most colorful places in Tokyo — the all-new Samurai Restaurant, from the creators of the Robot Restaurant. Get your tickets and sit back for a wild show of lasers, lights, samurai, dancers and other uniquely Japanese weirdness.

The Meguro location is spread over multiple floors, with office sizes ranging from one-person rooms to spaces that can accommodate about 10 people. Another feature of the Meguro location is the “Habitat” co-working space which, for a little extra, provides facilities such as a kitchen, cafe seating, pool table and gym.

Name:Compass Japan
Pricing info:From ¥52,000/month + tax
Locations:Meguro, Toranomon
Phone:03-4530-9685

Biz Circle

A super-cheap option for a shoebox-sized serviced office is Biz Circle. They have offices in fashionable locations such as Shinjuku and Aoyama, as well as a few in less fashionable locations like Umibe in Koto ward and Nagahara in Ota ward. If you are just looking for a fixed office for visa purposes, then the remote location might not be an issue. Biz Circle has offices in Shinjuku measuring a staggeringly small 1.7 square meters for about ¥30,000/month, while a 3.3 square meter office in Umibe will set you back around ¥28,350/month.

Name:Biz Circle
Pricing info:From ¥28,350/month (one-person office)
Locations:Shinjuku, Komagome, Ikebukuro, Minami-Aoyama, Aobadai, Nishi-ogi Minami, Umibe, Nagahara and more
Phone:03-5789-3323

Agora Tokyo

A reasonably-priced option in Shibuya is Agora Tokyo, an open-plan location aimed squarely at those who want open space, natural light and community in their offices. Units are in an open-plan office in the World Udagawa Building; all subscribers have access to 100mb fiber optic internet, meeting/socialization spaces and meeting rooms, printing facilities, ergonomic chairs and customizable desks with storage space, a large balcony, tea and coffee, and 24/7 secure access. Rent is tied to desk size, starting at ¥55,000/month for a 950mm desk, going up to ¥80,000/month for a 1600mm desk.

Name:Agora Tokyo
Pricing info:From ¥55,000/month to ¥80,000/month
Locations:Shibuya
Phone:03-6855-7200

Other business resources for the cheapo

Before committing to a full-on serviced office, check out our sister guide to cheap virtual offices in Tokyo. You might also be interested in finding affordable suits and strategic spots for business lunches. Now, go make those yens!

This post was first published on December 26, 2014. Last updated by Carey Finn on October 2, 2017.

Ask our local experts about Tokyo

Get our Tokyo Cheapo Hacks direct to your inbox

Watch this next