Offbeat Alert: Check Out These Uniquely Themed Hotels In Japan

Japan is synonymous with aesthetics. From its quirky cafés to the futuristic hotels, the deeper you dwell in the country’s design tradition, the more fascinated you will be. With Ryokan-style shoji doors and futons, Japan has hotels that fuse post-modern architecture seamlessly with its minimalist, traditional aesthetics. Delivering a whirlwind of surreal new-age ideas with a blend of tradition, Japan’s modern-day hotels remain a wonder. Book and Bed, TokyoLabelled as a “bookstore where you can stay overnight,” Book and Bed is a hostel near Shinjuku station. It is situated on the seventh floor and offers a panoramic city view. Wooden floorboards and rows of shelves make it a cosy little haven for readers. With over 1,700 volumes of books and several reading nooks, the hostel offers a community to bibliophiles.The hostel has been designed by the Suppose Design Office, an architecture firm known for recycling and turning old and available infrastructure into something new. At Book and Bed, Suppose Design repurposed an izakaya, a typical bar frequented by Japanese workers, and converted it into a recycled reading space for the hostel.Address: 1-27-5 Kabukicho APM Bldg. 8F, Kabukicho, Shinjuku City bookandbedtokyo.comTop Guided Tours In Tokyo For An Unforgettable Japan TripBnA Hotel, TokyoDubbed Tokyo’s “art epicentre,” the BnA hotel is built like an open canvas for Tokyo artists. Located in the Nihonbashi district, the hotel plays with the bed and breakfast theme. Each room in the hotel has a distinct theme-based design. For instance, the room “Sushi War,” designed by artist Mako Watanabe fuses cherry red with space dreams, sushi warriors and robots. Yoshirotten’s “Float,” on the other hand, is a minimal all-white room with expansive sun-facing windows.They use eco-friendly and natural cleaning products while minimising disposable amenities. Wherever possible, they use refillable packaging and organic skincare. Instead of disposable water bottles, they provide reusable bottles.Address: 2-4-7 Koenjikita, Suginami City bna-hotel.comHarajuku Guide: Here's Why You Should Visit This Iconic District In JapanNine Hours, OtemachiLocated in the Otemachi area near the Imperial Palace, Nine Hours is a designer capsule hotel. Capsule hotels are small but private accommodations well-suited for budget travellers. Since the pods don’t have room for luggage, these hotels provide separate lockers and shoe racks for the convenience of their guests. Nine Hours is an original take on capsule hotels that fuses capsules with minimal Ryokan aesthetics, offering a modern pod set-up with sleep-monitoring technology. In Tokyo, this hotel is a favourite haunt for locals and joggers around the Imperial Palace, besides travellers. The hotel avoids single-use plastic items such as shampoo, conditioner and body wash bottles, stirrers, straws, cups, and plates. It primarily uses energy-efficient LED bulbs for lighting and employs key cards or motion-controlled electricity in the rooms.Address: 3-11-15 Kanda Nishikicho, Chiyoda City, Tokyo ninehours.co.jpKnow Before You Go: 10 Unwritten Rules Every Traveller Should Know Before A Japan Trip Henn Na Hotel, NagasakiThis hotel is a Guinness World Record holder for being the first robot-staffed hotel in the world. During its early years, one would usually encounter a velociraptor in a bow tie and a bellhop hat at the reception. Currently, the hotel has both human and robot staff on its team.All rooms at Henn Na Hotel are equipped with a natural radiant cooling system. They also utilise solar panels. As a result, the hotel has achieved a 30 per cent reduction in energy consumption compared to traditional hotels.Address: 6-5 Huis Ten Bosch Machi, Sasebo City h-n-h.jpTreeful Treehouse, Okinawa This sustainable subtropical resort offers a 360-degree view of the Higashi jungle. Each treehouse is built on a living tree. Guests can choose between an “AeroHouse” or “Spiral Treehouse” or “Golden Trophy,” depending on availability. This treehouse is themed after a Japanese tea room. The hotel also organises tours around the lush landscape of the Higashi forests.It is a carbon-negative space, which absorbs more carbon dioxide than it produces. Solar energy panels ensure clean energy consumption. Every treehouse on the property is constructed at a height greater than 1.2 m from the ground to ensure enough sunlight for smaller plants to grow and provide a habitat for animals, microorganisms, and roots to thrive.Address: 2578 Genka, Nago City treeful.net