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Staying at BOOK AND BED TOKYO, a Hostel for Book Lovers
Stylish hostels and fancy guesthouses have been popping up like mushrooms in Japan in the past few years. Riding this wave of originality, more and more facilities are offering a stay that goes beyond the simple lodging experience.
I tried staying at one of the pioneers of concept hostels, BOOK AND BED TOKYO. Located just a brief walk from Ikebukuro Station, this hostel calls itself 'an accommodation bookshop'!
BOOK AND BED TOKYO occupies the 7th floor and recently expanded to the 8th floor of a multi-tenant building right by Ikebukuro Station. The first thing you see upon entering is a huge bookshelf that contains a selection of more than 1,600 books. An irresistible view for a book lover.
I got excited just looking at all those books. There's a really good variety, ranging from literature to manga and magazines.
Can't read Japanese? No problem! They also have a selection of books in English, guides and illustrated books.
Everyone who stays at this hostel is free to grab any of the books. You can read them by the big blue sofa or even bring them to your own bed.
Now here's the best part. When I said that you can sleep surrounded by books, I wasn't joking. The beds are literally nestled in the bookshelf!
The sleeping spaces are set on two levels, bunk bed style, with curtains at the entrance. If you are the type that likes a more private space, there are also normal dormitory beds on the seventh floor.
Beds come in two sizes. The STANDARD size is 120x200cm (approx. 47x79in), and the COMPACT size is 80x200cm (approx. 31x79in). There is a reading lamp to make sure you enjoy your books and other amenities like power outlets and hangers. The hostel also offers free Wi-Fi.
Being, 5'4" tall, I could comfortably lay down on the standard size bed without any feeling of oppression. I think that the compact bed type would be more than enough for people with a small build like me.
The bed comes with bedsheet and a pillow cover that you set up yourself. An amenity set is also available for 500 yen and it contains a bath towel, a toothbrush, shampoo, conditioner and body soap.
Are you sensitive to noise? No worries, every room is also equipped with earplugs.
As if the place wasn't already awesome enough, they recently expanded the concept to BOOK AND BED AND BAR adding a 24-hour bar space on the 8th floor. The bar counter is right outside the elevator and also serves as a reception desk. They serve beer, cocktails and soft drinks.
For the menu, the staff carefully selects drinks for their guests to enjoy, like Tokyo-brewed craft beer. They will also be happy to give you a recommendation if you ask. All drinks are served in a bottle.
The hostel has special bottle holders for your drinks!
Shared facilities are always a concern when staying at a hostel. At BOOK AND BED the washroom is essential and clean, and is shared between men and women. Please note that while the shared bathrooms can be used 24 hours, it's not possible to use the dryers from late at night to early morning. There are also three shared shower rooms. Bathrooms and showers are conveniently placed on both floors, so there's no need to take the stairs.
Guests are free to bring in their own food and drinks. There is a small kitchen space with free-to-use microwave, toaster and dishes. There are a lot of shops and convenience stores in the area, perfect for bringing back a cheap meal to eat at the hostel.
Self-service tea and coffee are 162 yen a cup.
There's a branch of BOOK AND BED in Kyoto as well, and a new location just opened in Fukuoka in spring 2017. Since it's a very popular hostel we recommend booking in advance. Even during daytime, where reservations are not available, it's better to go early to make sure you get a spot.
Also, the hostel specifies that 'accommodation bookstore' is just a concept and that they don't actually sell books. If you find an interesting read during your stay, try looking for it in one of the nearby bookstores. It might be another chance to discover something unique.
Sleeping surrounded by books in a stylish, sophisticated atmosphere. This is definitely an experience that you can't have in a regular hotel or ryokan. If you visit Japan, why not try an alternative accommodation like this?
I tried staying at one of the pioneers of concept hostels, BOOK AND BED TOKYO. Located just a brief walk from Ikebukuro Station, this hostel calls itself 'an accommodation bookshop'!
A Hostel Where You Can Sleep Surrounded by Books
BOOK AND BED TOKYO occupies the 7th floor and recently expanded to the 8th floor of a multi-tenant building right by Ikebukuro Station. The first thing you see upon entering is a huge bookshelf that contains a selection of more than 1,600 books. An irresistible view for a book lover.
I got excited just looking at all those books. There's a really good variety, ranging from literature to manga and magazines.
Can't read Japanese? No problem! They also have a selection of books in English, guides and illustrated books.
Everyone who stays at this hostel is free to grab any of the books. You can read them by the big blue sofa or even bring them to your own bed.
So Where Do You Sleep?
Now here's the best part. When I said that you can sleep surrounded by books, I wasn't joking. The beds are literally nestled in the bookshelf!
The sleeping spaces are set on two levels, bunk bed style, with curtains at the entrance. If you are the type that likes a more private space, there are also normal dormitory beds on the seventh floor.
Beds come in two sizes. The STANDARD size is 120x200cm (approx. 47x79in), and the COMPACT size is 80x200cm (approx. 31x79in). There is a reading lamp to make sure you enjoy your books and other amenities like power outlets and hangers. The hostel also offers free Wi-Fi.
Being, 5'4" tall, I could comfortably lay down on the standard size bed without any feeling of oppression. I think that the compact bed type would be more than enough for people with a small build like me.
The bed comes with bedsheet and a pillow cover that you set up yourself. An amenity set is also available for 500 yen and it contains a bath towel, a toothbrush, shampoo, conditioner and body soap.
Are you sensitive to noise? No worries, every room is also equipped with earplugs.
One Step Further: Accommodation AND Drinking Bookshop?
As if the place wasn't already awesome enough, they recently expanded the concept to BOOK AND BED AND BAR adding a 24-hour bar space on the 8th floor. The bar counter is right outside the elevator and also serves as a reception desk. They serve beer, cocktails and soft drinks.
For the menu, the staff carefully selects drinks for their guests to enjoy, like Tokyo-brewed craft beer. They will also be happy to give you a recommendation if you ask. All drinks are served in a bottle.
The hostel has special bottle holders for your drinks!
The hostel has special bottle holders for your drinks!
Shared facilities are always a concern when staying at a hostel. At BOOK AND BED the washroom is essential and clean, and is shared between men and women. Please note that while the shared bathrooms can be used 24 hours, it's not possible to use the dryers from late at night to early morning. There are also three shared shower rooms. Bathrooms and showers are conveniently placed on both floors, so there's no need to take the stairs.
Guests are free to bring in their own food and drinks. There is a small kitchen space with free-to-use microwave, toaster and dishes. There are a lot of shops and convenience stores in the area, perfect for bringing back a cheap meal to eat at the hostel.
Self-service tea and coffee are 162 yen a cup.
A Unique Experience for Book Lovers
There's a branch of BOOK AND BED in Kyoto as well, and a new location just opened in Fukuoka in spring 2017. Since it's a very popular hostel we recommend booking in advance. Even during daytime, where reservations are not available, it's better to go early to make sure you get a spot.
Also, the hostel specifies that 'accommodation bookstore' is just a concept and that they don't actually sell books. If you find an interesting read during your stay, try looking for it in one of the nearby bookstores. It might be another chance to discover something unique.
Sleeping surrounded by books in a stylish, sophisticated atmosphere. This is definitely an experience that you can't have in a regular hotel or ryokan. If you visit Japan, why not try an alternative accommodation like this?
Information
BOOK AND BED TOKYO
Address: Lumiere building 7th-8th floor, 1-17-7 Nishi Ikebukuro, Toshima, Tokyo
Access: Less than 1 minute walk from C8 exit of Ikebukuro Station
Website: http://bookandbedtokyo.com/en/index.html
Prices for the Tokyo hostel:
STARDARD beds from 4,500 yen/night
COMPACT beds from 3,500 yen/night
Check-in: 4:00pm - 11:00pm
Check-out: 11:00am
Daytime: 500 yen/hour, free time 1,500 yen (during daytime hours)
Daytime hours: 1:00pm - 5:00pm *reservations are not available
*All prices are tax-exclusive.
*Payment by credit card only (Visa, MasterCard, SAISON)
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THIS ARTICLE IS BASED ON INFORMATION FROM 12 19,2017 Author：DiGJAPAN! Editorial Team
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