A gamer-only hotel appears in the middle of Akihabara! Report on the "e-Sports Room" at NOHGA HOTEL AKIHABARA TOKYO! The Akiba Exploration by Shun Gori

About six months have passed since the ban on foreigners entering Japan as tourists was lifted. Tourist buses are once again being lined up along Akihabara's Chuo-dori Avenue, and it is no longer unusual to see the sidewalks and stores overflowing with foreigners.

As a daily visitor to Akihabara, the "Otaku Town of the World," which has once again come to life, I have been thinking to myself, "I wish I could live in Akihabara now," or "Even if it is impossible for me to live there, I would like to stay there! I was thinking "I want to live in Akihabara already," and "Even if I can't live there, I want to stay there! As a gamer and a self-proclaimed Akiba connoisseur, I couldn't pass up this chance! So, I went and experienced it right away.

NOHGA HOTEL AKIHABARA TOKYO opened in 2020 with the concept of "music, art and food" and is located in the heart of Akihabara between the so-called "junk street" and "parts street. The hotel is located in the center of Akihabara, between the so-called "junk street" and "parts street".

The area around the hotel is the heart of Akihabara, the otaku district, and is home to PC stores, maid cafes, and Jangara, a ramen store that is very popular among foreigners.

Once you step into the hotel from such a chaotic, Akihabara-like atmosphere, you will find yourself in a different world. The calm mood of the interior design and lighting welcomes guests. In the lobby and restaurant, there are artworks by local and international artists who have connections to Akihabara, and art is also displayed throughout the facility, allowing guests to forget the hustle and bustle of Akihabara and enjoy an extraordinary experience in a comfortable environment.

Furthermore, DJ events, workshops, and other events are held regularly at the hotel, allowing you to easily experience "music and art" as the concept suggests.

From "Replica Play" by Yoshinari Nishio (Tokyo Biennale 2023)

■Facilities tuned exclusively for games

After checking in at the front desk, I was shown to the "e-Sports room," where I will be staying this time.

There are two e-Sports rooms available, the "Gaming Bank" and the "Gaming Twin," and we will be staying in the "Gaming Bank," which has a single bunk bed. The bunk beds are located at the far end of the room, and the majority of the room is "set up for gaming.

The beds are made by Simmons, famous for its "life-changing mattresses," and the pillows are from ATMOSPHÈRE JAPON, which is used in top hotels around the world, so the comfort is outstanding. As I had been up all night the day before the interview, my consciousness was quickly taken away when I lay down on the bed to try it out. However, I could not report on the e-Sports Room if I fell asleep here, so I got up with my hair pulled back.

I have been involved in Akihabara and the world of video games for more than 40 years, but I have never seen a hotel that has been so thoroughly designed to create a space for game playing.

In the rooms, there are not only high-spec PCs, but also a variety of game peripherals!　From driving games to fighting games, there are peripherals for playing all kinds of games comfortably. Of course, all the equipment can be used freely.

In addition to game peripherals, there is also a full line of distribution equipment, so you can check in empty-handed and stream live games.

In addition, the refrigerator in the room is equipped with not only mineral water but also energy drinks for otaku and gamers. These drinks are free of charge!　This room is designed for those who want to stay in and play games until morning!

In addition to games, the room is fully equipped with facilities based on the concept of "music, art, and food.

The room was equipped with Acustica Lounge Radio speakers by Swiss audio brand Geneva, which have a retro-modern 60's look, but their sound quality and functionality are truly cutting-edge! Of course, it is Bluetooth compatible.

The restrooms are also equipped with state-of-the-art bidet toilets.

The "Gaming Bank" has only a shower, but it is comfortable because it has a rain shower.

The "Gaming Twin" is a 29m2 room with twin beds and a bathtub, making it even more luxurious.

The gaming environment is state-of-the-art and well-equipped!

Now, let's take a look at the PC environment.

The PC is the ZA9C-R39 Z590 from DOSPARA's gaming brand "GALLERIA," the LCD monitor is the LCD-GC271UXB from I-O DATA DEVICE, and the chair is the "GEmbody Gaming Chair" jointly developed by Herman Miller and Logitech. There are no compromises.

Everything else, from the mouse and keyboard to the controllers, is high-end Logitech. If you like what you see here, you can buy one at a PC store on your way home.

The internet connection is 492 Mbps for wired LAN and 91.4 Mbps for Wi-Fi, which is perfect for gaming and streaming.

I played "Apex Legends" as a test and found it to be very comfortable.

I also tried playing "Resident Evil Village" and "Elden Ring," which has high machine spec requirements, and both games were played comfortably.

I also tried playing "Street Fighter 6" with HORI's "Fighting Edge Blade PS4-098" connected, which was also very comfortable. In addition, a racing wheel for racing games is also available, so both fighting and racing games can be enjoyed in a high-end environment and with high-end devices.

In the e-Sports Room, two PCs and peripherals are available, so you can enjoy a game party with your family or friends until morning.

Breakfast is served at the restaurant/bar on the first floor of the hotel. The buffet opens at 7:00 a.m. and the last order is 9:30 a.m. The price is 2,000 yen. The price is 2,750 yen (tax included).

The lineup includes smoked salmon, ham, salad, sausages, and other breakfast items, as well as the daily "soup of the day" and "daily egg menu," all of which look delicious!

Of special note is the "wood-fired focaccia. Focaccia baked in an authentic wood-fired oven is a highly recommended menu item that you should definitely try at least once, so be sure to give it a try when you stay with us.

So, we stayed one night in the e-Sports Room at NOHGA HOTEL AKIHABARA TOKYO and experienced a variety of things. The hotel is very comfortable as well as a gaming environment, and if you step out of the hotel, you will find yourself in the entertainment town of Akihabara ......, which is a dream-like accommodation. I also stayed up all night drinking two bottles of Monster Energy, which comes free with the hotel, playing games, and strolling around Akihabara in the middle of the night when no one is walking around.

Some tourists stay here for longer than a week, making it an excellent base for sightseeing in Akiba.

While it is good to visit hot springs and sightseeing spots this fall, why not try a luxurious game camp in Akihabara?

In addition to the e-Sports Room, there is also a "concept room with a focus on acoustics" equipped with selected high-end audio equipment by Bang & Olufsen and Sony, so you can stay at the hotel when you go to a live concert in the city center and enjoy "guessing until morning. It seems so.