If you go a little way from the port town of Sasebo, you can get a sense of the daily life of local people in the houses and old-fashioned shops.

About a 10-minute bus ride from HOTEL RESOL SASEBO is Tawara-cho, an area lined with houses and clinics.

Get off at the Miyatamachi bus stop and walk for about one minute past quaint shops and housesto Sasebo Share Lounge, a co-working space renovated from a 50-year-old building.

Upon entering the store, you will find carefully selected furniture and background music that matches the space. Although it is a stylish space, the warmth of the wood and soft lighting create a relaxing atmosphere.

Creating space born from renovation

"It was originally a dental clinic that had been closed for quite some time. The walls and other parts were in a dilapidated state, and only a few pieces of furniture remained. It was so damp inside that rain would come in, and it was in a terrible state. I think Sasebo is a treasure trove for renovation."

So says Egashira Seiko, who runs a co-working space. After living abroad, Egashira moved to Sasebo with her family and built a share house here.

"When I choose a place to stay or a restaurant, I look at photos before deciding whether I want to go or not. So I wanted to create a space here that I would want to visit myself."

Along with the carefully selected furniture, there are also travel and business books that are popular among the sharemates.

Meeting people is the trigger

"An acquaintance of mine was talking about wanting to start his own real estate business in the neighboring town, so I thought, 'If that's the case, why not do it here?'

I wanted a place to work with Wi-Fi, so at first I was tentatively naming it the Wi-Fi Building, but it stuck with me and I decided to make it the name of the building.

When you want to work, you don't want a cafe with coffee, but a place where you can refresh yourself. Based on my own experience, I allow you to bring food and drinks into the room.If you have your favorite drink in hand and change your mood, you will likely be able to work more efficiently.

Of course, it can also be used as a place for group chatting, such as discussing your next travel destination.

The first floor of the Wi-Fi building is Sasebo ShareLounge. The rest of the building is used as real estate and other tenants.

When you hear the term coworking space, you may have the impression that it is a place for remote workers to work.However, Sasebo Share Longe is a place where students can study and local people can hold events, and it is a place of relaxation for locals.

"I want to create a place where people can interact. When I'm in trouble, I want a place where I can connect with people and think, 'Maybe if I talk to this person, the problem can be solved.' So I want to create a place where anyone can come, like a restaurant."

Mr. Egashira said that he wanted to create something that is still scarce in Sasebo, and behind his challenge, we can feel the warmth of the connections between people in the community. He also talked about his future challenges, saying that he would like to recruit restaurant tenants and turn the space into a co-working space that customers can use as a lounge in the evening.

At the store entrance, you will be greeted by a Wi-Fi building made from LEGO® blocks, created by a friend.

You can use the coworking space by downloading the app and registering your credit card in advance.

Not just a place to work, but a place to relax

From the large window right next to the entrance, you can see how the locals live their lives.

"I want people of all kinds to use it. There are many clinics around, so I even stock green juice there so that elderly people can use it. We are still experimenting," says Egashira.

The room has individual spaces for concentrating, as well as sofa seats for sitting and relaxing, so you can enjoy your own time even while traveling.

Just a one-minute walk from the Miyatamachi bus stop, Sasebo Share Lounge is still visited by people looking to make new connections. It is a co-working space that retains the feel of an old building.

It's a place where you can enjoy the extraordinary experience of a trip while also feeling a sense of nostalgia.

Sasebo Share Lounge

Address: Wi-Fi Building 1F, 1-2 Tawaramachi, Sasebo City, Nagasaki Prefecture

Access: 4 minutes walk from Kita-Sasebo Station on the Matsuura Railway

1 minute walk from the Saihi Bus "Miyatamachi" bus stop

SNS: https://www.instagram.com/sasebo_wifi_building/

*For details on business hours and holidays, please check the link above.