Spoon & Tamago - japanese art, design and culture

Shiro means white in Japanese and is the name of a new hotel inspired by the color and kanji character for white, 白. Located in the neighborhood of Ikebukuro, and with its clean lines and emphasis on minimal creativity, Shiro attempts to provide travelers with the authentic experience of staying in a neighborhood, rather than staying in a hotel.

art direction of the branding, stationery and other products is by Kigi

Hotels can be removed from their local neighborhoods, often by multiple layers and steps. Shiro, which just opened on July 3, 2020, attempts to remove those layers and focus more on connecting travelers to the neighborhood.

Accessing the hotel, a 3-minute walk from Ikebukuro Station, feels much like entering a ground-floor cafe. A white owl, an homage both to the hotel but also Ikebukuro Station’s iconic meeting spot and owl statue Ikefukuro, serves as a landmark.

Visitors chooses from 3 different styles of rooms, each designed by 3 different designers. Floors 8 – 10 are the “modern Japanese rooms” and designed by Mt. Fuji Architects. Floors 5 – 7, known as the “west coast rooms,” are designed by SO,u. Floors 2 – 4 are the “minimal modern rooms” and designed by CAPD and Wa-So Design.

the ground floor functions as both cafe and lobby

Rates will fluctuate but for now they seem reasonably priced between 7,980 yen ($73 usd) and 13,980 yen ($130 usd) per person. Seems like a good choice for travelers who aren’t looking for all the bells and whistles that usually come with hotels.

all rooms open up to the outdoors, a design inspired by the engawa of traditional Japanese homes

Floors 8 – 10 are the “modern Japanese rooms” and designed by Mt. Fuji Architects

Floors 5 – 7, known as the “west coast rooms,” are designed by SO,u

Floors 2 – 4 are the “minimal modern rooms” and designed by CAPD and Wa-So Design.