Tech Nine Hours capsule hotel to monitor guests' sleep

NTT Data is set to open a capsule hotel specializing in sleep analysis on the first floor of the commercial complex 'A,RE,A Shinagawa' in July 2024. The hotel will be located near Tokyo's Shinagawa station and will have a capacity for approximately 70 guests. Each capsule will have temperature and motion sensors, monitoring guests' heart rate, breathing, and other sleep-related data. NTT Data will work with Tokyo-based hotel operator Nine Hours on the interior design and features. This innovative concept is part of the growing "sleep tech" industry and could potentially expand into a nationwide chain. Japan's capsule hotels, favoured initially by business people for their minimal accommodations and affordable prices, have evolved to attract a broader range of guests in recent years.

NTT Data's hotel will collect data using infrared cameras, microphones and body movement sensors installed in each capsule. The system will determine when a guest falls asleep, wakes up and turns over, while measuring heart rate, breathing and snoring. The capsules will also use a core body temperature sensor developed by group unit NTT Laboratories. Individual data will be analyzed using artificial intelligence and given to guests as a report that includes sleep trends and suggestions for improvement. Referrals to cooperating hospitals will be given when a condition that requires treatment is suspected, such as sleep apnea.

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Paywall alert:

This is really interesting. If one is concerned about their sleep quality, this can potentially add some value to their stay. I wonder if the nightly rate is the same for this location as other capsule hotels?

Mikawa Ossan said:

This is really interesting. If one is concerned about their sleep quality, this can potentially add some value to their stay. I wonder if the nightly rate is the same for this location as other capsule hotels?

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Probably most people concerned about their sleep quality are already wearing their Apple watch to bed. But it seems like it's a good marketing strategy and could actually help some people.

mdchachi said:

Probably most people concerned about their sleep quality are already wearing their Apple watch to bed.

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Perhaps, but that's assuming that said people own Apple watches. I want to say that I don't know a single person with an Apple watch, but there's probably at least one soul out there. How popular are Apple watches in Japan? They didn't even exist when I lived there, and nobody I knew even had an iphone yet.

Back to the capsule hotel sleep monitoring, I agree that it's a good marketing strategy. It certainly makes them stand out from among all other hotels, capsule or otherwise.

Mikawa Ossan said:

How popular are Apple watches in Japan?

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The Apple Watch is quite popular in Japan. In 2022, Apple accounted for 58.3% of all smartwatches sold in Japan, indicating its strong presence in the market[3]. Additionally, in 2020, the Apple Watch captured 37% of the smartwatch market in Japan[4]. Despite its higher price, the Apple Watch was the most popular brand of smartwatches in Japan in 2019[5]. This data suggests that the Apple Watch enjoys significant popularity and market dominance in Japan.

Citations:
[1]
[2] How Apple dominates in Japan - AppleMagazine
[3] Apple dominates the smartwatch market in Japan, Apple ranks 1st and Xiaomi 4th. - GSMChina
[4] Essential Apple Watch Statistics in 2024 • ZipDo
[5] Japan: popular smartwatch brands 2019 | Statista

I wonder how big the smartwatch market is in Japan? I mean, do a lot of people own them? Or are they relatively rare? I honestly have no idea. Even here in Northeast America I have yet to encounter more than a couple "in the wild", so to speak. But you're right, people who have Apple watches and are concerned about their sleep patterns would almost certainly use them before ever dreaming of going to a capsule hotel for this service,

Mikawa Ossan said:

I wonder how big the smartwatch market is in Japan? I mean, do a lot of people own them? Or are they relatively rare? I honestly have no idea. Even here in Northeast America I have yet to encounter more than a couple "in the wild", so to speak. But you're right, people who have Apple watches and are concerned about their sleep patterns would almost certainly use them before ever dreaming of going to a capsule hotel for this service,

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Good question. I never pay attention to what people have on their wrists. I sort of assumed they're ubiquitous but it's probably just due to bias because I've been using an Apple watch for many years now.