5 Laptop-Friendly Cafes & Workspaces in Osaka

In Japan, people typically go into a cafe or restaurant, accomplish what they came there to do, and then leave. Unlike other countries I’ve lived in, including the U.S., where political campaign telemarketers, Mary Kay salespeople, and Bluetooth guy (everyone knows Bluetooth guy) post up at cafes for hours on end (it’s accepted practice though), Japanese (for the most part) just aren’t simply sitting there nursing a single 99-cent iced coffee over 6 hours while furiously typing away at their groundbreaking (failed) avant-garde screenplays like the coffee shop “revolutionaries” of the West. 

This meant that during my time in Osaka, I only found a handful of cafes or workspaces where it was accepted (or felt like it was accepted) to post up with a laptop, book, or Elizabeth Warren-constituent email list to cold call. However, the cafes (and workspace) that I did find and work from were absolute gems and important refuges for me on days when I mentally needed to get out of my apartment (and hotel room) and wanted to be surrounded by others on the same page.

Here are five of my favorite laptop-friendly cafes and workspaces in Osaka.

Big Body WiFi Note: WiFi isn’t a huge factor when it comes to finding a great place to work in Japan due to most tourists/travelers purchasing a 7-14 day (or 30-day) SIM or portable WiFi at the airport. Not once in my 3 months in Japan did I run into any issues where I was ever unable to connect to a network or tackle what was needed due to a slow network connection.

&Island

• Website: https://andisland.owst.jp 
• Address: 2 Chome-1-23 Kitahama, Chuo Ward, Osaka, 541-0041, Japan

Overlooking the Tosahori River and Osaka City Central Public Hall, &Island quickly became one of my favorite cafes to work from due to its sizable interior (with communal tables), strong and affordable coffee, and spacious outdoor seating. Its industrial-style interior, leather couches, and wooden communal tables make you feel as if you are in part-coworking space, part-Williamsburg cafe (sans a mustachioed man in jean overalls with a ‘Black Flag’ tattoo on his forearm). 

&Island reigns supreme when it comes to views, boasting the best view of Osaka’s neo-classically-designed red brick City Central Public Hall (as it is the most directly squared up to it – pictured above). I even showed up during a torrential downpour and decided to sit outside under a tarp to do some work one day. I love(d) working from &Island that much.

&Island also serves up a wide array of healthy sandwiches, salads, and cakes (and even curries) which seemed extremely popular amongst patrons (however, I was on the one meal-a-day grind – still am).

Pale Ale Travel Tip: If you’ve worked up an appetite with the wrath of one thousand 6th-grade Science teachers after forgetting your homework for the 10th time that month, then make sure to check out my post breaking down 21 ramen restaurants in Osaka that will make your trip.

Brooklyn Roasting Company (Kitahama & Namba Locations)

• Website: http://brooklynroasting.jp 
• Address:
  • Kitahama Address: Japan, 〒541-0041 Osaka, Chuo Ward, Kitahama, 1 Chome−1−9 ハウザー 北浜ビル 1F
  • Namba Address: 1 Chome-1-21 Shikitsuhigashi, Naniwa Ward, Osaka, 556-0012, Japan

Brooklyn Roasting Company has three locations (covering all major points North to South): my favorite being their Kitahama branch followed by their Namba branch. The Shinsaibashi location is really nothing more than a mall kiosk type of situation so I’m leaving it off the list.   

Brooklyn Roasting Company is a hip spot (no matter the location) run by hip people. I still wear t-shirts from high school, athletic shorts, and blue and black together (with occasional white socks and dress shoes). I’m anti-hip. But that’s why I like surrounding myself with those far more stylistically inclined than myself.

I primarily worked from the Brooklyn Roasting Company location in Kitahama. If you’ve read any of my other posts about my time in Osaka, you’ll know that my domicile was established right next to Osaka Castle, so I generally preferred to work from cafes within walking distance. And, the Kitahama branch was right along the Tosahori river, which was perfect for catching some vitamin D and watching the tour boats pass by every 10 minutes or so. The outdoor seating also directly overlooks Osaka’s gorgeous City Central Public Hall. 

Note: &Island and Brooklyn Roasting Company Kitahama are less than a five-minute walk from one another and both overlook the Tosahori River and Nakanoshima Park (a popular spot for couples and families to relax on weekends and take pictures amongst the vibrant flower gardens).

Two of my favorite things about sitting outside on a clear blue sunny day were (1) hearing the slap of a carp’s tail as it surfaced and immediately dove back into the depths of the X river, and (2) telling myself I wouldn’t wave at the next boat of tourists who would buzz by every 10 minutes but ultimately throw this conviction to the wind and enthusiastically throw up a thumbs up and mom-wave. 

When I wanted to buckle down a bit more, I’d post up at their communal table inside the shop or at one of the several lower countertops. My only word of warning is that both branches can pack up quickly so the earlier you get there, the better your chances of finding an indoor (or outdoor) seat.

Pale Ale Travel Pro Tip: If you want a calorie-dense drink that is sure to satiate that sweet tooth of yours, I recommend trying Brooklyn Roasting Company’s ‘Maple Shay Shay’ – a silky smooth, slightly nutty and sweet maple latte.

Hara Cafe

• Website: N/A
• Address: Japan, 〒540-0012 Osaka, Chuo Ward, Tanimachi, 2 Chome−9−3 ザ・ファインタワー大手前１Ｆ 

Other than Starbucks, Hara Cafe may have been the most pro-laptop and pro-work cafe that I’ve ever worked at. I’d hazard a guess that roughly 30-40% of all customers there were working on a laptop, reading, or conducting some sort of informal business meeting. This place is massive. From window countertop seating with outlets to a behemoth communal table for the 9-5’ers to comfy low-rider chairs, Hara offers up a wide variety of seating for any type of laptop or work shenanigans. 

I found myself primarily working out of Hara after I departed from The Deck (mentioned below) and wanted to wind down whatever final task I was working on while being in close proximity to home. This place is packed to the brim with outlets and individual study or work spaces so you can rest assured you won’t struggle to find a seat. 

They also serve up a selection of donuts and hotdogs (this one caught me by surprise) which make for the perfect study snack. 

Finally, Hara’s outdoor seating is perfect for tackling some work on an Osaka summer day and one of my favorite spots to work from and absorb the energy of Osakans 

Pale Ale Travel Tip: Hara Cafe is less than a 1-minute walk away from one of my all-time favorite late-night Japanese fast food restaurants – Yoshinoya. I love this place so much that I even wrote a love letter to Yoshinoya on the blog.

Tugboat Taisho

• Website: http://tugboat-taisho.jp 
• Address: 1 Chome-1-14 Sangenyanishi, Taisho Ward, Osaka, 551-0001, Japan

I have certain workspaces which serve different purposes. A coworking space with a monitor? That’s where I buckle down and grind out my more technical work. A cafe? A hybrid of technical and administrative work – depending on how I’m feeling for the day. Outdoor cafes and restaurants (with beer)? I’m usually writing travel posts at these spots. They all have their place in my work routine (even though I currently make approximately $0 off this blog) and are essential for ensuring “things don’t get stale.”

Tugboat Taisho is very much in the third camp. In fact, it isn’t even a single cafe, bar, or restaurant – it’s a collection of them. I initially stumbled upon this ‘waterfront town’ and commune of food trucks, restaurants, bars, and stalls after doing my part by drinking 13 nama beerus in an Orix Buffaloes win (the baseball team who plays out of Kyocera Dome right next door).

Note: I do imagine there is some turnover with these restaurants and food stalls, so please let me know in the comments or via email if there has been a changing of the guard!

Little did I know at the time but it would become a regular Friday workspace for me during my 3 months in Osaka. You may be able to tell by now but I generally love being down by the water. As a New England boy, water is a source of light and at the ripe old age of 32 (soon to be 33), I need more than my fair share of Vitamin D every day to get the creative juices and endorphins flowing. 

At Tugboat Taisho, there’s no shortage of seating – from outdoor perches overlooking the Shirinashi River to communal tables and indoor high-top seating, there’s a spot for whatever type of work mood (or mode) you are in. I do, however, recommend coming with a fully charged laptop.  

Some of my favorite spots at Tugboat Taisho (for eating and drinking while you work of course) include Beer Stand Marca (beer pictured above) for all your craft beer needs, Takoyakikureoru Tagubototaishoten for savory grilled octopus balls (make sure to check out my post on Takoyaki Umaiya in Tenjinbashisuji), and あやバカ一代 for yakitori and a killer chicken sashimi bowl (pictured above).

Finally, yes. I’m fully aware that these pictures make it look like all I did was eat and drink at Tugboat Taisho. That’s only partially true.

Pale Ale Travel Tip: If you want a uniquely Japanese experience, I recommend checking out at least one baseball game during your travels in Japan. As someone who believes baseball to be the best sport on God’s green earth, I even acknowledge that watching baseball can be extremely boring. However, Japanese baseball games are a different breed, boasting beer runners with mini-kegs strapped to their back, between-inning games and entertainment, and the most fervent supporters of the sport I’ve ever encountered (all teams have ‘dedicated fans’ who sit in the outfield, wave flags, and even blast team anthems and tunes on trumpets).

The Deck Coworking Space

Image courtesy of The Deck’s website.

• Website: https://thedeck.jp 
• Address: Japan, 〒541-0054 Osaka, Chuo Ward, Minamihonmachi, 2 Chome−1−1 本町サザンビル 1階

I’m not sure if this is technically cheating or not, however, I joined ‘The Deck Coworking Space’ in Sakaisuji Hommachi for three months – this was the right play for work productivity and structure. The Deck also conveniently sits at the intersection of Umeda and Namba, a 2-minute walk from the Sakaisuji Hommachi metro, allowing you to easily hop across the city/pop in for a quick work session. 

The Deck is a major contributor to why I felt so at home in Osaka as it alleviated one of my main causes of stress (always self-imposed and in my own head), not having a reliable dojo to work from. I even signed up for a three-month membership, which was roughly one-quarter the price of what I pay in Hong Kong. They also have monitors which is a huge draw for me (if you’ve read my post on Code Hub Mostar then you know their monitors were a major reason I felt at home). 

 Overall, the total price per month clocked in at 14,080 yen per month (USD 100). Should you opt to sign up for a monthly (or yearly) membership, there is an initial joining/administrative fee (roughly 5,500 yen or USD 35 if I remember correctly).

For nomads, freelancers, or travelers who don’t want to commit to a three to twelve-month contract, The Deck offers daily or weekly pricing starting at 2,200 yen (USD 16) and 7,093 yen (USD 50). If you want to get even more granular than that, The Deck allows you to pay per 30 minutes (275 yen per 30 mins). This covers coffee, printing, monitors, and private call booths. The amount of free coffee I demolished every single day at The Deck made the price worth it alone (and has also given my primary care physician nightmares for days). 

Image courtesy of The Deck’s website.

One unique point of offering that stood out to me is that The Deck boasts a ‘Creator Lab’ for designers, DIY artists, and other creatives to launch and scale their businesses. The lab includes a 3D printer, sewing machine, laser cutter, and an assortment of other DIY tools. This was honestly awesome to see in Japan where traditional work culture is far more rigid.

Finally, I would be remiss not to thank Tomo and the staff at The Deck for making my time in Osaka so wonderful. I can’t wait to get back to Osaka and The Deck – and see what my next journey/stint in Japan has in store.

Pale Ale Travel Tip: I really can’t knock Starbucks at all. It has served me well over the years and is always a reliable refuge for those looking to hammer out a few hours of work. This is also true in Japan. On days when I needed a taste of home, I posted up with my laptop at the Tanimachisuji branch which didn’t steer me wrong. You always have a backup!

Work, Work, Work, Work, Work

Rihanna said it best. “Work, work, work, work, work.” Or maybe the RZA of the Wu-Tang Clan summed it up more practically, “Cash rules everything around me.” But work and getting that C.R.E.A.M can still be enjoyable and the scenery doesn’t always have to be a gray cubicle in a back office somewhere. All of the above cafes and workspaces struck a perfect chord with my various word moods/needs and allowed me to stay sane while juggling client work in a new city. 

If you have any favorite cafes or workspaces in Osaka that you think I should check out next time I’m in town, please let me know in the comments!

Work well everyone,

Big Body