I work remotely from home Tuesday through Saturday, 5:00am – 2:00pm Japan Time (to overlap a few hours a day with my coworkers on the West Coast of the US). While I’m grateful for this luxury, I sometimes like to get out of the home to clear my head with a walk/commute, and to encourage serendipity — not necessarily for collision of people like the late Tony Hsieh talks about, but to see and experience things that might spark ideas which wouldn’t happen if I were sitting in front of my desk all day.
I needed a spot that allowed drop-ins, had hourly rates, and was open early in the morning to match my work hours. I searched around my area in Hakodate for a coworking space and a couple popped up, but there was really just one that fit almost all of my needs.
Hakoworks (ハコワークス) in Otemachi (大手町) is right next to the Shiyakusho-mae (市役所前) tram station (DY18). It’s open 24/7, completely self-service, and is part of the E-Office (いいオフィス) network. E-Office has a super easy-to-use app for iOS and Android, and checking in/out is done by scanning a QR code.
The location is close to several convenience stores and restaurants, and is a short walk from the Hakodate JR station. In addition to hourly rates, Hakoworks has monthly all-you-can-access plans for ¥8800/month. I now try to go regularly once a week.