午夜剧场

In December 2021, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, we opened "BOOK HOTEL Jimbocho" in Jimbocho, the town of books. Having previously operated a concept hotel themed around manga, we were blessed with connections to publishers when we opened this hotel. Since then, we have continued various attempts to provide attractive services related to books that go beyond mere reading. In this context, I would like to write about the pleasure of savoring books at a hotel.

When considering the appeal of physical books that digital ones lack, I believe everyone feels the physicality of them—the design of the binding, the scent and texture of the paper, and the sound and tactile sensation of turning the pages. Among these, one thing I find particularly attractive is the bookbinding. As I myself increasingly use digital devices for reading for convenience, touching books of various sizes, materials, and high design quality once again makes me fascinated by their beauty. At the same time, it makes me realize how much information is excluded when books are consumed through a display. At BOOK HOTEL Jimbocho, we use this design quality as a keyword and display books so that they can be enjoyed visually as well.

From the perspective of a hotel, another attraction is that the stay-over nature of the experience allows for a deeper relationship between individuals and books. Based on the concept of "A hotel where you find 'your book'," our book-loving staff gathers only books they can recommend, adding comments explaining why they recommend each one. We also offer a "Book Matching Service" where we provide recommended books with a personalized note based on a questionnaire answered by guests in advance after booking.

Because a hotel is a place where one must spend a long period of time and can escape the hustle and bustle of daily life, we aim to use that environment to help guests encounter books that resonate with them and allow them to immerse themselves in the world of books in silence.

Furthermore, due to the nature of a hotel, I have felt since the opening that the relationships with the staff—whom guests inevitably interact with—and with other book-loving guests who visit for the same purpose can also be an attraction. Focusing on these relationships, one year after opening, we established the "BOOK Bar" where guests can interact with book-loving staff and other guests. We have also developed services such as "BOOK Pairing," which provides drinks that match books; "Buku-tomo.", an online community service to connect book lovers; "BOOK Kon," a marriage agency service aimed at creating connections for marriage between book lovers; and other book-themed board games and mystery-solving experiences that book lovers can enjoy together.

By developing these services, we aim to gradually create a place where staff (those who applied not just as typical hotel staff, but because they love books and want to work in a book-related field) and customers, as well as customers themselves, can form new relationships and share the appeal of books. Among those who actually use the hotel, there are some who have stayed dozens of times despite living within commuting distance, and others who actively interact on the community. I feel great joy in seeing that they are enjoying book-related experiences from all angles, not just reading.

And when considering enjoying books at a hotel, the location of Jimbocho is an indispensable and attractive element. There are various book-related shops and companies around the hotel, including specialty stores for history and children's books, book cafes, and even bookstores specializing in fortune-telling, architecture, theater, and magazines. As is widely known, there are many second-hand bookstores scattered around, and I believe guests can enjoy the value of books as physical objects both before and after their hotel stay. Aiming to further enhance these relationships with the town, we are currently planning book-related projects set in the streets of Jimbocho.

Since opening BOOK HOTEL Jimbocho, I have been thinking about the relationships between books and their surrounding elements, not just the act of reading. In today's world where digitalization is progressing, and especially now after the COVID-19 pandemic, I feel that value even more strongly. At the same time, I feel there is still room to dig deeper into that appeal and sublimate it into something valuable at BOOK HOTEL Jimbocho, and that is the direction we should aim for.