Japan’s famous capsule hotel concept has been re-invented for the launch of The Millennials Shibuya, a new property with five floors of 120 high-tech multifunctional Smart Pods designed by creative outfit Tosaken.
With a new concept based on “Living in the future”, The Millennials re-imagines the capsule hotel concept through high-tech facilities and technology and social spaces to bring a formerly utilitarian concept into the realm of semi-luxury.
With over 120 multi-functional Smart-Pod units spread over five floors of prime Shibuya real-estate, The Millennials provides guests with full control of their personal unit through the integrated iPod touch provided at check-in. These controls correspond to several unique functions, including an alarm system based on bed movement and optional projectors that make use of each unit’s built-in privacy screens. Additionally, the 3rd and 4th-floor lobby doubles as a spacious coworking space for local entrepreneurs, with full office amenities, banquet & event space, and a lively “Happy Hour” with endless free beer.
The central focus of guests’ experience of The Millennials is its high-tech Smart-Pods, controlled by an in-house app that centralizes all the functions of each guest’s sleeping arrangements. With this intuitive tool, guests can adjust lighting, air-flow, and even the incline of their mattress easily. Of particular note is the unique, soundless alarm system slowly raises guests to a seated position along with steadily brighter lights, enabling guests to wake up bright and early without disturbing their neighbors.
For pods equipped with projectors, guests can connect their personal devices to watch any of their favorite programmings in their own private theater. Each unit comes with under bed storage for luggage and can be locked for those staying consecutive nights. Every floor also includes completely private individual shower booths for guests and free Wi-Fi throughout.
The 4th-floor lobby of the complex doubles as a stylish lounge specially designed for guests to interact with each other, and a common kitchen to cook simple meals during their stay. The 3rd floor offers a large and colorful coworking space that can also be used for banquet and events. With an open-concept design, this area focuses on encouraging interaction between travelers and local entrepreneurs. All users of this community space have free access to unlimited coffee, and a daily happy hour provides free draft beer every day from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
The Millennials is the latest hotel from Japanese developer Global Agents, whose CEO Takeshi Yamasaki notes that “our goal with The Millennials is to go beyond what people have come to expect from this type of hotel, and create a new option for today’s customer who wants both affordability and style.”
Global Agents have seen great success in the Tokyo market with their Social Apartment brand of co-living arrangements and plan to open several new lifestyle hotels across Japan this year, and much more to come in 2019.
