The other day, I stayed at the book hotel "Hakone Honbako" in Gora Onsen, Hakone, which I've been interested in since it opened in August 2018! It's a completely private trip (laughs). Anyway, it was a comfortable and wonderful place, so I will also introduce it at Life Designs.

I would be happy if it becomes one of the options for your travel destinations.

What is Hakone Honbako?

Hakone Honbako is a book hotel produced by Jiyujin, a unique media creation company based in Minamiuonuma City, Niigata Prefecture. The concept of the hotel is "Propose a new lifestyle through books and create a space for encounters with books that spins culture into the future. ”

"Hakone Honbako" is located in Gora, Hakone, a suburb of Tokyo with rich nature and cultural atmosphere. This is a place where you can easily pick up books like a bookstore in front of a station, and where books and life are closely connected in a comfortable space where you can fully enjoy the pleasure of reading books and facing books while staying as if you were "living" there.

Adult secret base

It takes about 3.5 hours by car from Nagoya to Hakone Honbako. As the theme of the hotel is a secret base for adults, there are no signs to be seen anywhere. The place was originally a recreation center and was completely renovated.

The name “Honbako” is a combination of “hon (book)” and “Hakone”. In a society where people are becoming less and less interested in books, the "box (hako)" is filled with various devices that bring books closer to people and make people want to live with books. 

The theme is "Clothing, Food, Housing, Fun, Rest, and Knowledge."

When I arrived, the staff guided me to a counter seat where I could enjoy the scenery. Welcome drinks and sweets are served at check-in.

Honbako lounge with a spectacular atrium

The main lobby has a collection of about 12,000 books. The books are directed by Takuro Someya, director of the YOURS BOOK STORE, a book direction brand. The lineup of books ranges from easy-readers such as paperbacks and new books to beautiful hardcover visual books under the theme of "Clothing, Food, Housing, Amusement, Rest, and Knowledge.

The atrium lobby is a masterpiece.

All books are free to pick up and read in the lounge or guest room. Of course, you can buy the book, so please ask the staff when you check out on your way home.

In the lounge on the 2nd floor, there is a coffee machine where you can drink freshly brewed organic espresso and cafe au lait, as well as small snacks such as herb water and nuts. Wi-Fi is also available, so there were people who brought their PCs and immersed themselves in their work, and people who read books while drinking tea.