Usually it should be in a bed or on a couch, lying down.
But in the Japanese capital, Tokyo, you now have the option of paying to sleep – standing up.
– It feels like it was a really well thought out installation, says Tasuku Egawa.
They are centrally located in the cafe and are called giraffe booths. The reason is simple – the long-necked animals sleep upright, an exercise that Tokyo residents can now try with the help of the giraffe booths to disconnect from the noise and stress of the big city.
But if it does zzz, it costs.
For just over SEK 60, you get access to the booth for half an hour. This includes a footrest, a pillow for the knees and bum, plus another cushion that you can put your arms on and hang over – to find the perfect position.
– My body had better support than I expected, and I was actually able to get some rest, says Tokyo resident Miyazaki.
Japanese sleep the worst of OECD countries
According to a 2021 survey by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Japanese sleep the least of all countries in the organization.
A common mistake that many people with sleep problems make is that they snooze too long in the middle of the day. But when you sleep standing up, the risk of a longer power nap is less – at least if you ask the cafe manager himself, Jiro Takaoka.
– If you lie down, it is easy to sleep for one to two hours, which goes beyond the night’s sleep, he says.
The booths are installed on a trial basis until September 17, but there are plans to expand the operation to include offices and hospitals.