BnA STUDIO Akihabara
Are you an artist, or do you take pride in supporting art? How about a hotel concept where you give money to the artists who created it by staying in the city's hippest rooms?
BnA Hotels group came up with the ingenious idea of sharing part of their revenue with the artist who designed the room. So if you book a room, thanks to a profit-sharing system, you support whoever designed your creative resting place.
BnA STUDIO's unique art hotel is located in the Akihabara district of Tokyo. This neighborhood's nickname is "Electric Town" because, since the 1980s, it's been home to a large market of household electronics.
As times have changed, the goods on offer have slowly shifted to anime, manga, and video games. So this is your place if you like cosplay (maid) cafés, arcade gaming, and buildings full of neon lights.
BnA STUDIO's unassuming building is on one of the residential streets, close to the chaotic energy of modern Tokyo.
The hotel's lobby is anything but typical. It's more of a friendly co-working space where sipping a coffee and chatting with people is the preferred way to spend the day—or smoking an electric cigarette.
Because unlike in most countries where smoking is frowned upon in any hotel, here there is a tiny cubicle dedicated to it.
There is no on-site restaurant, bar, or spa. All of that you will find in the neighboring streets within a short walking distance. Instead, there is a welcoming atmosphere and wildly creative rooms. And if you need a tip for where to eat, ask the artist community in the hotel.
Wonder Park Room
Talking about atypical. The rooms are erasing the boundaries between hotel and art. The five unique rooms were created by visionary Japanese artists. You can experience living in an art exhibit.
The bathrooms have tubs and vegan Dr. Bronner toiletries. Plus, there is a washer/dryer if you need to wash your clothes.
The interior designers from studioBOWL with a funky playground memories theme. The nightstand sits on a three-wheeler bike, and there are toys hanging from the ceiling and hidden under your bed.
Athletic Park Room
The same group that designed Wonder Park created a room based on high-school memories. Cool graffiti sprayed all over the place with fitting industrial elements.
The double-decker double beds are like a setting for sleepover parties.
An unusual setup for a hotel room, here four people can share the 355 square feet (33 square meters) space.
Responder Room
81 BASTARDS is an artist collective specializing in wall-sized murals. The street art that made it into a hotel's interior has traditional Japanese motifs like dragons.
The Responder Room is a color explosion with all four walls and ceilings plastered with murals. The bed is positioned uniquely, too; instead of facing the TV, it's gazing at the mural's highlight.
Hailer Room
The chic & dark Hailer Room is a modern twist on traditional Japanese hotels. The king-size bed is placed on an elevated wooden platform, while the steampunk-style chair in the corner spices up the design.
The painting behind the bed depicts two Japanese gods. In Japanese mythology, Raijin is the "Thunder God", and Fujin is the "Wind God".
Zen Garden Room
The team behind 51.3 G-WAVE took upon the challenge to design the modern interpretation of a zen room.
The single elements - like the chicken wire - in the room have no cultural relevance, but they complete the artwork.
