Hakone Honbako, Japan’s Book Hotel
Each room in the hotel is furnished with a library and a small living room with its own selection of original titles.
© Hakone Honbako
Shelves lined with books cover the walls of Hakone Honbako hotel, located in the town of Hakone in the heart of the Fuji-Hakone-Izu national park. Here, relaxation and reading are at the top of the agenda. Open since spring 2018, Hakone Honkabo encourages visitors to disconnect from the world. Created by the company Ashikari, the establishment, nicknamed the ‘book hotel’, also houses a restaurant, a bookshop, a café, and a coworking space. Each room is furnished with a library and a small living room with its own selection of titles.
Books for sale
Around 12,000 books are spread across the floors of this unique space. All of them are for sale, offering an excellent excuse to take home a souvenir before the next visit. The establishment recalls the Tokyo-based chain of capsule hotels, Book and Bed, which also gives guests the opportunity to sleep among a multitude of books.
More information on the Hakone Honbako hotel on its website.
Address: 1320-491 Gora, Hakone, Ashigarashimo District, Kanagawa Prefecture 250-0408
© Hakone Honbako
© Hakone Honbako
© Hakone Honbako
© Hakone Honbako
© Hakone Honbako
TRENDING
-
The Tradition of the Black Eggs of Mount Hakone
In the volcanic valley of Owakudani, curious looking black eggs with beneficial properties are cooked in the sulphurous waters.
-
Gashadokuro, the Legend of the Starving Skeleton
This mythical creature, with a thirst for blood and revenge, has been a fearsome presence in Japanese popular culture for centuries.
-
The Tattoos that Marked the Criminals of the Edo Period
Traditional tattoos were strong signifiers; murderers had head tattoos, while theft might result in an arm tattoo.
-
Colour Photos of Yakuza Tattoos from the Meiji Period
19th-century photographs have captured the usually hidden tattoos that covered the bodies of the members of Japanese organised crime gangs.
-
‘YUGEN’ at Art Fair Tokyo: Illumination through Obscurity
In this exhibition curated by Tara Londi, eight international artists gave their rendition of the fundamental Japanese aesthetic concept.
