The travel business isn't exactly booming at the moment thanks to the social distancing and safety protocol necessary to deal with the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). So as you can imagine, hotels that typically expect to welcome tourist and business travelers face an uphill battle.
Tokyo's Hotel New Shohei is one such hotel, but they're offering a very hospitable and hard-to-beat campaign to revive lodging in their vacant rooms--free lodging and even drinks.
The hotel simply asks guests to fulfill one condition to access a free stay--simply upload photos of your stay and experience to a social media account or blog. That's it.
Located just three minutes from Yotsuya Station with direct access to many popular attractions in Tokyo, Hotel New Shoei has been a popular lodging hub for business travelers and tourists looking for a convenient and comfortable base as they explore Tokyo, but have been struggling with filling their rooms due to the pandemic.
The free stay gives guests access to a free room, but the services that come with a usual stay as well--including free all-you-can-drink coffee and juice, as well as wine and other alcohol in a lounge area. In addition, the first floor has a seafood izakaya (Japanese pub). While it's not mandatory for "free stay" guests to dine at, they're offered a free beer and plate of sashimi if they do.
The hotel emphasizes that because of the original limited amount of rooms and concept as a "dive hotel" where travelers can use it as a quiet hub to relax or focus on computer work, it's at low risk of being a cluster. However, they've taken extra precaution to regularly sterilize rooms, used items and areas, and strengthen ventilation. Lounge spaces have also been partitioned.
The free stay campaign is limited to a single use per person, and only applicable on weekdays. The hotel asks that you declare your intention to use the free stay when you make a reservation, and will ask for email contact to clarify where your photos have been uploaded to--there are no restrictions on content or characters used in your post, which can be done so after your stay.
Hotel New Shohei
1-7-9 Yotsuya, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-0004
Tel: 03-3357-0551
Hotel HP: https://www.new-shohei.jp/
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17 Comments
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Chico3
Sounds like a great marketing tool. Invest in the customer.
JJ Jetplane
@R. T.
So let me understand this. The lack of a free meal is the deal breaker for you with free accommodations? If you are on a business trip or a day trip or even a night or drinking past the last train, the free hotel is horrible because they won't give you free food?
1glenn
Judging by the pictures, it is a wonderful place to stay.
"There is no free lunc" is an expression meant to convey the belief that if someone gives you something for free, they are going to make up for it by overcharging for something else. In this case, if what they are after really is no more than free advertising, then that sounds like a price worth paying.
1glenn
lunch
Mocheake
Not buying it. Something will be surprising you at checkout: Sir, you ate a mint from one of the unauthorized mint trays. Those mints are the finest money can buy and are painstakingly hand made once a year by a blind artisan eunuch-monk living in an almost inaccessible part of Tibet. That will be fifty thousand yen plus the tray cleaning cost of ten thousand yen. Cash payment only. Right now. The cops are outside.
Kniknaknokkaer
Some people eh!
Camille MacLean
This sounds wonderful. If I lived in the area I would love to participate. I enjoy photography and this opportunity would be a dream come true.
Thunderbird2
Unreal... Sounds like a fantastic deal... as for the lack of a lunch - go to a restaurant, hardly going to break the bank is it?
1glenn
Mocheake, I don't think so, but I have to give you credit for being imaginative.
AussiePete
Dare I ask what a "dive hotel" is?
This must be one of those wasei eigo terms that doesn't quite translate the way it was intended.
Goodlucktoyou
I’m in, can I bring my did? Free parking?
Distant Fire
@AussiePete
Is it the "dive" you don't know. Surely, as an Australian, you must have heard the term "dive bar."
shogun36
Can I add that free fee to my go to travel money? All I need is some more ABE stimulus checks and get a job working to make my to the fictitious Olympics next year, I will be living the good life!
Brian Wheway
Sign me up, I am on my way!!