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How to Travel Around Japan with Moxy

Until recently, Japan has maintained a somewhat traditional concept of hotels as a place where only businessmen with money to spare are able to frequent. With the opening of the Moxy Osaka Honmachi and the Moxy Tokyo Kinshicho though, modern travelers looking for a place to stay that echoes their ethos for travel now have a place to (temporarily) call home as they set out to explore the prefectures.

Moxy Osaka Honmachi

Moxy Osaka Honmachi

There are some things you won’t find in these two hotels. You won’t find boring interiors or over-the-top amenities, but you also won’t find a traditional closet that takes up too much space, an ironing board you probably won’t use, or a mini fridge stocked with foods and drinks that have been untouched for months (because no one wants to buy a $12 mini bag of nuts).

Moxy Osaka Honmachi

Moxy Osaka Honmachi

Moxy Osaka Honmachi

What you will find is a peg wall that holds all the furniture so you can configure your own space, regular and USB outlets in near reach instead of the dusty corner, automatic under-bed lighting, and a waterfall shower that rejuvenates you with the energy of a rising sun after a long day of walking (see what I did there?). You’ll also find an affordable price tag, because without the closets, ironing boards and mini fridges, the price of the rooms are brought down, saving you money on things you didn’t really want in the first place.

Moxy Osaka Honmachi

Moxy Osaka Honmachi

Moxy Osaka Honmachi

Moxy Osaka Honmachi

Moxy Osaka Honmachi

Moxy Osaka Honmachi

These are the design decisions that separate the Moxy Hotels from other hotels. The brand caters to a special group of globe-trotters with a specific mindset, not a specific age. These are enabled, adventurous travelers who aren’t looking to stay in the hotel rooms when they’re traveling, who want to mingle and talk with fellow travelers in the communal spaces during event nights, who appreciate thoughtful art + design, and who would rather collect experiences over miniature toiletries from the bathroom.

Moxy Osaka Honmachi

Moxy Osaka Honmachi

Moxy Osaka Honmachi

Moxy Osaka Honmachi

Some traditional amenities were still kept, like meeting rooms and gym facilities. It’s just that the Moxy Hotels have created these spaces in their own playful way, filled with contemporary furniture, kitschy toys and Japanese memorabilia.

Moxy Tokyo Kinshicho

Moxy Tokyo Kinshicho

Moxy Tokyo Kinshicho

Moxy Tokyo Kinshicho

The Moxy Hotels are throwing the traditional hotel handbook out the window and rewriting it so that it’s relevant for today’s lifestyles. With 20 hotels already opened and 86 hotels in the works, it’s a relief to know that anyone who wants to travel on a budget without sacrificing design, style, and experience really can have it all at the Moxy.

Moxy Tokyo Kinshicho

Moxy Tokyo Kinshicho

Moxy Tokyo Kinshicho

Moxy Tokyo Kinshicho

Moxy Tokyo Kinshicho

Moxy Tokyo Kinshicho

What: The Moxy Osaka Honmachi 
Where: 2-2-9 Kawaramachi, Chuo-ku, Osaka 541-0048 Japan
How much? Rooms start at approximately $100 per night.
Highlights: In lieu of doormen, bellboys, front desk or concierge staff, all the Moxy Hotels have a crew team headed by a captain that takes care of all your needs. Instead of having separate roles, the crew team can do it all from checking you in to recommending restaurants to even playing a late night board game with you.
Design draw: Custom art and installations created and commissioned by design studio WISE LABO can be seen in all the communal areas. They illustrate Osaka’s architecture and speak to its burgeoning art scene.
Book it: Visit the Moxy Osaka Honmachi

What: The Moxy Tokyo Kinshicho
Where: 3-4-2 Kotobashi, Sumida-ku, Tokyo 130-0022 Japan
How much? Rooms start at approximately $100 per night.
Highlights: A ping-pong table that also serves as a meeting table, rentable bikes for you to explore the Tokyo grid, and a DIY noodle station are just a few highlights at this Moxy hotel.
Design draw: Similar to the Moxy Osaka Honmachi, there are unique art and installations in the lounge spaces, like the geometric mural over the fireplace and the clipboard installation on the wall.
Book it: Visit the Moxy Tokyo Kinshicho

As the Senior Contributing Editor, Vy Yang is obsessed with discovering ways to live well + with intention through design. She's probably sharing what she finds over on Instagram stories. You can also find her at vytranyang.com.