Do you love the stark, design-driven simplicity of the brand MUJI so much that you wish you could just go ahead and live in the store?
Now Tokyo travelers can. With the newest MUJI Hotel, the retailer famous for its “no label” goods has officially expanded into “anti-brand” accommodations, fully outfitted to seduce you with its minimalist lifestyle. While the MUJI Hotel already has locations in Shenzhen and Beijing, the opening of the third location in Ginza is particularly momentous, because traveler-friendly Tokyo is the company’s hometown.
From the furniture to the sheets, everything in the hotel is entirely MUJI. No, really — everything down to the toothpaste embodies the pared-down aesthetic that the brand is known for. The MUJI Hotel allows guests to live in the brand’s signature way and try out a wide range of products. In addition to the items in the room, guests can rent other goods, like clothing irons, scales, adapters, nail clippers and even jogging suits. Best of all, the hotel’s Ginza location sits on top of the global flagship store, so if you fall in love with the towels, you can just pop downstairs and pick up a set to take home.
The brand’s recycling ethos is evident throughout the hotel’s design. With a focus on wood, stone and earth, the interior utilizes materials from ship debris and repurposed paving stones from Tokyo’s historic trolley ways, making the light, serene rooms as ecofriendly as they are beautiful.
Located in the center of the Ginza district, the 79-room hotel is a quick step to the neighborhood’s stylish boutiques, tea houses and sushi bars. The lodging-meets-shopping complex also boasts two galleries, a library, event space and two restaurants, including the traditional Japanese restaurant WA, where visitors can dine on udon noodles, crisp tempura and more.
The rooms come in a variety of sizes and arrangements, ranging from bunk beds to suites with open layouts and seating areas. The self-described “anti-cheap” hotel promises a relaxing experience to restore travelers at a reasonable price, with the simplest rooms starting at just $135 a night. But don’t mistake that to mean the hotel sacrifices comfort or quality in the name of minimalism — the decision to move away from impersonal, unnecessary amenities frees the brand to focus on beautifully designed basics, striking a balance between streamlined and comfortable.
Even if you’re new to the brand, the complex is worth exploring on your next trip to Tokyo. And if you’re a MUJI loyalist, dreams do come true: Many rooms come complete with a deep wooden bathtub, so you can finally experience a full MUJI immersion.