10 Stories Stay is beginning with a concept quite different from Satoyama Jujo. It is Jiyujin’s new members’ accommodation for longer stays. The aim is not merely low prices, but somewhere guests can feel at ease. We are not trying to disrupt prices or compete with budget hotels designed mainly for an overnight stop. What we want is creative accommodation where people can stay with peace of mind.
Staying at hotels and ryokan ourselves, we often think: ‘The room need not be this large’, or ‘We really do not need an elaborate but unremarkable dinner.’
What we would prefer is a comfortable, creative space. Hotels designed around the broadest compromise between price and function can feel uninspiring; they do not spark new ideas. Some places are perfectly practical for a night’s sleep, yet give you little reason to linger. We wanted somewhere you might actually look forward to spending a quiet afternoon.
Not knowing who else is staying can also feel unsettling. The company of other guests matters greatly to a hotel stay; a place where most people have very different interests and tastes can feel uncomfortable.
That is an important reason behind membership. People looking only for the cheapest room or a bargain may prefer somewhere else. We hope to welcome those seeking something beyond value for money: time to soak and think, a restorative pause for the mind, or a retreat where they can focus and get work done.
To be continued.
