The timing of a recent trip to Kyoto for a stint of work and an overnight stay at new, capsule hotel “The Millennials” seems apt. Tokyo had recently launched its “Jisa Biz” campaign - a well meaning but very much up against it effort to create a bit of space on the trains into central Tokyo of a morning. Heading into the capital to catch a Kyoto bound Shinkansen that morning, the infamous Tozai Line seemed to be creaking under the usual strain of too many humans trying to get to the office at the same time.  

The contrast between the morning’s early rush into and the environment in which these very words were typed couldn’t have been starker. Here I am, or was.

Above is the lounge / kitchen / social area of “The Millennials” a new concept in overnighting on the fairly cheap and a place where work, play, being social, taking a nap and even free beer blend seamlessly. It is basically everything that my morning commute into central Tokyo is not - tasteful, progressive, without fuss, comfortable and emphatically a place where I would prefer to conduct my working life.  

At the time of writing a few of us pitter pattered away on our laptops in an organic looking work space, bums sat comfortably atop trendy stools, inviting sofas and chairs. Solange was playing on the sound system and somewhere below, the other side of the near floor-to-ceiling windows, Kawaramachi-Dori busied itself for another Kyoto evening. Here at “The Millennials” the lines between work and play are blurred (or maybe it was the free beer - you pour it yourself).

But this is OK, the idea of work and life, life and work having to be divided as if two entities constantly at each other’s throats is one that The Millennials attempts to dispel. Here work and play exist in the same space. Makes sense really, for most of us, one can’t exist without the other so why not try and make the best of both? Anyway, as the facility’s catchphrase reads - “Work, Nap, Work, Beer!”.

The Millennials has been chosen as a name with real purpose, rather than some misplaced usage of English. It’s the generation of the same name that is the key driver of such combinations and themes that are on display here - tech-savvy but minimal, comfort without the excess, and access without need for ownership. In regards to the latter, we could simply call this ‘sharing’.

(Shared work space at The Millennials, Kyoto)

In the opening blurb of this piece I called The Millennials a "capsule hotel". Maybe that was to do it a disservice. The capsule hotel, although undergoing something of a reformation in Japan, still tends to conjure images of knackered and boozed up salaryman types scraping the barrel in their choice of accommodation. No, the capsules at The Millennials are in fact ‘smart pods’ - high enough to stand tall in, wide enough to spread out in, and with beds that rival hotel comfort. The tech is in place, too. Pods are at the mercy of the touch of an iPod - lighting, fan, wake up alarms (no sound - the bed inclines) - all very Millennial. The iPod also works as a security key to access the floor of your smart pod. Each pod comes with amenity kit bag and guests can pick up room wear (custom made for The Millennials and very tasteful) at reception.

("Smart pod at Kyoto hotel The Millennials)

You don’t have to be pulling an overnighter to enjoy the space here. Anyone (even non Millennial) can drop in and use the workspace, kitchen and lounge. The coffee pours forth all day and that bit about the free beer wasn’t a joke, 17:30 - 18:30 is a ‘happy hour’ of sorts at The Millennials! And this is half point of the place - to bring people together from all stripes, over work and play.

The Millennials opened its doors last month.  You'll find it on Kawaramachi-Dori about halfway between Kawaramachi and Kyoto Shiyakusho-mae stations. We accessed from Kyoto Station taking the Kyoto City Subway Karasuma Line and then the Hankyu Kyoto Line to Kawaramachi station from which it was within a 5-minute walk. From Kyoto Station it didn’t take more than 20 mins.

There are some 150 pods at The Millennials in Kyoto. Pods on female / male only floors are available as are those on all-gender floors. Showers / toilets on each floor.  The communal / work spaces at The Millennials are open 24 hrs, 365 days a year.

See the full aritcle at www.city-cost.com