As you may have heard, "Tokyo is Tokyo." Compared to any other large city in the world, Tokyo is full of diverse and extraordinary senses, cultures, and experiences. Located in the heart of a lively city, it is a thriving hub of cute, colorful spaces, content, and neat and colorful foods. With your ankles tied to your own country, did you not miss Tokyo the most? While on a trip to Tokyo, some people are in the process of moving to nearby areas. The reason for this is that if you leave the area near Tokyo, you will be able to access Japan's most precious treasure, the hot springs. An ideal schedule for awakening the senses in the city and relieving fatigue in the hot springs. However, time is limited. There is always insufficient travel time, regardless of whether you travel diligently from early morning to late at night. Doesn't my busy schedule make it impossible for me to experience all of the culture, traditional ryokan, and hot springs of Japanese cities? Is it possible to catch two rabbits at the same time? I would like to provide you with a welcome response. For those who dream of a perfect trip to Tokyo, there is a hotel in the middle of downtown Tokyo that will quench their thirst. Many business hotels offer modern ryokans with a rural atmosphere, as well as UN Shinjuku's onsen ryokan.
people
Enhancing the Quality of the City Experience
With its work on Muji Hotel Ginza, Muji Hotel China, Kanra Hotel Kyoto, and Hotel Anteroom, the Japanese design studio UDS seeks to enrich and enhance the city experience. Consequently, they plan, design, and operate the space. Among them is the Onsen Ryokan Yuen Shinjuku. No matter if it is a business or leisure accommodation, treating it solely as a sleeping place is considered a waste of experience and says that any city can provide an experience that is unique to that region. Visiting such a place can provide new insights into how we should live in the future. Their work can also provide an idea based on how we should live today. In addition to being unique, every village formed by gathering people has its own distinctive characteristics. Therefore, from the planning stage of the facility, local history and culture are woven into the project so that they are integrated into the actual buildings, interior, and architectural design, and daily operation, resulting in accommodations similar to living in a village experience. Even for a brief stay in such places, you can gain a deeper understanding of the local lifestyle, which results in a pleasant experience for the locals. They will provide local tours in order to ensure that guests take home a positive impression of the area, and the hotel staff will act as local guides and assist guests in experiencing the local culture. The UDS project is described as the kind of community space they wish to create.
ONSEN RYOKAN YUEN SHINJUKU
location
Is there a place where you should travel the most? In addition, it is the center of the travel destination, from which you can easily access various modes of transportation. Onsen Ryokan Hotel Shinjuku is located in the Central Tokyo area. There is no better place to be than Shinjuku, the heart of Tokyo. Additionally, it is located in Shinjuku's center. It takes 15 minutes on foot to reach JR Shinjuku Station and 7 minutes to reach Shinjuku Gyoenma Station from the hotel. As well as being close to many subway stations, Shinjuku Sanchome Station is only eight minute walk away from numerous subway stations. Since it is a hotel in Shinjuku, of course, it will be noisy. Despite being located in the middle of a busy city center, it is very quiet. You can buy everything you need right outside the hotel, whether it's late at night or early in the morning.
MAKING STORY
This project presents the experience of a traditional Japanese inn, "Ryokan," but in the middle of the city, while conveying the atmosphere and sentiment of a quiet ryokan in the countryside. Therefore, the restaurant, where you can enjoy leisurely meals, has been designed to look like a traditional Japanese house, and the front and room spaces face inside through the long outer hallway past the first entrance of the building, expressing the style of a traditional Japanese house, but looking modern, comfortable, and comfortable at the same time. It looks like a traditional house from the outside, but when you enter the main building, it looks like flowing water in a modern style. The combination of tradition and modernity is so pleasing to the eye. It was an enjoyable and challenging process to combine and weave ryokan with modernity. Bringing each advantage together in harmony was the key to success. Despite the fact that the ryokan has yoga without a bed, it does not provide the same level of comfort as traditional Japanese methods or beds. It should be noted, however, that as soon as a bed is made, it ceases to be ryokan style. It was only after considerable consideration that I selected the middle ground, the compromise method that I came up with. Ensure that the bed is as low as possible on the floor and that the cover gives the impression of a Japanese ryokan while providing guests with a comfortable sleeping arrangement.
As a result, they decided to reinterpret and edit the nature of Japanese inns. The name Yuen Shinjuku refers to the origins of Onsen Ryokan Yuen Shinjukuu. Ryokans are places where travelers can eat and rest and are an expression of Japan's "Omotenashi" hospitality culture. Through a strict and simple design with minimal beauty, Onsen Ryokan Yuen Shinjuku hoped to create a place that would foster a calm and comfortable atmosphere that would open up all five senses throughout the year. During your stay here, I hope that you will be able to fully experience the hot spring ryokan culture as a result of your efforts to study the true meaning and essence of the ryokan culture.
SPACE
Ryokans and hot springs are located on the top floor as the central theme
It is enjoyable to imagine a space to stay at a travel destination after completing your reservation and before reaching your accommodation. When they arrive there, there will be pictures to be taken. Such paintings are made entirely real at the Onsen Ryokan Yuen Shinjuku. The front and entrance are designed in the form of a Japanese-style garden and house, and the long outer corridor serves as a passage that gradually approaches the Japanese aesthetic. You will enter the hotel full of modernity after receiving the first hospitality provided by the Japanese design of the building. There is another space where you will not have to worry or worry about anything as it will be convenient and comfortable for you. In addition to the 193 rooms, there are seven different types of rooms: universal rooms for up to two people, semi-double rooms, twin and comfort twin rooms, double rooms for up to three people, premium double rooms for up to four people, and United Nations suites. Thus, there is a wide variety of guests to choose from. A traditional Japanese-style mattress is prepared for guests who number three or more. The phrase "Kids Friendly" stands out on the website of Onsen Ryokan Yuen Shinjuku. Everyone welcomes any type of guest with an open mind.
There is a ryokan on the 18th floor, the top floor of the hotel, with an open-air bath and an indoor bath that present the hot spring as it actually is. Interestingly, the hot spring water here comes from Hakone, Lake Asi, Tsuji's Yu, Odakyu, and Hotel Deyama, which are alkaline simple hot springs (alkaline, low-temperature hot springs), resulting in muscle pain, joint pain, bruises, chronic digestive diseases, diabetes, fatigue recovery, and improved health. With an open city view of Shinjuku, you can enjoy the best bath and traditional Japanese ryokan. Hot springs are included in the room rate and are available from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. and from 3 p.m. to 2 a.m. in the evening. With a service that provides free ice pops after bathing from 3 p.m. to 2 a.m.
A traditional Japanese ryokan includes meals, but modern interpretations of ryokans also include meals. With Kakadojo, you will be able to taste the iron plate and fried dishes of Japan using fresh seasonal ingredients. As you look at the Japanese-style garden from the outside, you are able to enjoy Japanese-style breakfasts, lunches, dinners, and dinner courses while blocking your eyes from the outside.
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INTERVIEW
stayfolio
ONSEN RYOKAN YUEN SHINJUKU
In terms of the overall appearance of the building and the interior design, it stands out very well. I would like to introduce you to the Onsen Ryokan Hotel Shinjuku.
It was announced on May 8, 2019, that the United Nations would open. We have been open for a little over two months now. The Yuen is located in the center of Shinjuku, approximately 20 minutes from JR Shinjuku Station and 10 minutes from the nearby subway station. On the top floor of the building, there is a hot spring. The hotel has 193 rooms in total.
I would like to know more about the design concept.
The idea was to create a ryokan, which is traditional Japanese accommodation in a rural setting. I decided to build a modern-style ryokan in Tokyo since there are no ryokans in the city. The goal was to create a traditional yet comfortable atmosphere that would allow customers to relax. As a result, the Yuen. feels like a Japanese ryokan in Tokyo.
I felt as though I had entered a different place when I entered the building entrance and entered the building itself. Do the design of the main building and the front part of the building differ for any reason?
As seen from the side, the restaurant seems to be modeled after a traditional Japanese house, and as seen from the front desk or room, I have tried to create a design that conveys the modernity of the hotel. Therefore, the first impression is that of a traditional house, but upon entering the main building, you will find that it has been transformed into a modern design. This allows customers to enjoy a modern hotel while maintaining the feeling of a traditional Japanese ryokan.
While staying at Onsen Ryokan Yuen Shinjuku, what can you expect to experience and enjoy?
On the 18th floor, there is a hot spring available to United Nations customers. Due to the lack of natural hot springs in Tokyo, we offer such an experience. The hotel is also located in the heart of Tokyo, so you will be able to enjoy superb views along with a good location. Shinjuku, the United Nations, is the only place where you can experience this.
At Onsen Ryokan Yuen Shinjuku, what do you want your guests to experience?
Approximately half of the customers are Koreans and foreigners, based on the current composition of the customer base. No matter whether you are domestic or foreign, you will visit this place to relax, and many individuals wish to experience a ryokan. Ryokans are usually expensive and located in rural areas, making them difficult to reach. Plus, ryokans usually include breakfast and dinner, so they're more expensive. For this reason, we operate separately from accommodation in order to provide customers with options to choose from if they do not wish to eat at the hotel. As a result, you will be able to use the hotel at a reasonable rate.
I would like to know the type or characteristics of the guest.
It is common for them to visit on holidays, and about 20% come on business trips. The majority of my time is spent in Tokyo, but sometimes I come to enjoy a day or two of rest. The majority of foreign visitors stay there for four to five days as couples or families.
What is the number of Koreans who visit the UN Shinjuku headquarters?
The percentage has not been officially counted, but I believe it is between 10 and 15 percent. There are some members of our staff who are able to speak Korean, which is helpful for Korean visitors.
Please describe your operational philosophy if you have one.
By paying attention to small details, we are gradually changing the atmosphere of the hotel. Depending on the season, you can see different flowers, and the atmosphere around the hotel changes gradually. It is possible to change the atmosphere of the room little by little as the season changes. Having these experiences at the United Nations makes the experience even more memorable.
My understanding is that you are constantly working to establish your space as a place where local residents and visitors can coexist.
The United Nations staff participates in major festivals when they are held. Apart from that, we also conduct local tours and introduce our guests to local shops and restaurants.
Why did you choose the center of Shinjuku and Tokyo as your location?
In my opinion, it is a very special place to build a ryokan. If you wanted to experience a ryokan before the Yuen, you had to travel into the countryside. I was of the opinion that if hotel visitors in Tokyo wanted to experience ryokans, we would be able to provide them with a greater level of appeal than normal business hotels. This is the reason why I decided to open a Ryokan-style hotel in Tokyo.
In the event that you encounter any planning or design difficulties,
The combination of modern style with the ryokan was a challenging undertaking. It was important to find a way to blend the advantages of both. In the ryokan style, for example, a mattress is used without a bed, but it is not as comfortable as a bed. However, once a bed is made, it ceases to be ryokan style. As a compromise, we have placed the bed low on the floor and fashioned a cover that mimics the feel of a Japanese ryokan, so that guests can experience the ryokan while sleeping peacefully.
Cultural differences can also cause difficulties. Japanese people do not usually wear clothes at hot springs, but Western customers are not aware of this and believe that they should wear swimsuits.
What are your plans for the future?
Currently, we are conducting a tour of Shinjuku for customers. In order to help our customers experience the 300-year-old culture of Shinjuku, we are considering ways to do so.
Is there anything you would like to say or a message you would like to convey to Koreans?
In the event that you do not have enough time to travel to Japan for 2-3 days, I recommend that you stay at the United Nations. Even on a tight schedule, you can enjoy hot springs or stay at a ryokan here. It is a wonderful experience to stay at a ryokan, and in Japan, you must visit the countryside in order to see it, but at the United Nations, you are able to experience both ryokans as well as hot springs. Welcome to the United Nations!
STAY’s recommended Local Destination
Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden
About ten minutes from the hotel is Tokyo's central park, where you can enjoy the beauty of the four seasons. It is difficult to stay for a long period of time due to dense vegetation, large trees, small and large gardens, and lakes. Take a moment to enjoy the quietness of the Japanese park while stepping on the soft grass. It opens at 9 a.m. and runs until 4:30 p.m.
Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building
This is the representative work of Kenzō Tange, the architect who symbolizes Japanese architecture, who won the Pritzker Prize for the first time in Japan. A free observatory is located on the 45th floor of the building. The experience of riding a high-speed elevator to the 45th floor in 55 seconds is an added bonus. Observation decks are divided into south and north observation decks. The south observation deck is open from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and the north observation deck is open from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. The south observation deck is also open until 11 p.m. on the north observation deck during the weekend.
STAY
From the city to the country, from the modern to the traditional
Even just staying in Tokyo's urban landscape would be an ecstatic experience, and it is a great advantage that you will be able to experience traditional ryokans and hot springs that are only available in the Japanese countryside. Onsen Ryokan Yuen Shinjuku takes pride in the fact that you can enjoy the night view of Shinjuku from the 18th floor the top floor, as well as its ryokan and hot springs. Even if a trip lasts a long time, there will always be an end to it. Therefore, wouldn't it be the best choice and stay for an efficient trip to Japan? Various forms of hospitality in a place with modern conveniences and a traditional vibe. From season to season, the room's atmosphere and appearance change. The hotel offers a variety of tours to help guests experience the local culture of Shinjuku. They constantly agonize over the convenience and experience of their guests, and you can feel that sincerity throughout the space. On the menu of Kakagogo, a breakfast spot, Japanese is written vertically and English is written horizontally. Even in careful places, menus show traces of guests' concerns. Many different types of rooms have their own advantages and attractions, so there's plenty to choose from.
3:00 pm
In the Middle of Japanese Cities and Traditional Ryokans
You feel as if you are living there when you walk to the places. I arrived in front of the accommodation. There is a sense of clarity in the city, and the entrance and exterior corridors are reminiscent of traditional residences. It passes through a Japanese-style garden before entering a modern-style reception area. The hospitality was friendly, and the design was neat. This is a place I would like to stay for a very long time.
5:00 pm
Making Time for Yourself
I opened the wooden box in the room. There are amenities, instructions for the room, selected teas, and Japanese desserts included in this package. With dessert, drink a warm cup of tea slowly. Tea time in a clean, tidy room in the afternoon. You're making time for yourself.
10:00 pm
As in the Japanese countryside ryokan
Put on a yukata and ascend to the 18th floor with a hot spring basket. Once you have taken a shower, you should soak in the open-air bath slowly. It is the open view that cools my heart. The colorful night view of Tokyo makes me feel as if I am in a ryokan in a rural region of Japan. Take a bite of the ice cream provided free of charge in the lounge after taking a bath in the hot spring. I am in awe of the music that I hear.
8:30 am
In the Sense of the Japanese Season
In an elegantly designed restaurant, you can enjoy breakfast. Despite being in the middle of the city, it is incredibly quiet. It was difficult for me to choose between the two breakfast options. It is a waste of time to eat breakfast, which is made up of airlifted and carefully served seasonal ingredients. Enjoy a delicious meal. It's a time to enjoy the season in Japan.
11:00 am
Let's Return to Our Peaceful State of Mind and Body
It is a true pleasure to experience a traditional Japanese ryokan and hot springs in the midst of a vibrant and sophisticated city center such as Tokyo. It seems that I have no choice but to stay here again. Once I have checked out, I feel light on my way back to my daily life. As a result of calming the body and mind, we are able to view our daily lives differently. Tokyo is the first place that comes to mind when I miss it.
4 POINT OF VIEW
ORIGINALITY
To Seamlessly Integrate the City Center, the Ryokan, and the Hot Springs
The city center is home to a ryokan and a hot spring. Traditional ryokan spaces and content are incorporated into a modern interpretation. Onsen Ryokan Hotel Shinjuku is located in the center of the city, which cannot be overemphasized. I believe that is all there is to it. By doing so, it is perfect. You can relieve the fatigue of your journey at the end of the day at a traditional Japanese ryokan and hot spring located in the middle of Tokyo. Through the natural integration of the city center and traditional ryokans, you will be able to experience Japan's past and present without boundaries.
DESIGN
Warm but Not Uncomfortable, Convenient but Not Cold
Choosing two concepts at once and melting them as much as possible is not an easy task. The results will be half-baked without careful calculation and complete preliminary investigation, understanding, and interpretation. It was due to such a process and a thorough understanding of local culture that their design plan to blend traditional Japanese ryokan with modernity was successfully realized. Despite the many differences in the present, the differentiated design was successfully implemented, without losing convenience or sensitivity. It is the emotions of rural ryokan that determine the texture of the entire space, and the modern interpretation reflects these emotions. As a result of the delicate effort involved in cutting the boundary jaw, this occurs. Warm but not uncomfortable, convenient but not cold. In the middle of the city, but not awkward with the experience of a traditional ryokan, is the fruit of the effort.
Hospitality
Water is A Great Source of Consolation
The colorful and dazzling cityscape creates an impression of coldness. It is exciting and disturbing to travel to a foreign country. Feelings of anxiety are overshadowed by feelings of excitement. Hot springs that are warm and healthy are ideal for relieving anxiety. Relaxation allows you to regain a healthy mind and body. Further, the hospitality of the employees who welcome them at any time makes me forget for a moment that I am alone. As it is located in a crowded area, you will have less difficulty finding it. As a result of the quiet surroundings, the time at night is very peaceful. As a result of the experience of ryokans and hot springs, when the body and mind warm up, the mind also warms up. It is a relaxing experience. It is amazing how comfortable the water is.
PRICE
In the Center of the City, There is a Hot Spring
If you are looking for something different from the city's wide variety of attractions, food, and things to do, you should consider nature or the countryside rather than the city. It is true that when you return to this place in the middle of Tokyo after spending time in the city's vibrant streets, fast rhythms, and sensuous spaces with wonderful people, you will feel as if you are in a completely different area from the city. In the city, there are traditional ryokans and hot springs. It is clear that the theme, cost-effectiveness, and cost-effectiveness of the hotel make it an excellent choice.
