BnA Hotel Koenji
"How did it strike you on arrival?In a city with actual robot hotels, an “art hotel” might seem blasé. But BnA Hotel (which stands for the Bed & Art Project) has a mission beyond hogging a permanent collection. As Tokyo's real estate costs verge on stratospheric, small art galleries feel the pressure—BnA’s concept is dual-purpose, creating a space for traveling art-lovers to sleep while supporting the hotel’s rotating art exhibitions from local artists. Nice. What’s the crowd like?With only two hotel rooms, the bulk of the crowd won't be fellow guests, but rather hip locals and travelers at the bar or browsing the gallery. The good stuff: Tell us about your room.Both rooms are pieces of art themselves. With two double beds, Art Room 2 was a blank canvas for artist Ryuichi Ogino. His design, a zigzag of black and white stripes, runs across the walls, bedspreads, floors, and pillows—and radiate from the overhead neon light in concentric circles. You've booked yourself a piece of art, and now you're sleeping in it. We’re craving some deep, restorative sleep. They got us?It's a cozy piece of art. Really. Staff: If you could award one a trophy, who gets it, and why?It's a convenient thing, having a room just above a bar—especially when the bartender is as friendly and conversational as this one. Anything stand out about other services and features? Whether it’s childcare, gyms, spas, even parking—whatever stuck with you.While there are only two rooms at the moment, owners plan to branch out into the neighborhood by opening Airbnb-style bookings designed by local artists that allow travelers to mingle with the community. For now, at least, it helps that its default flagship is located in Koenji, a buzzy young neighborhood full of creative boutiques (think secondhand shops, record stores, and hipster bars). Bottom line: worth it, and why?Hoping to make an investment in local art communities around the world? Go ahead and sleep on it." - Keith Flanagan
