If you’re still hung up on the Muji life, I’ve got good news for you: Iconic Japanese store and “unbranded” brand Muji just opened a hotel in Tokyo, and it’s exactly what you’d expect beauty. MUJI Hotel Ginza opened on April 4, 2019, allowing travelers to immerse themselves in the MUJI aesthetic while sleeping, from branded furniture to tableware; in addition, restaurants, leisure spaces, MUJI flagship stores and a host of other Fancy amenities give you even more ways to relax - or go on an adventure, if that's your thing. Hotels are now accepting reservations, so if you've been thinking about a trip to Japan in the near future, now might be the time to put that plan in motion.
Founded in 1979 and launched to the public in 1980, Muji became known over the following decades for its minimalist aesthetic, solidly crafted products, and reasonable prices. At Muji, you can buy everything from clothing to furniture, beauty products to pens and pencils—no matter what you like, you can almost guarantee that it will be both beautiful and functional. There are no cluttered brand names in the design; there are no superfluous pieces or superfluous details on the items; you'll find that everything there does exactly what it's supposed to do—no more, no less.
In recent years, however, Muji has expanded its brand beyond just shopping into (somewhat unexpectedly) hotels and hospitality. The first MUJI hotel opened in Shenzhen, China, in 2018, followed shortly thereafter by a second hotel in Beijing. Boasting "neither overpriced (and superfluous) service" nor "dreary guestrooms due to an extreme drop in quality", the hotels aim to bring the same simplicity but execution to travel accommodations that the brand has brought to the table good quality. Its stores manufacture and sell home furnishings, stationery and other items.
MUJI Hotel Ginza represents the brand’s first hotel concept branch in Japan. The hotel's design scheme focuses on a connection with the earth, filled with wood and stone, including many repurposed materials - for example, stones and recycled debris that once paved the way for the tram system that ran through Tokyo a century ago are incorporated into the design All adopt the design of old ships.
In short, it's gorgeous.
Type A room at MUJI Hotel Ginza.
The new Ginza hotel has 79 rooms, ranging in size from quite large to compact: the largest Type I room is 52 square meters (approximately 560 square feet), while the smallest Type A room is just 14 square meters or 14 square meters rice. 15 square meters (approximately 150 square feet). However, with the exception of the A-type room, all nine room types can accommodate one or two people. (Type A rooms are for one person only.) Bed types also vary by room type. Some of them have single beds, others have double beds and some have bunk beds.
Room prices can also vary widely depending on the booking tool on the Muji Hotels website. Type I rooms (large rooms) are priced at 55,900 yen (approximately US$500) per night, while type A rooms are priced at 14,900 yen (approximately US$134) per night. Mid-range rooms are somewhere in the middle. For example, an H-type room is 27 square meters (approximately 290 square feet) with a double bed and is priced at 29,900 yen (approximately US$268).
Type I room at MUJI Hotel Ginza.
Despite the differences between room types, the hotel notes that "we take great care to ensure that rooms allow guests to restoratively, both physically and mentally." The bed's mattress was chosen based on sleep and posture research; the towels are described as "mild to the touch." ;The lights are "designed to guide guests into a natural sleep." All in all, the rooms are designed to create a calm, comfortable atmosphere to help you relax and unwind after a long day of work or play.
But the hotel offers more than just rooms. Two restaurants - one more traditional and one bistro - a bakery, a salon (the kind of place where you can enjoy a coffee and chat with people, not the kind where you can get your hair done), a library, Several gallery spaces and, of course, the MUJI store are located within the hotel; more importantly, all of Ginza is right outside the door.
Speaking of Ginza, the location choice of this hotel is interesting to me. I've always considered Ginza to be one of the dreamiest neighborhoods in Tokyo; it's mainly known for its luxury shopping malls and designer brands. (The Kabukiza Theater where Tokyo Kabuki is performed is also located in Ginza, so there's a lot of traditional culture in the area as well.) At the same time, an important part of Muji's brand image has always been its affordability: most of its tableware costs less than $1,000 per piece. to $15; there are tons of storage solutions for under $20; skin care products are often under $15 and more commonly $5 to $10; clothing is very reasonable; and stationary! Oh, stationery! If you are a still person, MUJI is the place to be.
All of this is to say that Muji is not too expensive overall. Even pricier items like furniture are still much cheaper than designer versions of those items, so in that sense it was a bit unexpected that Muji's first Tokyo hotel would open in Ginza. At the same time, MUJI is also known for its simple elegance – so the location made sense considering Ginza is also known for elegance. (When it comes to hotels in general, those $500-a-night rooms definitely occupy the higher end of the price spectrum.)
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There is also a MUJI store opened next to the hotel, so the brand also covers the entire shopping scene that Ginza is famous for. In fact, the store is the brand's flagship, occupying the first five floors of the building, while the hotel's actual rooms are located on the next five floors. Talk about a MUJI lover’s biggest dream.
Interested in booking accommodation? For more information, please visit MUJI Hotel Ginza's website. Have a nice trip!
