THE-IF
5(4) reviews
About THE-IF
THE-IF is a coworking and coliving house in central Kyoto, for people who want to work deeply without becoming isolated.
It is a whole small building rather than a large residence. Three private rooms upstairs, a shared kitchen and lounge, a workspace with monitors, and a bathroom with a proper deep tub. Four residents at most, so nobody stays a stranger.
Stays begin at one month and run on a Japanese fixed term residential lease rather than a nightly booking. Rent covers electricity, gas, water and the 10 gigabit fibre line, so there is one number and no monthly bills to chase. Entry is by face recognition, so the building is yours at any hour, and a member of our front team is here from 9:00 to 19:00.
Shijo and Gojo stations are both about ten minutes on foot. There is no lift, so you will carry your luggage up the stairs, and we would rather say that now than after you arrive.
About the owners
THE-IF is run by Masaya Koshimoto, a designer based in Kyoto. Before the house existed he ran a coworking session outdoors on the bank of the Kamo river once a week for two years, 104 of them, and started the digital nomad meetup here, which has since passed 500 members. It worked because of who turned up, not because of the desks, but everyone went back to a hotel room afterwards and the thread dropped. THE-IF is that same group of people given a building. Jia looks after the front desk and the day to day running of the house.
The Community at THE-IF
Coliving is all about community. Here is what you can look forward to inTHE-IF: a lively, friendly atmosphere where you will meet people who love remote work and travel as much as you do. There are cozy common areas where you can hang out, work together, or just relax and chat.
Our coworking space
Dedicated spots to focus, take calls, or work alongside other remote workers.
Activities
Activity
entrepreneurship
Activity
productivity and focus
Activity
workshops
Activity
nightlife
Activity
surf
Activity
hiking
Details
internet speed
200 Mbps
Min nights
31 nights min
Room options
Explore Availability
Reviews
Share your thoughts
If you've stayed at this coliving, help others by sharing your thoughts.
Recent reviews
What will you find here?
Amenity
shared kitchen
Amenity
laundry
Amenity
air conditioning
Amenity
monitors
Amenity
day pass
Amenity
call rooms
Frequently asked questions about THE-IF
Can’t find the answer you’re looking for? Just ask for it
- How do I do groceries?
- The kitchen on the second floor is shared by the whole house: a three burner gas hob with a grill, a built in dishwasher and a 350 litre fridge. You can cook at any hour, including the unstaffed hours at night. We are in central Kyoto, so convenience stores are a couple of minutes away and there are supermarkets within an easy walk.
- What are the coworking opening hours?
- For residents there are no opening hours. Entry to the building is by face recognition, so the workspace on the third floor and the lounge and kitchen on the second are yours 24 hours a day for the whole of your stay. Our front team is on site from 9:00 to 19:00. Day pass visitors from outside the house can only check in during those staffed hours.
- What is the policy on pets? Are there any restrictions, fees or rules?
- No pets and no smoking anywhere in the building. Both are written into the lease rather than left as house etiquette. Beyond that the rules are short: no subletting, no running a business out of the room, and quiet hours so that four people sharing one building can all sleep. On fees there is a one time cleaning fee of 15,000 yen and a refundable deposit of 50,000 yen. No key money, no agency fee, no guarantor.
- How do I get there?
- We are at 160 Nakanocho, Shimogyo ku, Kyoto 600-8435, in the middle of the city. From Kyoto Station it is about 15 minutes by bus or taxi. Shijo and Gojo subway stations are both roughly a 10 minute walk. One thing worth knowing before you book: the building has no lift, so you will be carrying your luggage up to the third or fourth floor.
- What is included?
- Rent covers electricity, gas, water and the 10 gigabit fibre line, so there is one number and no monthly utility bills. Your room is furnished. You also get the shared kitchen and lounge on the second floor, the workspace with monitors on the third, the bathroom with a deep soaking tub on the second, a washer dryer on the fourth, and a toilet on every floor. On top of the rent there is a one time cleaning fee of 15,000 yen and a deposit of 50,000 yen that comes back to you.
- Why did you decide to open?
- For two years I ran a coworking session outdoors on the bank of the Kamo river, once a week, over 100 times, and started the digital nomad meetup in Kyoto, which has since passed 500 members. It worked because of who turned up, not because of the desks. But everyone went back to a hotel room afterwards and the thread dropped. THE-IF is that same group of people given a building: somewhere to work with full attention during the day, and someone to eat with when you stop.
- How do you manage the community?
- By keeping it small. Five residents at most, alongside the coworking members who use the second and third floors during the day, so the house never turns into a lobby full of strangers. Our front team is here from 9:00 to 19:00 and knows everyone by name. We host a tea gathering about once a month and a handful of seasonal things through the year, hanami in spring for example. We would rather be straight with you: this is not a place with an organised activity every evening. The point is a small number of people you actually get to know.
from€ 32/ night
€ 960 / month
from€ 32/ night
€ 960 / month
You won't be charged yet
