Kyoto (Kyoto, Japan)

About this Office

Following Yoyogi, Thailand, Kamiyama, and Suo-Oshima, Kyoto Satellite Office will be our fifth location. The idea sparked in February 2024 when BABA and HANDA simultaneously consulted with executives about relocating. Including KANNO, who had already moved to Kyoto five years ago, the Kyoto office launch project began with the idea, "If there are three of us, let's create a satellite office."
This will be our first satellite office created based on the initiative of employees, rather than executive leadership. We moved forward by discussing everything from formulating establishment requirements to searching for a property, budget, operations, and attendance rules.

Kyoto office development currently underway

Baba and Handa moved to Kyoto in November 2024 to search for an office while living there. The three members, including Kanno, who had lived there previously, worked and searched for properties at a coworking space in Kyoto until the office was decided.

The desired office conditions, discussed and considered, were as follows:

• An exciting office that people want to go to
• Private rooms necessary for meetings
• A place where members from other locations can stay for satellite work
• An atmosphere that reflects the essence of Kyoto

To achieve these within the budget, a detached house offered more options than an apartment or shared office, so they naturally focused their search on detached houses.
They visited properties between work, and finally found a promising one at the end of the year, but unfortunately lost out due to numerous applications. Undeterred, they resumed their search and successfully signed a contract for a property in February 2025.

The location is a 17-minute walk from Imadegawa Station, which is 10 minutes from Kyoto Station by subway. Buses also run from Kyoto Station. The surrounding area is a residential neighborhood, with Kyoto Imperial Palace, Seimei Shrine, and other places associated with Kyoto nearby. The Horikawa Shopping Street, a 5-minute walk away, is also involved in a project to revitalize the local community.

The building is a traditional Japanese townhouse built in the Showa era, featuring an earthen floor entrance and an open, high-ceilinged kitchen. The first floor will be used for workspaces and a lounge area, while the second floor will serve as meeting spaces and accommodations for members visiting for satellite work. We plan to cultivate plants in the courtyard.
Although it's an older building, it has been partially renovated, making it a comfortable space.

We will move in from March and set up furniture and equipment to create a suitable working environment. We will provide updates on the Kyoto office's progress on this page as needed.
(As of February 2025)

Location