When you open the door, a nostalgic whiff of tatami mat will greet you and your senses. This room represents what you would find in a "Danchi", a Japanese apartment complex from the 1950’s. A playful room that mixes the image of "Danchi" with a capsule-style futuristic living environment. Think of a hybrid between "2001: A Space Odyssey” and Showa Japan. Galápagos Danchi was created from this concept.

There are fun gimmicks everywhere in the room, like the “danchi box” bed in the center. It looks just like a box but once you remove the hinges and open it up, a bed will appear. Also, if you remove the board fitted on the other side of the box, that’s where the desk will come out. Please take a look at the photo book in the room to see how it works.

Another gimmick in the room is the custom clock which changes the time by turning a flap over every minute. At a certain time every day, an image will appear on the wall and the clock will suddenly announce the time.

Artist Guchi Mizuguchi packed this room full of little gimmicks that’ll make you chuckle. He’s an artist who mainly works in Kansai as a musician, illustrator, and unique event producer. The Galápagos Danchi was created by the "Galápagos Danchi Avengers", an art group born from his vast network of contacts. What inspired him to create this room? Let's listen to his story.

--Please introduce yourself.

My name is Guchi Mizuguchi. I made "Galápagos Danchi".

-- What kind of work do you usually do?

I'm a musician in a two bands called "Akainu" and "Minimamus". I make artwork for the band-- leaflets, T-shirts, and so on. I also do illustrations and paper-cutting. I travel around Japan doing craft workshops.

-- In just one word, how would you describe yourself?

I’m an entertainer, a life entertainer.

--- This room was created with the name "Galápagos Danchi". Can you explain what that is and why you chose it?

Nowadays, all hotels look the same no matter where you go, regardless of which country you’re in. When I heard that this was a hotel for inbound guests, I knew that I wanted to add a unique feeling of Japan by adding some cultural characteristics. I wanted to provide a room with a sense of life and hominess.

--- Interesting idea, as most hotels will do everything they can to remove the feeling of being “lived in”.

On the contrary, I think it’d be more interesting to have a sense of life in the room. I’ll be 48 this year. When I think back on the downtown scenery I saw as a kid, I always admired the Danchi complexes because I grew up in a condominium.

-- Oh, so it's not your personal memory of living in a Danchi complex that inspired you.

No, but it’s the quintessential feeling of “Japan” that Danchi complex rooms have that really captured my interest. The kind of stereotype that you long for the more you search for it. But I also used those same stereotypes and modernized them. For example, I used the orange and yellowish green colors because that’s the color furniture and electrical appliances in the 70’s would turn as the low quality plastic would age. But I didn’t use old furniture or appliances-- of course not. So I used the colors that represent the old and retro materials, but with new materials-- It’s like a fictional retro. It’s idealizing the qualities of the Danchi complex, because neither the guest nor I actually experienced the real thing, so we have the freedom and liberty to idealize it.

A visitor from overseas might come here and say, "Japan sure was interesting-- what strange colors they use," or "I felt like I experienced the Japanese way of life." After returning home, they might tell their friends about their trip to Japan and how much fun it was. And their friends might say, "I don’t see anything like the place where you say you stayed. Did you really go to Japan?" I want to create a sense of mystery and fantasy that can only be experienced here.

-- Do you have anything you’d like to say to our guests?

This room is called Galápagos Danchi, which has a connotation of something retro, but it’s actually a brand new room packed with the latest “retro” style. How you enjoy this space is completely up to you. If that appeals to you, I hope we can enjoy it together.

I think it's rare, but this hotel room has a traditional entryway inside. You can take off your shoes at the entryway and once you step up on the tatami mat, it will feel like a completely separate space. That’s where the experience starts. You’ll look around the room, wondering to yourself, “What’s going on here?” Instinctively, you’ll be searching with curiosity and excitement, but on the other hand you’ll be searching for somewhere to settle down and relax. Will you settle on the bed, on the tatami mat, or in the alcove? I don't know, but I think it's also okay to sit on the chair and look outside. I hope visitors will feel a sense of comfort and nostalgia, even if they don’t quite understand why.

If you can, go home and tell at least five of your friends about how interesting this room was. I want visitors to enjoy their experience and spread the word. That’s how the sense of mystery will grow inside you and you’ll be compelled to come stay in my room. I hope you enjoy it in that way.