Tokyo
The largest city and capital of Japan, Tokyo is considered as one of the three command centres for the world’s economy, along with London and New York. As well as being a major international finance centre it is also a hub for a wide variety of industries that include broadcasting, electronics, publishing and transportation.
The location
Tokyo City is divided into 23 separate special wards with the three central wards, Chiyoda, Chūō and Minato making up the business core of the city. Each of these wards in turn contain a number of regions and areas, while further towns and cities to the west of Tokyo City make up the Tokyo Metropolis.
Tokyo lays on the boundary of three separate plates and as such has experienced a number of powerful earthquakes in the past. Summers are generally hot and humid while winters are generally mild.
Neighbouring areas - price comparisons, per person per month
The prices given below are the minimum to maximum average cost for serviced offices, per person per month, derived from our Sales Team's knowledge.
Area - Indicative price range
Tokyo JAP60,000 - 120,000
Hong Kong JAP55,000 - 200,000
Singapore JAP55,000 - 140,000
Beijing JAP80,000 – 160,000
Shanghai JAP50,000 – 120,000
Looking for an office in Tokyo
Tokyo remains one of the most expensive places in the world to rent office space with the average workstation rate continuing to increase over the last couple of years. While these high rents have meant relatively modest growth in the office market recently, Instant Offices currently advertise office space in around half of the 23 individual wards that make up Tokyo.
Costs
Prices in Tokyo currently start from around JAP60000 and can rise to around JAP120000, per person, month for serviced office space. When looking at serviced offices keep in mind that these costs usually cover a variety of amenities and as such can offer great value for money and lower outgoings.
Office sizes
Instant Offices currently have over 70 different locations in Tokyo available and as such are able to accommodate most enquiries, from one person through to 100 or more depending on the specifics. Most of the enquiries we see currently are for entire office suites but the number of coworking options are really start to increase.
Five things you probably didn't know about Tokyo:
1. In terms of population the Greater Tokyo Area is the largest in the world; second in terms of urban landmass
2. Rush hour can be rather chaotic in Tokyo and the city employs Oshiya or ‘pushers’ to literally push people onto crowded trains
3. Tokyo has a reputation for gourmet food backed up by the fact it has by far the most Michelin starred restaurants in the world
4. While Tokyo is a global city, English is not widely spoken
5. Tsukiji Market, in Chūō City is the largest wholesale fish and seafood market in the world and is a major tourist attraction for domestic and overseas visitors alike
Why choose Tokyo?
As one of the true global economic powerhouses the list of benefits in choosing Tokyo as a base for your business are extensive. The city is home to some of the most sophisticated technology in the world and is an ideal place to set up domestic headquarters or a regional office for global companies looking to establish themselves in the Asian market.
As well as the business advantages, Tokyo is one of the most popular cities in the world to visit and live in. It was voted as having the best overall experience in TripAdvisors World City Survey and also topped the list for ‘Most helpful locals’, ‘Cleanest streets’ and ‘Best public transport’.
A closer look at Tokyo
Tokyo is vast with a number of major commercial areas across the city. Some of the most popular areas in which to rent office space in Tokyo are:
Chiyoda City
• At the very heart of the former Tokyo City but one of the least populated wards
• Marunouchi district is situated within Chiyoda and is Tokyo’s main financial district with the country’s three largest banks headquartered here
• Occupied by major Japanese companies that include Nikken Sekkei, Calbee, Japan Freight Railway Company and a number of Mitsubishi Group companies, as well as many foreign operations such as Hewlett-Packard Japan and LVMH
• Home to the seat of the Japanese emperor and the national government and as such is considered to be the political centre of the country
• Also known as a cultural centre and a major shopping district (Akihabara area) for computer goods
Chūō City
• Historically the main commercial centre of Tokyo, the name of this ward literally translates to ‘Central Ward’
• One of the most famous areas in Chūō is the Ginza district; home to the highest concentration of western shops in Tokyo and many leading fashion houses
• The resident population is around 120,000 but this swells to approximately 650,000 during the day due to the high concentration of retail and office space
• Major companies in the area include Ricoh, Nomura Holdings, HSBC Japan, Takeda Pharmaceutical Company and Bank of America Merrill Lynch Japan
Minato City
• Akasaka is found here, a commercial district with tenants such as Fujifilm, Sigma Seven and the Japanese offices of Clifford Chance
• Also home to the Roppongi district, a popular are with a vibrant nightlife scene as well as being the location for many foreign embassies
• Major companies in the area include Google Japan, Ferrari Japan and the Japanese offices of Credit Suisse and Goldman Sachs
Shinjuku City
• Major commercial and administrative centre
• Home to the world’s busiest train station with more than two million passengers every day
• Skyscraper district to the west of the station contains many of the city’s tallest buildings including the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Office
Toshima City
• The Ikebukuro district, situated within Toshima City is one of the biggest commercial and entertainment districts in the whole of Tokyo
• Ikebukuro Station is the second busiest in Tokyo behind Shinjuku Station and handles over one million daily passengers
• Major Japanese convenience store franchise FamilyMart is just one of the major companies situated here
Shingawa City
• One of the wards that lie on the shores of Tokyo Bay
• Surrounded to the east by Kōtō City, to the north by Minato City and to the west by Meguro City
• Home of many company headquarters including those of auto manufacturer Isuzu, Nippon Light Metal, Fuji Electric and Namco Bandai Holdings
Western Tokyo (Tama area)
• Located to the west of the special wards
• Made up of a number of towns and villages that largely serve as residential areas for those commuting into central Tokyo for work
• Some however do have a local commercial and industrial base
Want to find out more?
If you’re looking to move into the area, or simply require more information, contact Instant Offices' specialist local consultants. Email our team or call us and we'll be delighted to help you.