Last summer, we heard about what sounded like the perfect place for lovers of travel and literature: a hotel in Tokyo designed like a bookstore and filled with reading material. It might sound like a fictitious flight of fancy, but Book and Bed Tokyo is very much real, and with its grand opening just days away, not only have pictures have surfaced of the unique accommodations, we now know how much it will cost to stay there and a little more about what kind of books it will have.
Book and Bed Tokyo is set to be a stylish, cultured alternative to ordinary hostels or capsule hotels. Located on the seventh floor of a high-rise in Tokyo’s Ikebukuro neighborhood, the Book and Bed’s communal central area looks, at first glance, like a trendy bookshop, with bookshelves lining one end of the room and sofas with comfy cushions the other.
But those ladders aren’t just to help readers grab tomes from the top shelves, but also to help guests crawl into the 12 single-occupant “Book Shelf” sleeping compartments.
Two sizes of compartment are available. The Compact measures 205 x 85 centimeters (80.7 x 33.5 inches), and the roomier Standard is 205 x 129 centimeters.
The property also has 18 Bunk sleeping spaces, which are a bit closer to what you’d find in a typical Japanese capsule hotel.
Book and Bed Tokyo is hoping to attract not only domestic travelers, but also visitors from overseas. To that end, you’ll find both Japanese and English-language reading material among the 1,700 books on the shelves at the time of opening, which will include travel guides for Japan. By the way, while you can read any of the books you like, they’re not actually for sale.
The company hopes to eventually expand its library to 3,000 books, and just in case your speed reading skills are so developed you think you’ll burn through them all during your stay, there’s free Wi-Fi too.
▼ The front/cloak room reception desk
The hostel also has shower and bathroom facilities, although we’re not sure we’d want to use them right after reading a horror novel.
Rates run from about 3,800 to 6,000 yen (US$32 to $50). That may not make Book and Bed the absolute cheapest place to spend the night in Tokyo, but given its great location (just a few blocks from Ikebukuro Station), you’re not likely to find a much more attractive mix of convenience, affordability, and style in Japan’s capital.
Book and Bed opens November 5, and reservations can be made online here.
Hotel information
Book and Bed Tokyo
Address: Tokyo-to, Toshima-ku, Nishi Ikebukuro 1-17-7, Rumieru Building 7th floor
東京都豊島区西池袋1-17-7 ルミエールビル7階
Website
Source: IT Media
images: Book and Bed Tokyo
We bunk up in “bookstore hotel” Book and Bed Tokyo on opening night
Sleep in a bookshelf at the new bookstore-themed hostel in Kyoto
Sleep in a Japanese rail carriage at new train hostel in Tokyo【Pics】
This retro-cool Japanese sleeper train is now a super-cheap hostel right in downtown Tokyo
We book a night in a bookshelf at Book and Bed in Shinjuku
Even at twice regular Daiso price, this handy item is still great for summer travel in Japan
Ghibli’s No Face continues to demonstrate his generous character growth by dispensing soy sauce
Tokyo’s Pokémon Cafe reopens this month with brand-new sweets and Pikachu show
Osaka is hosting a “hentai” event, but it’s probably not what you think
Japanese convenience store shows us how to dress for the rainy season
A Japanese toast sandwich remix: The toasted rice rice ball[SoraKitchen]
Uniqlo reveals third round of massive 100-year-anniversary manga T-shirts for Jump’s Shueisha
Japanese high school closes its cafeteria, replaces it with a 7-Eleven convenience store
Lawson opens a new mini supermarket, and the lucky bags can essentially stock your kitchen
Starbucks Japan unveils new Frappuccino showcasing “mottainai” culture
New official Ghibli anime food cookbook will teach you how to make Ponyo’s ramen and more
Kyoto public junior high school becomes first in Japan with a hoodie school uniform
What’s up with the Ghibli Park photo and video ban?
What’s it like to join Tokyo’s walking-and-talking-with-strangers club for a day?
Krispy Kreme releases a new Doughwich… at only one store in Japan
Tokyo’s life-size Gundam anime mecha statue will be removed this summer
Ichiraku Ramen-inspired ramen sets from Naruto anime pay homage to Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura
Kanji ice cream becomes a sell-out hit in Japan
Japan now has gyoza doughnuts, and they taste like no other doughnut we’ve tried before
Japanese convenience store Lawson launches new “mini supermarket” chain, L Minimart
Japan’s real-world Pokémon hot spring’s first photos are here![Photos]
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
Japan reportedly adding Japanese language skill requirement to most common foreigner work visa
Japan’s 5.3 million beautiful Hitachi Nemophila flowers are now in full bloom[Photos]
Pokémon and Ikea Japan cross over into each other’s worlds with collaboration events
Grids Tokyo: Cheap hotel + hostel near Ueno Station is a convenient, stylish place to stay
1 Night 1980 Hostel Tokyo offers cheap accommodation for US$14 a night but is it any good?
Tokyo Central Youth Hostel: Low prices, great location, and especially great for morning people
Four of the best Tokyo budget hotels we stayed in this year
Tsutaya Book Apartment: Stay overnight at new 24-hour bookstore in Tokyo
Manga Art Hotel Tokyo: What it’s like to spend a night surrounded by 5,000 Japanese manga
Tokyo’s famous capsule apartments now take month-long reservations from foreign travelers
Free alcohol and curry make this cheap capsule hotel near Shinjuku Station a great place to stay
Private open-air bath is the crowning gem at this Japanese-style hotel in Tokyo
Shibuya capsule hotel comes with free beers, unusual beds and unique soundless wake-up system
What it’s like to spend the night in a Pokémon hotel room
There’s a Kingdom Hearts hotel room with a functioning Keyblade coming to Tokyo Disneyland【Pics】
Extreme budget travel! Can you do a quick trip to Angkor Wat with 50,000 yen (US$334)? – Part 1
We retreat for a day of rejuvenation at Green Hill Yatsugatake recreation facility in Yamanashi
Extreme budget travel! Can you do a quick trip to Angkor Wat with 50,000 yen (US$334)? – Part 2