Asakusa Kokono Club Hotel

Asakusa Kokono Club Hotel brings a much-needed infusion of youthful energy to a Tokyo hotel scene that’s perhaps better known for skyscraper-topping luxury hotels than cutting-edge boutiques. And if it reminds you just a little bit of certain American boutique hotels, it’s no coincidence — it was designed and branded in part by OMGFCO, the creative agency responsible for the Ace Hotel Portland, among others.

Of course, the lineage doesn’t matter as much as the product itself, which is more than capable of standing on its own. Asakusa Kokono Club includes some hostel-style shared “Dormitory Class” rooms, but fear not: here you’ll only find the private, traditional hotel-style rooms — some of which, however, feature bunk beds, for those traveling with larger parties.

To the greatest extent possible, the hotel used local vendors, artisans, and craftspeople to source everything you can see and touch — much of which is for sale, in case you’re interested in taking part of your stay home with you. And the hotel’s own restaurant is something special, a casual and stylish spot serving modern Japanese fare to hotel guests and neighborhood locals alike.