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Although it might seem counterproductive or nonsense, due to the fusion of two apparently opposing concepts, at the Nescafé Harajuku coffee shop you can take a nap standing up for 825 yen, and drink a coffee to wake you up afterwards.
This practice is part of the Japanese ‘Inemuri‘ lifestyle, a habit derived from their collective obsession with work, which has led many Japanese establishments to install sleeping capsules or rooms. For them, sleeping is a ‘waste of time’, with an average rest of 7.22 hours a day, although most do not actually exceed 6 hours.
In this sense, through Inemuri, which translates as ‘being present while sleeping’, the function is to rest a little, without reaching the REM phase -of much deeper sleep-, in order not to lose awareness of what surrounds us.
This cafeteria then becomes the dreamlike destination for the Japanese: you pay the equivalent of 5 euros and you can spend 20 minutes sleeping in a cubicle. Of course, the recommendation of the establishment is to drink a strong coffee just before going to sleep, and take a 20-minute nap: the time it takes for the caffeine to work.
Sleep capsules
Nescafé Harajuku serves a range of coffee drinks prepared by its signature Nespresso coffee machines, as well as tea and soft drinks; while on its second floor, Nescafé Suimin Café, is intended as a relaxing space for those who need a break from work, shopping or simply strolling around its frenetic city.
The capsules are available in two styles: the ‘Spacia’, with a sleek, futuristic design, and the ‘Forest’, which features a Japanese wood-framed aesthetic. Both are equipped with dimmable lights, ventilation and power outlets for charging devices while napping.
