Any ideas for supercheap Tokyo networking venues?

June 6, 2007 6:18 PM

I'm looking for a cheap meetup venue for 20 to 30 people on a weekday morning in central Tokyo. It would also be nice if the space was big enough to fit

I'm helping to organize an informal event to bring Tokyo-based Japanese and English speaking techies together for a few hours in the morning, hopefully once a month or so.

We have essentially 0 budget, so even a strangely abandoned coffee shop in Shinjuku might be good, as long as we can count on it being abandoned.

Any Tokyo mefis have an idea?

posted by ejoey to human relations (10 comments total)

nice enough to fit ... what ???
posted by croutonsupafreak at 6:30 PM on June 6, 2007

nice enough to fit [more inside]

Geddit?
posted by liquorice at 6:32 PM on June 6, 2007

I don't have any recommendations for location, but since I am a Tokyo-based techie I thought I would chime in with a question: if your goal is to bring together techies working in Tokyo, why on earth would you choose a weekday morning when everyone is gonna be at the office?
posted by nightchrome at 6:49 PM on June 6, 2007

Yeah, I was trying to be funny with the more inside...

Nightchrome: I know it sounds a bit strange, but I have it on good faith that people will be able to come.
posted by ejoey at 7:35 PM on June 6, 2007

Oddly enough morning makes it trickier....

You are in Chiyoda-ku? Have you checked with your local ward office about community spaces they might have available for community groups to have meetings? Or any "cultural centers"? Goodness knows we pay high enough ward taxes - might try to get some benefit out of them (~_^).

Tokyo PC users have a deal with the Tokyo Union Church - so that might be something to look into as well (except I've just noticed it's closing for 2 months for renovations and they are going to use the Pink Cow).

If any of the group is a member of a Chamber of Commerce they might have space available that they will let members use - although they might require a few have membership. The Tokyo American Club I think costs a small fortune to use.

Most restaurants or bars with foreign owners that I know would be reluctant to open for a group - who can't pay much - in the mornings.
posted by gomichild at 8:08 PM on June 6, 2007

From what time?
posted by misozaki at 4:05 AM on June 7, 2007

around 10 or 11 am.
posted by ejoey at 4:55 AM on June 7, 2007

Your budget is zero (for space rental), but would members be willing to pay for a light meal? Though, 10 or 11 is a little early for lunch...
posted by QueSeraSera at 6:45 PM on June 7, 2007

Que

I think so, or a 1000-2000 yen per person fee.
posted by ejoey at 2:51 AM on June 8, 2007

Ginza Renoir (Japanese site), the coffee shop chain, has rental meeting rooms for a relatively cheap price. Other options might be going to your local ward office and asking if they have facilities you could use.

Kaigishitsu dot com (Japanese).
posted by misozaki at 5:16 PM on June 8, 2007