Tokyo’s Trunk Hotel, a Solution to the Solitude of Business Hotels

Despite being a boutique hotel, a rare thing in Japan where business hotels rule, this establishment sees the bigger picture. Trunk Hotel, a small establishment with fifteen rooms, located in the Shibuya district in Tokyo, won the award for New Concept of the Year from AHEAD Hospitality in 2018, an event that rewards hotels that offer the best design and guest experience in Asia.

The building, designed by architects from Mount Fuji studio, is spread over four floors that house eleven bedrooms and four suites, two restaurants, a bar, a large terrace, a chapel on the roof, and even a little tuck shop area where guests can grab snacks if they get hungry or thirsty (including coconut popcorn and local beer).

A strong sense of environmental engagement

Despite the huge number of different spaces, the spirit is not one of overconsumption, but quite the opposite. A large part of the decoration for the bedrooms is made up of recycled or vintage objects, while on the coffee tables, guests will find dried fruit rather than chocolate bars and other sweets in individual packets.

The hotel not only attracts tourists, but also creatives from Tokyo, from the worlds of fashion, music, and art. It is serious about making an environmental and local commitment in order to build its reputation (it grows its own aromatic herbs and offers hojicha tea, amongst other varieties). It also capitalises on its social spaces, such as the bar and one of the restaurants (which serves meat skewers in the regional style), to retain its Japanese clientele and allow them to interact with the international guests.

According to the artistic director, ‘the concept behind the hotel is socialisation. If you stay here, you’ll find all sorts of different people, all of whom live in Tokyo.’ It’s a lovely way to feel like you belong in the city, even just for a night.

More information on Trunk Hotel can be found on its website.