Imagine checking into a hotel where all you need is your Opal, Myki or go card? While this might sound fanciful in Australia, it’s already happening in Japan.
From the country that brought you robot-monitored hotels, comes the property that allows you to check in and check out using nothing but your local train card – in this case the Suica card.
For anyone looking for a convenient stay and who has an ‘IC’ card – the most widely used train card in Japan – this hotel could be the perfect place to enjoy some rest.
A stay at the Hotel B4T Iwaki, which is located above the JR Iwaki Station in Fukushima Prefecture, couldn’t be easier. Reserve a room (entering your IC card info), touch your card or mobile Suica at a check-in kiosk, and then use the card to access the lift and room. Too easy.
Like in a lot of hotels in Japan, most of the rooms at Hotel B4T Iwaki aren’t massive. But even the lead-in ‘Cabin’ category, which is divided into male and female areas, offers more space than the country’s famed capsule hotels.
Beyond that, there are small Single rooms, Twin rooms, larger Deluxe Twin rooms and the Universal Twin room.
They’re also pretty stylish, albeit simple, in design (as evidenced by the images in this article).
Opened in January, the unmanned property features cheap Japanese or western-style breakfasts (1200 yen, or around $13) at ‘H’s Kitchen Mahaloa’, complimentary wifi, microwaves, coin laundry, free lockers/luggage storage and vending machines (of course, this is Japan). There’s also a stated commitment to safety and cleanliness (again, this is Japan).
And while this isn’t a hotel where you would expect the most personal service, the property does offer its B4T “Omotenashi” style service, which allows guests to contact staff at any time using an online chat and video call service available 24 hours a day (although this isn’t available for Cabin rooms).
How much will I pay?
Per night, Cabin rooms currently go for 3,300 yen (around $36), Single rooms 5,800 yen ($63), Twin rooms 13,300 yen ($144) and the Deluxe Twin 16,300 yen ($177). A Universal (accessible) Twin room costs 14,300 yen ($155).
Elsewhere, Hotel B4T Akabane and Hotel B4T Tabata are both due to open later this year.
With travel to Japan booming, Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) staged its first-ever Japan Travel Fair last week.
Late last year, JNTO also arranged five separate travel advisor famils to Japan.
