import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
import mpl_toolkits.axisartist as axisartist

def setup_axes(fig, rect):
    ax = axisartist.Subplot(fig, rect)
    fig.add_subplot(ax)

    ax.set_yticks([0.2, 0.8])
    ax.set_xticks([0.2, 0.8])

    return ax
    
fig = plt.figure(1, figsize=(5, 2))
fig.subplots_adjust(wspace=0.4, bottom=0.3)

ax1 = setup_axes(fig, "121")
ax1.set_xlabel("X-label")
ax1.set_ylabel("Y-label")

ax1.axis[:].invert_ticklabel_direction()

ax2 = setup_axes(fig, "122")
ax2.set_xlabel("X-label")
ax2.set_ylabel("Y-label")

ax2.axis[:].major_ticks.set_tick_out(True)

plt.show()