A Different Stay in Japan

 

Being it for business or pleasure, Japan is and remains the darling of international travellers. Being it for business or pleasure, the choice of the hotel one is staying in has a huge impact.

Wanting to stay away from a more common experience, or needing a bit more space, MIMARU is a brand that should catch the attention of seasoned travellers that value a more personal touch while enjoying the comfort of a sophisticated space. MIMARU is an apartment-hotel brand with two series—MIMARU and MIMARU SUITES. While the SUITES series offers exclusively suite-type layouts, both series provide spacious apartment-style accommodations across Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka, with 27 properties on their roster.

The Experience
When booking a hotel room, one would not just pick four walls, but a heart and soul that embodies the brand. Aimed at two distinct groups of travellers, MIMARU offers a variety of apartment layouts—from studio-type units to one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments—comfortably accommodating groups of four or more. Thus, the first group are travellers that require a base for a prolonged period of time. Once settled in, MIMARU anchors guests nicely, as will be explained in a moment. The other type of travellers are families or groups of friends that would prefer to have an apartment-style hotel, accommodating up to 10 persons, rather than splitting up into separate rooms.

With staff from all over the world, speaking some 40 languages, there is surely an immediate connection one can make upon check-in. Many hotels claim to be a home away from home. However, very seldom does the level of familiarity reach the state where one will claim to be going home when referring to the hotel. MIMARU is different.

MIMARU is truly different in many ways as travellers will experience when making use of the facilities. While the property described here is their Tokyo Nihimbashi property, one is to expect the same when opting for any of their other apartments.

The Lobby that Ain’t
No matter where, checking into a hotel almost always means that the lobby is the first intense point of contact with the hotel of choice. In the MIMARU the lobby is not just a lobby. It is a gathering space, a social area and a second living space. Minimalist, functional and thoughtful decorated, the space around the check-in counter serves as a nook where one can retreat to read a book. It is also a café. With the idea of it being a social place in mind, MIMARU has rented out the space to an independent F&B operator.

It is here where the guests come together in activities that the hotel staff are curating. A nightly Sake-tasting not only educates but also bonds with others that may have the same passion for the Japanese rice wine. Kids are being entertained with activities that are both educational and fun: mask painting and crafting Halloween decoration were the theme during this stay.

The absolute stand-out during this visit was the tableware, crockery and tools on “display”. As this display is not just a display, it could well be the most though-through aspect of staying in any apartment hotel! Not only are these items samples from another nearby shop, but they are available for guests to be used in their apartments. When cooking in the kitchenette, these items become Instagrammers delights as well as allowing the chef to spruce up the dishes with varying plates, cups and accessories. Combining it, one can take the Sake from the sampling to the room, complete with a set of sake cups.

Room to Unwind
The MIMARU properties are designed to allow guests to unwind, to have a home away from home. Thus, there is no workstation in the apartment. Guests are meant to leave the work behind in the office. One will immediately appreciate the minimalist, functional style of the rooms though. A living room with kitchenette are part of all the MIMARU apartments. Serving as a hub, from there the other rooms can be accessed.

Plenty of storage space, closets and shelving supports the idea of either serving for long-term stays or groups of people settling in. With a full set of kitchen utensils (that can be supplemented from the aforementioned displays in the lobby), the comfort is immediate.

Stemming from the Onsen culture, bathtubs can be found in many hotels in Japan. MIMARU does not make an exception and dipping into the hot water after a long day on the road will be welcome before heading to the sofa or bed. Bedrooms may either feature en suite bathrooms in addition to common, shared ones. MIMARU has taken the art of minimalism to a different level, a reflection of Japanese culture in many ways: there is nothing unnecessary in the rooms, yet everything one needs is on hands. The zen this achieves extends into the bedrooms, which are havens of calm and unclutteredness. 

With the focus on families travelling, MIMARU has also in place an ingenious service that may be unique to them (at least the author has never heard of it being offered anywhere): parents may enjoy time to themselves with the kids being looked after in an in-house play pen, supervised by babysitters. Enjoying an evening out, watching a show or meeting friends in another city without having to look after filia or filius has never been made easier. 

Fully Immersed

The neighborhoods in which MIMARU properties are located in are carefully chosen to support the very idea of the hotels being a home. Within walking distance, there will be all of what is needed for extended stays. From local (and very yummy) ramen shops to supermarkets, Daiso and banks. On the weekend, it is not uncommon for roads to be closed for local activities, which MIMARU guests are naturally also invite to partake in.

It is a hallmark of the brand to find interesting buildings, such as office towers that MIMARU refurbishes to suit their needs. Connectivity is playing an important role in the selection of the locale with train stations always in easy reach of any MIMARU property. The MIMARU Tokyo Nihimbashi can be reached within a few moments walking from the Ningyocho station. Ningyocho station is one station along the Toei Asakusa Line, which allows direct access to both, Narita and Haneda, airports.

Dolls, Kabuki and Merchandise
The MIMARU mentioned here is located in an area that is known as Ningyocho, meaning "Doll Town," originated in the early Edo period as a major entertainment district in Tokyo, home to numerous kabuki theatres and puppet shows. It developed around these theatres and the artisans who made and repaired puppets, which is how it got its name. Despite later fires and the relocation of its theatres, the district preserved its traditional atmosphere through events like the move of Suitengu Shrine and the survival of WWII bombings, retaining elements of old Tokyo's charm.

On display in the MIMARU are several dolls that are on loan from a nearby shop that has been making and selling artisanal dolls for decades. Acting as a display case, the MIMARU features a number of them as talking points or suggestions for souvenirs. In particular the samurai helmet turned pen holder on the check in counter caught our attention.