Office Space per Person Survey (2025) - Office Space per <In-Office> Person in Tokyo's 23 Wards Shows Declining Trend Since 2021

|Xymax|Original article

Overview

This is a survey report published by Xymax Research Institute on "Office Space per Person Survey (2025) - Office Space per <In-Office> Person in Tokyo's 23 Wards Shows Declining Trend Since 2021." It provides a detailed analysis of office usage patterns after the establishment of hybrid work and changes in space per person. ## Key Points ### 1. Survey Overview - **Research Organization**: Xymax Research Institute - **Publication Date**: July 1, 2025 (announced June 30) - **Survey Target**: Offices in Tokyo's 23 wards and Osaka City - **Survey Period**: Spring 2025 - **Key Indicators**: Office space per person for <Registered> and <In-Office> employees ### 2. Current State of Office Space per Person - **Tokyo 23 Wards**: - <Registered> space per person: Median 3.8 tsubo - <In-Office> space per person: 4.7 tsubo (record low) - **Osaka City**: - <Registered> space per person: 3.8 tsubo (same level as Tokyo) - Decreased by 0.1 tsubo from previous survey - **Space Definitions**: - <Registered>: Contract area ÷ number of registered employees - <In-Office>: Contract area ÷ average number of employees in office ### 3. Change Trends Since 2021 - **Continuous Declining Trend**: - 2021: 5.2 tsubo (<In-Office>) - 2023: 4.9 tsubo - 2025: 4.7 tsubo (approximately 10% decrease over 3 years) - **Factors for Decline**: - Increased office attendance due to return-to-office - Personnel increase through new hiring - Office space maintained or reduced ### 4. Impact of Hybrid Work - **Changes in Office Attendance Rate**: - Early pandemic: 30-40% - 2024: 60-70% - 2025: Rising trend to 70-80% - **Establishment of Work Styles**: - 2-3 days per week in office becomes standard - Return from full remote work - Increased setting of team collaboration days ### 5. Characteristics by Company Size - **Large Companies (1,000+ employees)**: - Actively implementing space reduction - Introducing ABW (Activity Based Working) - Utilizing satellite offices - **Mid-sized Companies (100-999 employees)**: - Maintaining space is mainstream - Partial free-addressing - **Small Companies (Under 100 employees)**: - Limited space changes - Maintaining traditional layouts ### 6. Trends by Industry - **IT/Information & Communications**: - Most flexible response - Below-average space per person - Advancing complete free-addressing - **Financial Services**: - Maintaining space with security emphasis - Large differences between departments - **Manufacturing**: - Advancing headquarters efficiency - R&D departments secure space ### 7. Changes in Office Layout - **Traditional (Pre-2020)**: - Fixed desk-centered - Meeting room emphasis - 4-5 tsubo per person - **Current (2025)**: - Expanding free-addressing - Emphasis on collaboration spaces - Increase in multipurpose spaces ### 8. Challenges from Space Reduction - **Increasing Sense of Crowding**: - Seat shortage during peak times - Difficulty booking meeting rooms - Lack of focused work spaces - **Impact on Employee Satisfaction**: - Difficulty ensuring privacy - Emergence of noise issues - Insufficient storage space ### 9. Countermeasures and Innovations - **Space Optimization**: - Introduction of hoteling - Time-based usage management - AI-based optimal arrangement - **Function Consolidation/Distribution**: - Utilizing coworking spaces - Supporting home office setup - Collaboration with shared offices ### 10. International Comparison Perspective - **Japanese Characteristics**: - Still narrow compared to Western countries - Mid-level among major Asian cities - **Global Trends**: - Worldwide space reduction trend - Shift to investment in quality improvement ### 11. Future Outlook - **Short-term Outlook (1-2 years)**: - Continuation of space reduction trend - Expected to bottom out around 4.5 tsubo - **Medium to Long-term Outlook (3-5 years)**: - Seeking new equilibrium point - Efficiency through technology utilization - Response to further diversification of work styles ### 12. Recommendations and Implications - **Recommendations for Companies**: - Detailed analysis of attendance patterns - Regular surveys of employee needs - Consideration of flexible contract formats - **Real Estate Strategy**: - Optimization from medium to long-term perspective - Review of location and grade - Importance of ESG compliance This survey shows that office usage in the post-COVID era has entered a new phase, transitioning from simple space reduction to a stage pursuing quality and efficiency. Companies are required to build new office strategies that maintain employee productivity and satisfaction while balancing rising attendance rates with space efficiency.

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This is a survey report published by Xymax Research Institute on "Office Space per Person Survey (2025) - Office Space per <In-Office> Person in Tokyo's 23 Wards Shows Declining Trend Since 2021." It provides a detailed analysis of office usage patterns after the establishment of hybrid work and changes in space per person.

Key Points

1. Survey Overview

  • Research Organization: Xymax Research Institute
  • Publication Date: July 1, 2025 (announced June 30)
  • Survey Target: Offices in Tokyo's 23 wards and Osaka City
  • Survey Period: Spring 2025
  • Key Indicators: Office space per person for <Registered> and <In-Office> employees

2. Current State of Office Space per Person

  • Tokyo 23 Wards:
    • <Registered> space per person: Median 3.8 tsubo
    • <In-Office> space per person: 4.7 tsubo (record low)
  • Osaka City:
    • <Registered> space per person: 3.8 tsubo (same level as Tokyo)
    • Decreased by 0.1 tsubo from previous survey
  • Space Definitions:
    • <Registered>: Contract area ÷ number of registered employees
    • <In-Office>: Contract area ÷ average number of employees in office

3. Change Trends Since 2021

  • Continuous Declining Trend:
    • 2021: 5.2 tsubo (<In-Office>)
    • 2023: 4.9 tsubo
    • 2025: 4.7 tsubo (approximately 10% decrease over 3 years)
  • Factors for Decline:
    • Increased office attendance due to return-to-office
    • Personnel increase through new hiring
    • Office space maintained or reduced

4. Impact of Hybrid Work

  • Changes in Office Attendance Rate:
    • Early pandemic: 30-40%
    • 2024: 60-70%
    • 2025: Rising trend to 70-80%
  • Establishment of Work Styles:
    • 2-3 days per week in office becomes standard
    • Return from full remote work
    • Increased setting of team collaboration days

5. Characteristics by Company Size

  • Large Companies (1,000+ employees):
    • Actively implementing space reduction
    • Introducing ABW (Activity Based Working)
    • Utilizing satellite offices
  • Mid-sized Companies (100-999 employees):
    • Maintaining space is mainstream
    • Partial free-addressing
  • Small Companies (Under 100 employees):
    • Limited space changes
    • Maintaining traditional layouts

6. Trends by Industry

  • IT/Information & Communications:
    • Most flexible response
    • Below-average space per person
    • Advancing complete free-addressing
  • Financial Services:
    • Maintaining space with security emphasis
    • Large differences between departments
  • Manufacturing:
    • Advancing headquarters efficiency
    • R&D departments secure space

7. Changes in Office Layout

  • Traditional (Pre-2020):
    • Fixed desk-centered
    • Meeting room emphasis
    • 4-5 tsubo per person
  • Current (2025):
    • Expanding free-addressing
    • Emphasis on collaboration spaces
    • Increase in multipurpose spaces

8. Challenges from Space Reduction

  • Increasing Sense of Crowding:
    • Seat shortage during peak times
    • Difficulty booking meeting rooms
    • Lack of focused work spaces
  • Impact on Employee Satisfaction:
    • Difficulty ensuring privacy
    • Emergence of noise issues
    • Insufficient storage space

9. Countermeasures and Innovations

  • Space Optimization:
    • Introduction of hoteling
    • Time-based usage management
    • AI-based optimal arrangement
  • Function Consolidation/Distribution:
    • Utilizing coworking spaces
    • Supporting home office setup
    • Collaboration with shared offices

10. International Comparison Perspective

  • Japanese Characteristics:
    • Still narrow compared to Western countries
    • Mid-level among major Asian cities
  • Global Trends:
    • Worldwide space reduction trend
    • Shift to investment in quality improvement

11. Future Outlook

  • Short-term Outlook (1-2 years):
    • Continuation of space reduction trend
    • Expected to bottom out around 4.5 tsubo
  • Medium to Long-term Outlook (3-5 years):
    • Seeking new equilibrium point
    • Efficiency through technology utilization
    • Response to further diversification of work styles

12. Recommendations and Implications

  • Recommendations for Companies:
    • Detailed analysis of attendance patterns
    • Regular surveys of employee needs
    • Consideration of flexible contract formats
  • Real Estate Strategy:
    • Optimization from medium to long-term perspective
    • Review of location and grade
    • Importance of ESG compliance

This survey shows that office usage in the post-COVID era has entered a new phase, transitioning from simple space reduction to a stage pursuing quality and efficiency. Companies are required to build new office strategies that maintain employee productivity and satisfaction while balancing rising attendance rates with space efficiency.

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