TRASTA is opened the third branch of its Stay Hotel brand "Sutei" in Kiyomizu Gojo, Kyoto on March 20. This hotel is made to feel like you're actually living in Kyoto. There are three types of rooms to choose from: Standard Twin, Superior Twin and Japanese-Western. The two twin rooms each have two beds while the Japanese-Western room has a Western-style area with two beds and a Japanese-style area with futons. This offers guests a chance to experience the tradition of rolling out a futon to sleep and rolling it back up again to put away.

Standard Twin: From ¥20,000 (Tax & Service Charge Included. Accommodation Fees Separate)

The Standard Twin has two single beds which can be pushed together to make a double bed. The room is relaxing and compact while having everything you need.

Superior Twin: From ¥25,000 (Tax & Service Charge Included. Accommodation Fees Separate)

The Superior Twin also has two single beds. These rooms however enjoy plenty of bright natural light filtering through thanks to the large windows which also give the room a feeling of openness.

Japanese-Western (4 People Max): From ¥42,000 (Tax & Service Charge Included. Accommodation Fees Separate)

Japanese-Western is split into two areas: one with two single beds that can be pushed together and another with tatami flooring, a table and futons. Its larger capacity makes it the ideal choice for families and groups. The first thing guests will encounter at any Sutei hotel are their original indigo dye entryway sign curtains. Known as noren, these curtains are unique to Japan and not found in the US, Europe, or other countries around Asia. The curtains give a hospitable feeling upon entry. The more they are dyed, the deeper the colour becomes. The hotel hops that the curtains will leave a deep impression of staying in Japan to those visiting the hotel.   Sutei was established to give people an authentic Japanese experience to those travelling to and staying in Japan. But Japanese culture has strict social rules, so they also wanted to ensure it is comfortable and fun for guests too. Staying with Sutei gives guests an opportunity to get their fill of the country. The hotel is also situated in a favourable location within walking distance of many Kyoto tourist spots such as Kiyomizu-dera Temple, Sanjusangendo Temple, Kyoto National Museum, Gion, Shijo and more. Its interior design is also based on Japanese architecture and blends in with the natural environment. Amenities and other services are also prepared to give guests a taste of Japanese omotenashi, or "hospitality."

When I’m searching for a hotel for my travels, the cleanliness and beauty of the hotel is the most important to me. No matter how luxurious the hotel is, I always prefer something new with a business hotel vibe over something that looks old. Of course, the service and the size of the room are also important, but old sinks in bathrooms and areas that are difficult to clean are things I really don’t like.     Thankfully, a new hotel called an/other TOKYO which prioritises this level of cleanliness has recently opened just an 8-minute walk away from Tokyo station. It’s also within easy walking distance from Ginza. What a wonderful location! It’s a stylish hotel with carefully coordinated furniture and interior design.This is what it looks like from the outside. It even has an outdoor seating area. The hotel’s cafe called CAFÉ an/other sits on the first floor and is the perfect place to relax with a cup of coffee. The coffee here uses beans sourced from a popular coffee stand located in Naka-Meguro called “Sidewalk Stand”. You can enjoy the wide range of original light snacks which were made with the careful skill and precision of the chef. Climb the stairs and you will arrive at the reception. The reception includes a cutting-edge digital sign. This information board’s hidden secret is a stylish dice which decorates the counter! Please check it out!

Cabin

S-size compartment 

L-size compartment

The room options consist of individual "cabins" and individual rooms called “compartments”. The room size options are S, M and L. I know we aren’t ordering drinks here but I found this method of categorising room sizes easier to understand than the standard single, twin and double. "S" is, as the name implies, small. "M" is a comfortable size and "L" is spacious.    The cabins are cheap and the shower and toilet facilities are shared. Each room has a curtain to close for privacy. There is no way to lock your room and there are separate floors for men and women. If you’re looking for something cheap, I recommend the cabin rooms. If you want more privacy and security, then the compartment rooms are better for you.Each room is equipped with the essentials; shampoo, conditioner, body soap, pyjamas, air freshener, and Brew Tea Co. loose leaf tea. You can even turn up here spontaneously and the staff would be happy to instantly book you a room. They even have makeup removal products, face lotion and much more. The compartment rooms have large bathrooms which are perfect for your nighttime and morning body care routines.   The room may be simple but everything in the room is stylish from the warmth of the lamp to the BALMUDA the pot kettle. If you like fashionable furniture and appliances, you just have to check out this room from corner to corner!   I headed to the restaurant on the second floor called EAT an/other for dinner. The concept of this restaurant is a Japanese take on western-style food.There were so many things on the menu that made me feel nostalgic after my travels to Europe such as carpaccio ajillo and much more.I ordered salmon, aji-fry fish and steak. The fried fish was crispy and fresh and so delicious ♡ I ate my way quickly through the tender steak down to the perfect potatoes. One major highlight of the restaurant is its stylish and modern interior! This also uses HAY furniture and Tom Dixon lighting. No matter how you look at it, it’s all stylish…You can enjoy breakfast and dinner here and I highly recommend you eat here during your stay!Opening hours: Breakfast: 7 am ー 10:30 am.Lunch: 11:30 am ー 3 pmDinner: 5:30 pm ー 11 pm   You might think that a hotel this clean and in close proximity to a station would be expensive, but you can stay at a cabin for just ¥3,900 and treat yourself to a compartment room for ¥10,600 which I think is reasonable.   For those of you who want to enjoy the nightlife of Ginza, or are looking for a hotel with easy access to the rest of Tokyo, but also value a clean and stylish atmosphere, look no further than an/other TOKYO hotel! The hotel is currently celebrating its grand opening with the release of a special stay plan so please check out the website!   Writer：Sayuri Mizuno（ASOBISYSTEM）

BnA Alter Museum is a new art hotel set to open Kawaramachi-Takatsuji, Kyoto on May 17 that will showcase Japanese artwork to guests from across the globe. Its 31 rooms feature artwork from 16 up-and-coming artists, there is a gallery on the 10th floor, and more. The hotel hopes to serve as a hub to promote new culture from the Kansai region through unprecedented and experimental artwork.   Each and every room is its own unique art project. This is the third hotel that BnA has opened. The hotel chain has been picked up by over 250 media companies around the world including The Guardian and Conde Nast for its approach to compensate artists by giving them part of the revenue earned from guests.   The number of hotels using art and artwork is in the increase, but at BnA this isn't simply a painting on the wall. The entirety of each room is a whole art piece from the furniture to the materials used. 9 art directors are also on board with the project in addition to the 16 artists to ensure the hotel becomes an important player in Kansai's art scene. There will be a room in the hotel with a 24-hour video produced by Daito Manabe who has worked on Perfume's performances and is a key player in the upcoming Tokyo 2020 Olympics. There's also a room with interactive sounds and lights created by BOREDOMS vocalist Yamantaka EYヨ, and room that plays with water and produced by Tetsuya Umeda who has created various installations and art performances around the world, and more. Art directors include Noboru Tsubaki from Kyoto University of Art and Design, Ogaki Gaku of ASITANOSIKAKU, and more.   There will also be a bar called Untitled, a cafe, gallery and art shop, all of which can be used by non-guests. As you climb the stairs of the 10th floor gallery of the BnA Alter Museum you are met with a towering 6 meter tall art piece. Events will also be held at the hotel so that non-guests can enjoy the facility too.