MUGI, which opened in October 2018, is a pioneer in shared office & coworking in Miyakojima. It is located facing a prefectural road within walking distance from downtown and has a large parking lot behind the facility for easy access. There is also a large supermarket just a short walk away. The glass-walled exterior provides a clear view of the inside, creating an atmosphere that is easy to enter, even for first-timers.
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The building where MUGI is situated is owned by Nikken Kaihatsu, an Okinawan limited company that operates a real estate business and a private accommodation business. “We decided to use this vacant space to open a place where people from various industries can interact with each other,” said Mr. Shimoji, who joined MUGI after it opened and is now a person in charge of management.
They also have lodging facilities on the upper floor and a franchise store of the famous Okinawan ice cream store “Blue Seal” next door. If you are tired from work, you may want to refuel with ice cream.
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The facility is divided into two spaces: “coworking” and “shared office”.
“Coworking” is generally a drop-in space. Boasting a reasonable rate of 360 yen per hour or 1,500 yen per day respectively. This is a very reasonable price for the property rents are skyrocketing in Miyakojima. The fee also includes unlimited self-service of tea and coffee.
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The space is not large, with only 12 seats. You can, however, be relaxed in the gentle atmosphere of the café-style concept. It is a space recommended for those who wish to work in a relaxed atmosphere rather than working furiously at desks.
“Many customers come in with carry cases and wish to do a little work in their spare time before heading to the airport,” says Mr. Shimoji.
Also, if you rent a private room on the floor above, you can use the coworking facility for free.
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If you look through the partitioned window from the coworking space, you will see a “shared office”. This spacious room is available only to monthly members (3 plans from 12,000 yen), and is equipped with basic facilities such as a multifunction printer, shredder, projector, whiteboard, and lockers (extra charge).
Of course, there is also an office kitchenette, which is more efficient and user-friendly than renting your own office space. The space is also well received with the large windows overlooking the street, creating a sense of openness.
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Members can also use the coworking space. Up to three visitors are free per hour, so there is no need to worry about finding a place for meetings, etc. For as low as 2,500 yen per month, corporate registration is available, so those who are thinking of starting up a new business in Miyakojima should also take note of it.
“Currently, most of the rental car and marine businesses use the space for office work, but I think it would be good for startups to use it at their beginning stage before they have their own office,” says Mr. Shimoji.
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Coworking is only open on weekdays, but if you become a “full-time member” or “night & holiday member” of the shared office membership, you may freely use them on weekends through a dedicated entrance.
The number of users has decreased since the COVID-19 disaster, however, “We would like to implement various measures to make the space more accessible to local residents in the future!” says Mr. Shimoji with a smile.
The coworking space is also available for private use, and workshops and seminars can be held there.
MUGI was started as a “place for exchange among various industries and people in Miyakojima.” As the name suggests, we hope that MUGI will develop into a facility that will bear fruit in many ways.
Interview and Japanese Text by Narabayashi Minako