This time around, we’re staying in a Muji Hotel in Tokyo.
Muji started as a simple brand. According to my friend, Mujirushi means “no brand”. It initially started as a way to offer products to customers at affordable prices.
Over the years, the “no brand” brand became just that. A brand. And now there’s Muji everything – clothes, food, body care, household supplies.
And now – a hotel.
The hotel still maintains the minimal look that Muji has always been known for. A neutral brown with its eye catching red accent.
The keycard to enter the rooms is simply a beautifully smooth rectangle of wood.
Maybe because the Muji store and café are part of the whole operation but it has a very commercial feel to it.
Even thought it’s a fun hotel, with comfy beds and in a great location, it feels a little dystopian at times.
Breakfast is a mix of freshly prepared rice, fish, salads, simmered burdock root – and curries and soups squeezed from pouches that Muji sells in its store.
I ask one of the servers this morning what kind of curry was being served.
“Chicken and butter curry,” he replies.
“Oh – butter chicken,” I say.
He nods and says, “Yes! It’s Muji butter chicken curry. We sell it downstairs.”
If you’re planning on ever staying here, be aware that the cleaning service is different from what you may be used to at other hotels.
The hotel provides three different cleaning services.
- Standard – everything is cleaned and all linens and towels are replaced.
- ECO – the bed is not made but the towels and all supplies are replaced.
- No cleaning – the room is left as it is
Standard is standard in most hotels.
But how did ECO become change all towels and refresh supplies but don’t make the bed?
Isn’t changing the towels the exact opposite of ECO?
We haven’t figured out a way to indicate this to the housekeeping staff because these requests are done on a tablet that controls everything in the room – from lights and AC/ heating to – you guessed it, the type of cleaning service you prefer.
Today we went to the Museum of Contemporary Art.
What! A! Treat!
If you’re in Tokyo and are looking for a great way to avoid crowds, that’s the place to be.
We spent close to five hours there.
I’ll write about it in tomorrow’s post – and I promise not to overwhelm you.
Good night from Ginza!
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