This 9-story Rakuragu hotel rises from an ultra-narrow site in the Nihonbashi district of Tokyo. If it’s nightlife you’re in search of, this hotel may not be right for you but if you’re looking for understated stylishness and rare outdoor space, this is a gem of a hotel. With just 14 rooms, its design prioritizes outdoor space through the arrangement of balconies that face different directions, capitalizing on the gaps between the neighboring buildings.
Kojima Shinya and Kojima Ayaka, of Tokyo and Shanghai-based studio Kooo Architects, have created this new urban hotel by taking the constraints of a tight space in the city center and turning them into a design opportunity.
Speaking about the rooms, “we have tried to create a layout and select materials that allow guests to fall asleep comfortably and wake up in the morning sun,” say the architects. Bathrooms also occupy a relatively large surface in each room. This layout, combined with the balconies, offer more space than what you would typically find in a Tokyo hotel room.
Some may consider the lack of a restaurant or cafe a downside. But the Rakuragu hotel is a literal 5-minute walk to Mitsukoshimae station on the Ginza line, making it perfect to explore everything Tokyo has to offer.
