On my hunt to find the best cowork space in Tokyo, I recently spent an afternoon working from the city’s newest communal office: Shinjuku Gyoen Coworking Space. I love Shinjuku Gyoen and, as a freelance content writer, I’m always on the hunt for new cowork spaces in Tokyo to write from.

That’s why when I learnt about the cowork office on my last trip to Shinjuku Gyoen, I knew I had to make time to check it out.

Most of the communal offices I’ve tried fail to come close to my favourite remote-work-friendly coffee shops in the city, but keep reading for my review of Shinjuku Gyoen Coworking Space to find out if it made the cut.

• Everything you need to know about Shinjuku Gyoen Coworking Space
• Shinjuku Gyoen Coworking Space Reviewed
• Is the Shinjuku Gyoen Coworking Space the Best Cowork Office in Tokyo?

Everything you need to know about Shinjuku Gyoen Coworking Space

Opened at the end of 2024, Shinjuku Gyoen Coworking Space is a brand-new communal office space located in the heart of Shinjuku Gyoen Park. Built with stunning seasonal views of the traditional Japanese garden, the cowork office is finished with natural wood and awash with soft daylight.

Like the park itself, Shinjuku Gyoen Coworking Space oozes with tranquillity. The office is serenely calm and a totally unique cowork experience unlike anything else found in Tokyo.

Where is the Shinjuku Gyoen Coworking Space?

Shinjuku Gyoen Coworking Space is located within Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden. The park has existed since the Edo period and is an oasis of quiet beauty within the chaos of Shinjuku.

The park can be accessed through one of three gates:

• Shinjuku Gate: 10 minutes from Shinjuku station or 5 minutes from Shinjuku Sanchome station
• Okido Gate: 5 minutes from Shinjuku Gyoenmae station
• Sendagaya Gate: 5 minutes from Sendagaya Station

Once inside the park, head towards SASAYAIORI+ coffee shop in the centre of the grounds. Tucked away behind the cafe is the Shinjuku Gyoen Coworking Space.

Address: 11 Naitomachi, Shinjuku City, Tokyo 160-0014

What’s the Shinjuku Gyoen Coworking Space layout?

Shinjuku Gyoen Coworking Space is relatively small inside. As soon as you enter, you’ll find a reception desk directly in front of you. To the right are the restrooms, and to your left is the coworking space. First is a small corridor made up of a series of small desk booths that opens up into a wider space.

The main area is flooded with natural light thanks to the wall-to-wall windows on two sides. There are counter seats along the main window which look out over the traditional Japanese garden and a selection of other tables behind.

Continue through the space and you’ll see a private meeting room containing a projector and board meeting-style table.

There’s also a small outdoor area with tables and seats reserved for only visitors to the Shinjuku Gyoen Coworking Space.

How much does the Shinjuku Gyoen Coworking Space cost?

First things first, before even arriving at the Shinjuku Gyoen Coworking Space, you’ll need to pay the ¥500 admission to Shinjuku Gyoen itself. You can scan your IC card at the park gates to enter or buy a ticket from the ticket counter/machines with cash or card.

Now for the coworking space pricing:

• Work Room: ¥400 for 30 minutes, maxing out at ¥4000 for five hours or more
• Private Meeting Room: ¥1,500 for 30 minutes, maxing out at ¥18,000 for six hours or more

When is the Shinjuku Gyoen Coworking Space open?

Unsurprisingly, Shinjuku Gyoen Coworking Space’s opening hours depend on the park’s. It opens 30 minutes after Shinjuku Gyoen opens and closes at the same time, however, the hours change throughout the year.

Shinjuku Gyoen Coworking Space Opening Hours

1st October to 14th March: 9:30am to 4pm
15th March to 30th June: 9:30am to 5:30pm
1st July to 20th August: 9:30am to 6:30pm
21st August to 30th September: 9:30am to 5:30pm

Shinjuku Gyoen Coworking Space Reviewed:

It has to be said, Shinjuku Gyoen Coworking Space is a really special place. Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden is already one of my favourite places in all of Tokyo. You can usually find me there are least visit at least once a season. It’s relaxed, beautiful, and Japanese urban design at its best.

All these properties are reflected in the coworking space. The natural wood creates a grounding atmosphere, perfectly balanced with the backdrop of the park – it literally looks like a Lofi playlist cover image. It’s the ideal environment to zone into work and find a sense of calm productivity and I really appreciated the group sense of focus that seemed to be shared by every patron of the communal office.

However, Shinjuku Gyoen Coworking Space still has room for improvement.

Considering that this cowork office is not cheap, I was surprised to see limited to no amenities provided. There are no snacks or drinks, zero social events, and a limited selection of rental equipment. I also have to note that you can’t bring your own food or drink into the space except for liquids in bottles.

If I’m being totally honest, you’re essentially paying for a seat in a beautiful room with AC/heating, WiFi, and plug outlets…and while this isn’t necessarily a bad thing, it’s a tough sell when there’s also a Starbucks in the park with even better views…all for the price of one coffee.

Another thing I didn’t love about the coworking space is that you have to make a reservation online in order to visit, even if the coworking space is relatively empty. You can pay in-person (although cash isn’t accepted) but there’s no way to be ‘booked in’ without that online reservation.

It also didn’t help that finding the reservation page was quite tricky, but don’t worry, I’ve linked it for you here.

Annoyingly, the same goes for extending your reservation. I wanted to add another 30 minutes but would need to book a new session online and then pay at the front…to be transparent, it just wasn’t worth the hassle.

The Pros

• Atmosphere: Shinjuku Gyoen Coworking Space has a wonderful ambience for concentration
• Location: In the heart of Shinjuku and even better, Shinjuku Gyoen, you really can’t beat the location
• Design: It really is a gorgeous space with such intentional interior and exterior design elements

The Cons

• Price: Higher than I’d like, especially the daily max
• Amenities: The coworking space was severely lacking in this department
• Networking: There’s no social scene or networking at Shinjuku Gyoen Coworking Office
• Difficult Reservation System: It would be a lot more convenient to just book in with the receptionist

Is the Shinjuku Gyoen Coworking Space the Best Cowork Office in Tokyo?

This is how I would rate the Shinjuku Gyoen Coworking Space compared to other communal offices in Tokyo:

Space: 9/10
Seating Options: 8/10
Atmosphere: 9/10
Rental Accessories: 6/10
Free Refreshments: 0/10
Ease of Use: 4/10
Staff: 8/10
Facilities: 5/10
Social Scene: 3/10
Price: 6/10

Total: 58/100

The Conclusion

Shinjuku Gyoen Coworking Space might not be the best cowork office in Tokyo, but it’s certainly one of the most special. It’s totally unique, probably throughout the whole world, thanks to its unmatched location and spectacularly manicured views. If you love Japan’s attention to detail and zen practice, then you absolutely have to check out Shinjuku Gyoen Coworking Space.

I would honestly recommend visiting this cowork office in Tokyo if for no other reason than the scenic experience. It might not be an every-week kind of communal office for me, but I might make a once-a-season stop.

Still hunting for your perfect cowork office in Tokyo? Check out my recent review of Nakano Hako below: