The urban lifestyle in Japan that using city hotels for expand living space.

Japanese industry of hotels and travels is suffering COVID-19 pandemic.

The Japanese government was run Go-To campaign for relief for tourism industry which as one of main industry in Japan, but that the effect was limited.

The Japanese hotel industry has been trying to help itself by offering day use plans for remote workers and longer stay plans.

Mitsui Garden Hotels Group has created a subscription plan that allows you to stay at any Mitsui Garden Hotel in Japan.

Mitsui Garden Hotels is a little rich city hotel that is not luxurious but more comfortable than a simple business hotel.

I won this subscription plan that was offered by lottery, so I got to experience hotel living.

Through living in a hotel, I realized the importance of having blank spaces in our living space.

In this article, I would like to report on the hotel I stayed at and describe what I noticed while living in the hotel.

The impact on the hotel industry due to COVID-19 pandemic.

Japanese hotel industry is suffering a beating by COVID-19 pandemic.

According to a survey by the Japan Tourism Agency, the total number of Japanese overnight guests in Japan fell to -82% in May 2020 compared to January 2020. Although it showed some signs of recovery, it was -51% in January 2021.

According to the same study, the number of stated foreign guests in Japan as a whole is always below -95% from April 2020 to January 2021.

In particular, Hotels in Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto have been hit hard not only by the decline in the number of foreign visitors to Japan, but also by the decline in domestic business travel.

In such a situation, hotels have developed and launched new products such as day-use plans for teleworkers and long-term stay discounts to make effective use of vacant rooms.

Urban Housing in Japan are so cramped.

Housing in Japan is notoriously small, and this is especially true in central Tokyo.

The mainstream lifestyle for business people and employee was to buy a large house in the suburbs, far from their workplaces, and go to work in the city.

They commute for about 1 or 2 hour from their home every day, so It had caused an excessive rush hour in central Tokyo.

In other hands, When before the pandemic, There was a boom in ultra-small apartments, especially for single young people.

In the center of Tokyo, there were many cafes and casual restaurants that were open from early in the morning until late at night, so they used them as dining tables and living rooms, and let their homes take on the minimal functions of a bedroom and bathroom.

Their lifestyle is streamlined and minimalist, avoiding the rush of commuting and having fewer belongings.

Whether it is a detached house in the suburbs or ultra-small apartments in the center of Tokyo, Japanese houses specialize in rationally arranging only the functions necessary for daily life on a small site.

Since they are at work during the daytime on weekdays, they often omit spaces that serve as margins for relaxing time at home.

Japanese people suddenly had to telework in their small house due to the Pandemic.

In such a housing situation, Japanese people suffered from the effects of the coronavirus epidemic and suddenly had to start to work from home.

There was no space in their home where they could concentrate on their work, and at the same time they had to take care of their children who were out of school.

Many cafes and restaurants were closed, and young people living in ultra-small apartments were work confined to their small rooms.

It became realize that rational housing in Japan was a highly stressful environment to spend every day at home during the day.

Utilizing the City as a margin of living.

Japanese urban housing has specialized in rationally arranging the functions necessary for daily life, such as sleeping, eating, bathing, and washing, within a narrow site.

As a result, the spatial and temporal margins of living have become dependent on the functioning of the city.

The coronavirus epidemic made people realize that they had no space to spare.

Teleworking in a small house in Japan is very painful.

In urban areas where it is difficult for individuals to have a large plot of land, they need to make better use of urban space as a margin for their own living.

City hotels can also be used as one way to expand your living space.

About subscription plan of Mitsui Garden Hotels.

About Mitsui Garden Hotels.

Mitsui Garden Hotels is a chain of city hotels operated by Mitsui Fudosan Hotel Management, a subsidiary of Mitsui Fudosan that the top of Japanese real estate company.

They operate three brands of hotels, Mitsui Garden Hotels, The Celestine Hotels, and sequence, in 38 locations throughout Japan.

All of these hotels are easily accessible from major stations, making them convenient for business trips and domestic travel.

There are both type of hotels that do not have suites, which are mainly targeted at business travelers, and hotels that have suites, which are targeted at city travelers and those who want to relax.

There is no room service, and the hotel facilities are simple, but the price is low and the hotel is kept clean.

About the plan of Mitsui Garden Hotels.

In February 2021, Mitsui Garden Hotels announced a subscription plan that allows access to 38 Mitsui Garden Hotels throughout Japan.

There are two plans: one plan allows you to stay at one hotel for consecutive nights, and the other plan allows you to stay at any hotel you want during the period of your stay, and is called the “Dokodemo Pass.

Dokodemo means is Anywhere in Japanese.

Dokodemo Pass Plan was offered by lottery.

For a basic fee of 150,000 yen plus 500 yen per night or 2,000 yen for upper class, you can stay anywhere in Mitsui Garden Hotels throughout Japan for a period of 30 days.

I applied for the Anywhere Pass, won the second lottery, and started using it on April 10, 2021.

Report on the hotels where I stayed.

Mitsui Garden Hotel Ueno

The Mitsui Garden Hotel Ueno is located near Ueno Station, and you can see Ueno Park from the window.

The room was minimal, with a bed and bathroom right behind the business desk.

The hotel is directly connected to the city, and I think business use is the target.

I worked quietly, admiring the view out the window.

Mitsui Garden Hotel Ueno
3 Chome-19-7 Higashiueno, Taito City, Tokyo 〒110-0015
https://www.gardenhotels.co.jp/ueno/
MAP: https://goo.gl/maps/s4q1cGksuMFvS2BW8

sequence SUIDOBASHI

sequence SUIDOBASHI opened in November 2020.

The hotel is located near the Tokyo Dome and Korakuen, and has a lounge with a large sports viewing screen, making it a new concept hotel where you can enjoy watching sports and staying.

The interior of the hotel has a simple atmosphere with no ornate decorations.

I enjoyed breakfast and coffee at the attached cafe.

sequence SUIDOBASHI
2 Chome-22-17 Misakicho, Chiyoda City, Tokyo 〒101-0061
https://www.sequencehotels.com/suidobashi/
MAP: https://g.page/sequence-suidobashi?share

Mitsui Garden Hotel Ginza Gochome

Mitsui Garden Hotel Ginza Gochome is located in the middle of Ginza, with convenient transportation for business use.

The hotel also has a coin-operated laundry, making it convenient for long-term stays.

The main diner was Japanese style, and breakfast was also based on Japanese cuisine.

Mitsui Garden Hotel Ginza Gochome
5 Chome-13-15 Ginza, Chuo City, Tokyo 〒104-0061
https://www.gardenhotels.co.jp/ginza-gochome/
MAP: https://goo.gl/maps/K6ZAvTrDnPtEXDew6

Mitsui Garden Hotel Jingu-Gaien Tokyo Premier

The Mitsui Garden Hotel Jingu-Gaien Tokyo Premier is located next to the National Stadium, which will be used for the Tokyo Olympics.

The hotel is surrounded by Shinjuku Gyoen, Meiji Jingu Gaien, and Akasaka Imperial Palace, offering a scenic and quiet environment away from the hustle and bustle of the city, and the rooms have large balconies and an open atmosphere.

It is classified as upper class in the subscription plan.

It was very crowded during the Golden Week holidays, Japan's spring holidays.

Probably, people living in Tokyo who were restricted from traveling outside the city under the declared state of emergency used this place to enjoy the resort atmosphere in a nearby area.

I liked the hotel and used it many times during my stay.

It is inconvenient that there are not many restaurants or convenience stores around the hotel, but the main diner has a bakery where you can get good coffee and bread.

The Harajuku area is about a 15-20 minute walk from the hotel. There are some nice stores along the way so you can enjoy your stay.

FYI
Stay near by Harajuku, enjoy Japanese local cafe
https://f-o-i-a.blogspot.com/2021/05/suggest-after-pandemic-stay-near-by.html

Mitsui Garden Hotel Jingu-Gaien Tokyo Premier
1-3 Kasumigaokamachi, Shinjuku City, Tokyo 〒160-0013
https://www.gardenhotels.co.jp/jingugaientokyo-premier/
MAP: https://goo.gl/maps/4ZSQGdnG4uiw9dtv9

sequence MIYASHITA PARK

sequence MIYASHITA PARK is a hotel adjacent to Miyashita Park, which reopened as a commercial complex in August 2020.

It is classified as upper class in the subscription plan.

The rooms are decorated in a simple, lean, and sophisticated style.

The large window overlooks the city of Shibuya, and it's a great place to spend the night while looking out at the city lights.

I liked the hotel and used it many times during my stay.

Please note that there is no bathtub in the bath.

Also, since there is no laundry or microwave service, it is not suitable for long-term stays, but rather for compact stays such as spending the weekend in Shibuya.

sequence MIYASHITA PARK
6 Chome−20-10 MIYASHITA PARK North, Jingumae, Shibuya City, Tokyo 〒150-0001

https://www.sequencehotels.com/miyashita-park/
MAP: https://g.page/sequence-miyashitapark?share

Mitsui Garden Hotel Shiodome Italia-gai

Between Shinbashi Station and Hamamatsucho Station, the business district, there is Italy Street, which was created through friendly relations with Italy.

Mitsui Garden Hotel Shiodome Italia-gai is a business hotel located in the Italian Street, not for sightseeing, but you can enjoy Italian performances and Italian style cafes and restaurants around the hotel, which makes you feel a little extraordinary.

It is a bit far from the station.

Mitsui Garden Hotel Shiodome Italia-gai
2 Chome-14-24 Higashishinbashi, Minato City, Tokyo 〒105-0021
https://www.gardenhotels.co.jp/shiodome-italiagai/
MAP: https://goo.gl/maps/goZCDK3hUQu9jBYW6

Mitsui Garden Hotel Gotanda

The Mitsui Garden Hotel Gotanda is located in the middle of a neighborhood of offices and eatery.

The hotel has a coin-operated laundry and is surrounded by many restaurants that target business people, making it ideal for business travelers.

Mitsui Garden Hotel Gotanda
2 Chome-2-6 Higashigotanda, Shinagawa City, Tokyo 〒141-0022
https://www.gardenhotels.co.jp/gotanda/
MAP: https://goo.gl/maps/f8oDd9r6WyCMLn4T8

Mitsui Garden Hotel Nihonbashi Premier

Mitsui Garden Hotel Nihonbashi Premier is located in Nihonbashi area that was once the starting point of the Tokaido Highroad the highroad connecting Tokyo and Kyoto has long been a prosperous commercial district, with a concentration of financial and department stores.

It is classified as upper class in the subscription plan.

The interior design is based on black and purple, creating a rich atmosphere, and from the windows you can enjoy the view of Nihonbashi, including the large commercial facilities of the Mitsui Zaibatsu.

Mitsui Garden Hotel Nihonbashi Premier
3 Chome-4-4 Nihonbashimuromachi, Chuo City, Tokyo 〒103-0022
https://www.gardenhotels.co.jp/nihonbashi-premier/
MAP: https://goo.gl/maps/iEosNxZGcacMVhg47

Mitsui Garden Hotel Otemachi

The Mitsui Garden Hotel Otemachi is located between the Marunouchi/Otemachi area, one of Tokyo's major business districts, and Kanda, the entertainment district for business person and employee.

There are many restaurants in the neighborhood, but few are open on weekends and holidays because most of them target the business person and employee who work in the area.

The hotel has a coin-operated laundry and is suitable for extended stays on business days.

Mitsui Garden Hotel Otemachi
2 Chome-1-2 Uchikanda, Chiyoda City, Tokyo 〒101-0047
https://www.gardenhotels.co.jp/otemachi/
MAP: https://goo.gl/maps/e53zdjeFnAEqrB5w7

Mitsui Garden Hotel Kyobashi

The Mitsui Garden Hotel Kyobashi is located in Kyobashi, an old business district near Tokyo Station, which used to be a highroad connecting Tokyo and Kyoto.

The interior design is a fusion of the retro atmosphere of Edo and the modern atmosphere of Tokyo.

The hotel is convenient to transportation and targets business travel use.

Mitsui Garden Hotel Kyobashi
1 Chome-3-6 Kyobashi, Chuo City, Tokyo 〒104-0031
http://www.gardenhotels.co.jp/kyobashi/
MAP: https://goo.gl/maps/vkc3veaHvPxzBgyr9

Mitsui Garden Hotel Roppongi Tokyo Premier

The Mitsui Garden Hotel Roppongi Tokyo Premier is located in the Roppongi area, one of Tokyo's most popular nightlife districts.

The Roppongi area was home to many samurai residences and daimyo residences during the Edo period, and during World War II, there were many military facilities in the area.

After the military facilities were burned down in World War II, the area was seized by the Allied Forces and developed into a downtown area for foreigners.

Today, Roppongi has many restaurants, museums and other cultural facilities, and business offices.

It's also a gangster town (but it's in Japan, so as long as you stay there normally you're safe)

The interior of the hotel has the atmosphere of a nightclub, suitable for adults who enjoy business and nightlife.

Mitsui Garden Hotel Roppongi Tokyo Premier
3 Chome-15-17 Roppongi, Minato City, Tokyo 〒106-0032
https://www.gardenhotels.co.jp/roppongi-premier/
MAP: https://goo.gl/maps/T1NWFhyRqEjgTbAo8

General Comments on Mitsui Garden Hotels.

Mitsui Garden Hotels is not a luxury hotel, but a casual city hotel for business travelers and guests who are looking for a short stay in the city.

The cost is reasonable, the size is compact, the interiors are kept clean, but services such as room service and porterage are omitted.

Upper class hotels are designed with landscaping and views from the windows, and are suitable for leisure stays.

Normal-class hotels have easy access to business areas, are equipped with coin-operated laundry facilities, and are suitable for long-term stays on business trips.

Other than Mitsui Garden Hotels, my favorite hotels in Tokyo.

I often used hotels in Tokyo to relax before and after my subscription plan at Mitsui Garden Hotels.

Here are some of my favorite casual hotels that are compact and reasonably priced, just like Mitsui Garden Hotels.

THE KNOT TOKYO Shinjuku

THE KNOT TOKYO Shinjuku is a hotel located in the Nishi-Shinjuku area where the Tokyo Metropolitan Government is located.

It is about a 15-minute walk away from Shinjuku Station and is located in a quiet environment near Shinjuku Central Park.

With a spacious lounge, bakery and main diner, many people come here for food and drink.

It is a place where you can spend a quiet and relaxing time despite being in the middle of the city.

THE KNOT TOKYO Shinjuku

4 Chome-31-1 Nishishinjuku, Shinjuku City, Tokyo 〒160-0023
https://hotel-the-knot.jp/tokyoshinjuku/
MAP: https://goo.gl/maps/78eiUAUaCJacpJR1A

NOHGA HOTEL AKIHABARA TOKYO

NOHGA HOTEL AKIHABARA TOKYO is a hotel located in Akihabara, a traditional electric town and the center of Otaku culture.

It is not a large hotel, but the interior is modern and clean, and the largest deluxe twin room has good quality compact audio equipment.

The main diner is a casual Italian restaurant with room service available.

Most of the restaurants in the area are high calorie and high volume, which is characteristic of the Akihabara area.

NOHGA HOTEL AKIHABARA TOKYO
3 Chome-10-11 Sotokanda, Chiyoda City, Tokyo 〒101-0021
https://nohgahotel.com/akihabara/
MAP: https://g.page/NohgaHotel-Akihabara?share

Asakusa Kokono Club Hotel

The Asakusa area has long been a center of popular worship, and the tourism industry has developed around shrines and temples.

Asakusa Kokono Club Hotel is not a large hotel, but it is compact and clean enough for a few days stay.

On the second floor, there is a theater where theatrical performances are held.

There is a casual café on the first floor, and room service is also available in the afternoon and evening.

Asakusa Kokono Club Hotel
2 Chome-16-2 Asakusa, Taito City, Tokyo 〒111-0032
https://asakusakokonoclub.com/eng/
MAP: https://g.page/asakusakokonoclub?share

The importance of spatial and temporal margins in our lives.

Creating space and time in your life is very important for stress-free and creative life.

Through living in a hotel, I was able to realize things that I had been unaware because I had become accustomed to living in a home that required only minimal functionality and space.

I want to thank hotel life for giving me with important inspiration.

Find a comfortable margin for yourself in the city.

I would move to a bigger house right now if I could, but it's hard to make that happen right away, so I'd like to find a comfortable margin in the city.

Now that I've realized the importance of margins, I can more clearly explore the margins that are comfortable for me.

I want to go out into the city and look for it.

Thanks for reading.
June 20, 2021, written by Masa - Focus on the interaction.