DESIGN
cypress wooden staircase leads to the loft bed , with built-ins that double as storage space , and the floor is lined with traditional tatami mats , says Ryoko Isokawa , Omo5 ’ s GM .
“ The Yagura room has a distinct ‘ secret hideout ’ feeling ,” Isokawa says .
The rooms may be small , but the bathrooms in both hotels are a Japanese version of full-sized bathrooms , Hiuke says . “ A taller individual can still fully spread their legs out in the bathtub — rare for a Japanese business hotel of a similar price range ,” he says . The shower and bathtub are separate , and all rooms come with the usual toiletries . Room wear can be rented , and lobby vending machines sell extra amenities such as bath salts , coffee and tea .
Small rooms maximize their limited space .
LOCAL FOCUS The Omo brand hopes visitors see it as a way to discover the non-touristy parts of different Japanese cities , Hoshino says . While the growth focus is just Japan at the moment , he says there are no barriers to expanding farther , declining to share details of other pending openings . The plan is that Hoshino Resorts will operate rather than own .
By setting the hotels away from traditional hotspots , but still accessible to major tourist destinations , Omo can keep prices down . Rooms start at 7,000 yen ( US $ 64 ) nightly in Tokyo and 5,000 yen ( US $ 47 ) in Hokkaido , significantly cheaper than in tourist magnet areas . Omo ’ s prices are competitive with the barebones local business hotels in the area , but Hoshino hopes to lure the cost-conscious tourists who stay at those places with the idea that Omo ’ s staff is letting them in on authentic Japan , Hoshino says .
But cheap doesn ’ t equal boring , as Omo sought places with unique local culture . The Asahikawa Omo is near the popular Asahikawa Zoo , and the city has a reputation for its natural beauty . Its local food culture is also renowned , like jingisukan , a grilled mutton dish prepared on a convex metal skillet or other type of grill , Hiuke says .
And Otsuka , only a 10-minute train ride from the hot Shinjuku neighborhood , has a different vibe , Isokawa says , that might not be discovered without the staff pointing out what ’ s cool .
“ Otsuka has a ‘ retro-Tokyo ’ feel that is hard to find in the more popular tourist areas , with classic trolley streetcars passing through town and many charming hole-in-the-wall restaurants ,” she says .
Guest room walls keep amenities organized .
Bathrooms are compact at Omo5
The Danran single room at Omo7 has the smallest footprint : about 190 square feet , or 18 square meters .
44 hotelsmag . com September 2018