---
title: START Box Tokyo’s creative affordable workspaces
date: 2025-10-13T00:50:09Z
modified: 2025-10-17T05:44:31Z
permalink: "https://worldcitiescultureforum.com/city-project/tokyo-start-box/"
type: city-project
status: publish
excerpt: Land prices in Tokyo surged post-Covid which led to increased rents for artist studios and gallery spaces. So in 2023, Tokyo launched START Box, a project to let out vacant spaces – owned by Tokyo Metropolitan Government, Arts Council Tokyo, Tokyo Metropolitan Foundation for History and Culture and other partners – as creative workspaces at affordable rates to local artists. By the end of 2024, 45 artists used the spaces to create, collaborate and display their work.
wpid: 174935
tags:
  - Affordable workspace
  - Creative Districts
  - creative workspaces
region:
  - Tokyo
country:
  - Japan
city-region:
  - Asia
topic:
  - Affordable Space
  - Artist Studios
  - Creative Space
  - Public Art
featured_image: "https://worldcitiescultureforum.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/①START-Boxササハタハツ.jpg"
---

## Project: Converting vacant units into low-cost creative artist studios



![](https://worldcitiescultureforum.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/①START-Boxササハタハツ-1024x576.jpg)

**©** Photo courtesy of Tokyo Metropolitan GovernmentIn response to high land prices and artists struggling to afford creative studios and gallery spaces, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, Arts Council Tokyo, Tokyo Metropolitan Foundation for History and Culture launched _START Box_ – an initiative to turn vacant spaces into affordable creative workspaces for local artists to rent and display their work.

The first _START Box_ SasaHataHatsu (Sasazuka and Hatagaya) opened in April 2023 in six vacant units in a housing development on Suido Road. _START Box_ Odaiba opened in November of the same year in a vacant space in a public housing complex.

Situating these creative workspaces in housing developments created opportunities for residents to experience art on their doorstep. For example, _START Box_ ran regular open studio events and workshops with artists so residents could meet the artists, experience art and learn new skills. It also kept the spaces affordable for local artists.

![](https://worldcitiescultureforum.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/③START-Boxお台場オープンアトリエ-ctats-1024x683.jpg)

**©** Photo courtesy of Tokyo Metropolitan GovernmentThe Tokyo Metropolitan Foundation for History and Culture also provided a venue for artists to present their works at cultural events, co-hosted by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government.

By the end of 2024, 45 artists were renting these affordable studios to develop and create their artwork. Sharing the _START Box_ spaces led to collaboration, support and networking opportunities between artists.

Several artists who used the affordable creative workspaces went on to gain international recognition for their work. For example, Tomohiro Shibuki, an artist who worked at _START Box_, won three special awards in the International Talent Support, one of Europe’s largest fashion contests. The contest is a gateway to success for young designers, producing prominent creative designers, and the winning works are exhibited in museums abroad.

![](https://worldcitiescultureforum.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/②START-Boxササハタハツ-1024x683.jpg)

**©** Photo courtesy of Tokyo Metropolitan Government---