If you have a deadline looming but suffer from eternal procrastination, fear not: Tokyo has a surprising solution for you. The Manuscript Writing Café is a space for writers, work-from- homers and other people under a time crunch, which – alongside the snacks and coffee you’d find at a regular co-working space – also includes gentle cajoling by staff until you’ve met your deadline.
Patrons book weekend slots in the warmly lit space, joining the convivial atmosphere created by working alongside a small group of others (the café only accommodates ten people at a time) working towards a goal. You can pick the level of vocal support you would like from the staff — mild (‘how’s it going?’), normal (‘you have an hour left, probably time to step it’) or hard (‘Put that phone down right now and get cracking!’) and regular bells let you know how long you have left. If that weren’t enough, you have to pay extra for any overtime, giving you a financial incentive to focus.