I Looked Into Hataraku Co-living Minano subako

On this blog, I've been looking into coworking-equipped lodges, mainly ones I could get to without a car, and this time I found another one along those lines.

This time, I looked into "Hataraku Co-living Minano subako." It's apparently known for its birdhouse-shaped cabins, and the moment I saw the photos, I thought, "I need to look into this one."

What Kind of Lodge Is "Minano subako"?

It's located in Minano Town, Chichibu District, Saitama Prefecture, and is apparently one of two locations under the "Hataraku Co-living" brand. The other is "Chichibu Satellite" in Chichibu City itself; both seem to be run by the same operator, though the atmosphere and room layouts differ between the two.

According to the booking engine page, check-in runs from 3 PM to midnight, and check-out is by 10 AM. There seem to be several room types, mainly a single room with a 10-tatami-mat Japanese-style room plus a sofa bed, a twin room facing the river, and the apparently signature "Subako Room." The Subako Room looks like a set of three connected maisonette-style cabins designed to resemble birdhouses, functioning as gender-separated shared rooms. There's also apparently a plan where you can book the whole thing exclusively for up to six people.

In terms of access, it looks like about a 10-minute drive from Minano Station on the Chichibu Railway, or you can also get there by town bus. As someone who has a license but doesn't actually drive, what I really appreciated was the free shuttle service from Nagatoro Station and Kami-Nagatoro Station. Arrival is apparently sometime around 4 PM and departure around 9 AM, and you seem to need to reserve by phone by 8 PM the day before, so if you're planning to use it, it looks like a good idea to contact them early. I'll skip the actual phone number here, but it's available on the official website.

Komorin

The free shuttle from the station was such a relief for me, since I have a license but don't actually drive. The look of the Subako Room also makes me want to stay there at least once.

Checking Out the Coworking Space and Room Amenities

This lodge has a coworking space attached, and it's apparently free for guests to use. It also seems usable before check-in and after check-out, which makes it look well-suited for workation-style stays.

• Coworking space seating: apparently 7 seats, with 20 seats in the dining area
• Drinks and snacks: apparently free drinks, a multifunction printer, and a microwave are provided
• Room amenities: apparently each room has its own sink, toilet (with a washlet), and air conditioning, while the fridge and TV are located in the shared areas
• Shared facilities: apparently there's a shower room, coin laundry, ice machine, and vending machines
• Nearby hot spring: a day-use hot spring called "Manganno-yu" is apparently right next door, about a 1-minute walk away, and it seems guests use that for bathing

As for Wi-Fi, it's listed as "Giga Wi-Fi," described as free in all rooms and also available in the lobby, but I couldn't find official information about the actual connection speed. As someone who's more of an indoor type, that's a bit of a concern, but that's as much as I could confirm for now.

As for pricing, the official site itself doesn't list specific amounts, and instead directs you to a linked plans page. I also came across information suggesting room-only rates start somewhere in the 3,000 yen range per person, but I'll treat that as unverified hearsay for now.

Rakuten Mobile Signal Conditions

I tried checking this location using Rakuten's official "My Area Connectivity Simulation" tool, but no result came up—instead it just showed a message saying something like "currently under temporary maintenance." This seems to be what happens when address data isn't available for a given location, so the result ended up being neither good nor bad, just "unknown."

To put it plainly and without exaggeration, I simply wasn't able to get a reading this time. Since this lodge is out in the natural surroundings of Minano Town, some of you might be concerned about the signal situation.

Komorin

I was a bit disappointed that I couldn't get a signal reading. If you're a Rakuten Mobile user, it might be worth double-checking with your own device or tool before you head out, just to be safe.

Wrapping Up

To sum up, Hataraku Co-living Minano subako left me with the impression of a lodge notable for its unusual birdhouse-style Subako Rooms and its free shuttle from the station, which makes it look easy to visit even without a car. The coworking space also seems usable before and after your stay, so it looks like a good fit for staying while working.

On the other hand, the official tool couldn't produce a reading for the Rakuten Mobile signal, so it remained an unknown this time. If that's a concern for you, checking it yourself with Rakuten Mobile's official tool beforehand might help you plan your stay with more peace of mind.

This article includes a referral link for Rakuten Mobile's employee referral campaign. For details, please see our Disclaimer & Advertising Notice.

Related Links

• Official Site