Hotel R9 The Yard is different from most hotel and motel operators—it’s literally built its business on what’s sometimes called “a bed in a box.’ In this case, the boxes are 20-ft shipping containers, the kind you see stacked at ports and piers or being hauled on the highway.
There’s not much inside inside, since the containers are a standardized 20′ x 8′ x 8.6′ and that includes the bed, a small bathroom and a bit of floor space. On the other hand, they come with free parking, WiFi and air conditioning, and rates start at around $38 a night.
The company has multiple locations in Japan; they are most popular near tourist sites and venues such as golf clubs. The idea of using containers as housing isn’t new, but their use to build an entire hotel chain is.
