A uniquely Japanese concept hostel where guests sleep in custom-built bunk pods that open directly into a wall of bookshelves. The idea is that you fall asleep reading — with 1,500+ books in English and Japanese available. The bunk-inside-a-bookshelf experience is one of Tokyo's most Instagrammed budget stays. Also has branches in Ikebukuro and Asakusa.
Book and Bed Tokyo is a concept hostel located on the seventh floor of a building at 1-27-5 Kabukicho in Shinjuku City, offering one of Tokyo's most distinctive budget accommodation experiences. The hostel's defining feature is its sleeping arrangement: guests occupy custom-built bunk pods set into a continuous wall of bookshelves, so that the last thing visible before sleeping is a row of spines from the property's library of over 1,500 volumes in English and Japanese. The concept frames the hostel as a reading retreat — a place where falling asleep while reading is both the activity and the accommodation format.
The library is curated rather than randomly assembled, with selections spanning fiction, non-fiction, design, architecture, travel writing, and Japanese-language literature. Each pod contains an individual reading light, a small shelf for personal items, and a power outlet for device charging. The pods are private in the sense that curtains can be drawn, though they are not soundproofed and the experience is fundamentally communal. The common lounge area has seating, coffee service, and additional bookshelves, and functions as a quiet social space during daytime hours.
The Shinjuku property in Kabukicho is the original Book and Bed Tokyo location; the brand has since opened additional properties in Ikebukuro, Asakusa, and Fukuoka. Each location adapts the bookshelving-pod concept to a different building layout, but the reading-and-sleeping premise remains consistent. The Shinjuku location's position in Kabukicho places it near Shinjuku Station's east exit (10 minutes on foot), Golden Gai's narrow bar alley, and Omoide Yokocho. The surrounding neighbourhood is lively into the early hours, which is relevant for guests who are light sleepers.
The hostel is best suited to short stays — one to three nights — by travellers who are comfortable with a compact pod rather than a full room. It is particularly popular with design-conscious visitors, book lovers, and those seeking a genuinely unusual Tokyo experience that cannot be replicated elsewhere.
Amenities
- Book-lined bunk pods
- 1,500+ book library
- Common lounge
- Complimentary WiFi
- Coffee service
- Reading light in each pod
Location
7F, 1-27-5 Kabukicho, Shinjuku City, Tokyo 160-0021
Highlights
- Sleeping inside a bookshelf pod
- 1,500+ curated books
- Unique design experience
- Central Shinjuku location
Tips for visiting
- These are sleeping pods, not full rooms — for short stays or one-nighters only
- The concept is 'read until you fall asleep' — bring a good book or borrow one
- The Ikebukuro branch is slightly cheaper and less crowded
Accessibility
The hostel is located on the seventh floor of a building with lift access from street level. The sleeping pods themselves require climbing into a bunk-style structure, which is not suitable for guests with significant mobility limitations. Guests with specific accessibility requirements should confirm with the hostel before booking.
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Frequently asked questions
Are the sleeping pods private rooms or shared dormitories?
The sleeping pods are located within a shared dormitory space, though each individual pod has a curtain for privacy. The pods are compact and best described as a private sleeping nook within a communal room. Sound does travel between pods, so light sleepers may wish to bring earplugs.
How many books are available and in what languages?
The library at the Shinjuku location contains over 1,500 books, with a mix of English and Japanese titles across fiction, design, architecture, travel writing, and other genres. Books can be read within the pod or in the common lounge area.
Is Book and Bed Tokyo suitable for a week-long stay?
The pods are best suited to short stays of one to three nights. For stays longer than that, the compact pod format and shared bathroom facilities may feel restrictive. The hostel is more rewarding as a one- or two-night experience within a longer Tokyo trip.
Are there other Book and Bed Tokyo locations?
Yes. In addition to the original Shinjuku location, the brand operates properties in Ikebukuro, Asakusa (Tokyo), and Fukuoka. The Ikebukuro location is sometimes less busy and is an alternative when Shinjuku is fully booked.