The whole point of stepping into a cafe for a cup of coffee is that it’s more comfortable and relaxing than just grabbing a drink from a vending machine or convenience store. A comfortable seat and laid-back ambiance go a long way towards making that coffee not just a beverage, but a reason to take a few moments and mentally decompress.
Of course, it’d be even more relaxing to just take a nap, which will be on option at the Harajuku Nescafé in downtown Tokyo later this month, which will be installing some very unusual sleep pods.
Giraffenap is a standing sleeping booth created by Hokkaido-based Koyoju Plywood Corporation. The company doesn’t say why they chose the name, but it might be because not only are giraffes capable of sleeping while standing up, but because they only sleep for a few minutes at a time, what we’d call a “nap.”
Sleeping while standing isn’t something our human bodies are designed to do, though, so the Giraffenap provides a little biomechanical assistance. Inside the booth are pads and platforms to support your head, butt, shins, and the soles of your feet. With those body parts accounted for, the designers say it’s possible to reach Stage 2 sleep, a restful pre-REM condition.
A 20-minute Giraffenap nap, the designers promise, improves mental performance by reducing fatigue and stress while boosting concentration and memory retention. As part of its “Standing Coffee Nap” promotion, Nescafé Harajuku actually recommends drinking a cup of coffee first and then taking a 20-minute nap in the pod, so that the caffeine will be kicking in right about the time you’re waking up.
The Giraffenap comes in two designs, the futuristic Spacia and woody Forest, but the interiors seem to be identical. Koyoju Plywood is recommending them to wellness-minded workplaces that want to create a space for employees to take mid-day naps but who lack the floor space to put in a full bed for that purpose.
Giraffenap is slated to go on sale in late December or early January, but the pods will be at the Harajuku Nescafé from August 22 to September 17, with reservations available online here.
Cafe information
Nescafé Harajuku / ネスカフェ原宿
Address: Tokyo-to, Shibuya-ku, Jingumae 1-22-8
東京都渋谷区神宮前１丁目２２−８
Source, images: PR Times
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© SoraNews24
19 Comments
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JeffLee
Why not have horizontal sleeping pods instead? Then they wouldn't need that elaborate and crazy arrangement of supports.
餓死鬼
That looks like sleeping at your desk but less comfortable. I might also worry that the person who used it before me had a little too much broccoli for lunch.
TaiwanIsNotChina
That just isn't right. How about sleeping pods that get stacked by machine? Probably would violate all of the fire codes.
sakurasuki
Just go to net cafe or manga kissa, you'll find more comfortable position to rest.
Bad Haircut
This is so Japanese: a wacky way to address a symptom rather than trying to fix the cause of a problem.
virusrex
For a moment I thought somebody made real the previously reported nap pods
https://soranews24.com/2023/02/06/japanese-genius-creates-concept-of-the-ultimate-nap-chamber/
tokyo_m
Looks like a modern version of a two-penny hangover!
falseflagsteve
Tokyo
Well spotted, recall seeing about those from the dark old days which it seems we may be returning to, SMH.
ian
I think I wouldna
ian
would still prefer my desk
purple_depressed_bacon
Mmm, yes. Let's pay to sleep upright in what is basically a glorified coffin because this is what guarantees a good rest. Nuts. Instead of funneling financial resources into useless inventions such as this, why not use it to actually address the root cause of why so many Japanese people are chronically sleep deprived and exhausted?
Rodney
Great place for a quick affair
finally rich
No wonder everyone in this site is broke lol.
Thats a great business idea with an endless potential target that is the tired and overworked japanese.
If you commute to central Tokyo and dont have a car, you won't have anywhere comfortable and dark enough to even take a 15 min. nap until you come back home. You'll be dragging yourself for the whole day, craving for some rest.
I had the same idea some few years ago (cheap & no frills sleep pods close to a busy station) but I gave up because I don't like having to worry about staff management, but I'm definitely sure it would be a success.
Redemption
Those types of people should just save money by living at their office. When the day ends at midnight, pull out your sleeping bag and sleep under your desk then restart at 6 am.
bass4funk
That looks Helluva uncomfortable.
CrashTestDummy
This is funny. I don't think I could nap in that awkward position standing up.
nosuke
LOL capsule hotels i though were stupid and now standing smaller capsules Japan got major issues hurry and go to war with China to fix these
falseflagsteve
People seeming to think this is a good idea, how about getting your required sleep when you go to bed. Probably most of those so tired spend too much time watching TV or on social media, thy are addicts.
Lord Dartmouth
Best to avoid coffee altogether if you want to have a nap, one would have thought. Or, at the very least, make it decaff.