Tokyo (SCCIJ) – The “Nescafé Sleep Café” in Harajuku, Tokyo, has collaborated with the Hokkaido-based developer Koyoju Plywood Corporation to enable a quick relaxation and sleep in a vertical pod called “Giraffe Nap”.
The “Giraffenap” pods in Nescafé Harajuku look like an old-fashioned telephone booth (© Nestlé Japan).
Efficient relaxation
The “Nescafé Sleep Cafe x Giraffe Nap ‘Standing Coffee Nap’ Experience Seat,” the first service of its kind in Japan, creates a space-saving and easy-to-use napping style called “standing nap”. This program aims to help not only those who suffer from sleep deprivation but also those who want to have a higher output at work.
Nestlé Japan has been operating “Nescafé Sleep Cafe in Harajuku” as a place where people can learn about sleep styles through the use of different types of caffeine-containing coffee and decaffeinated coffee. It recommends drinking a cup of coffee first and then taking a 20-minute nap in the pod, so the caffeine kicks in right when you wake up.
This collaboration is intended to encourage people to incorporate a combination of coffee and short naps into their daily lives. The two companies’ philosophies of “creating an efficient relaxation time that leads to higher productivity” are in line with each other.
Nescafé Harajuku offers the limited option to nap standing up (© Nestlé Japan).
Nap in upright position
The “giraffenap” vertical nap box is a private, secluded space about the size of a small public telephone booth. The company does not explain the name, but giraffes are not only able to sleep standing up but they also nap for a few minutes at a time. Inside the cabin are pads and platforms that support the head, buttocks, shins, and feet. With these body parts in place, the designers claim that users can reach stage 2 sleep, a restful pre-REM state.
The box was developed from the viewpoint of how to secure a place in the office for napping. When napping at work, there are some drawbacks, such as being concerned about other people, feeling pressure on the abdomen when lying on your desk, getting too much sleep when lying down, and so on.
By adjusting the height of installed cushions, it is possible to create a “standing sleeping” style that avoids pressure on the abdomen. This position is suitable for enjoying 15 to 20 minutes of relaxation time, as it does not lead to sound sleep.
Positive reactions
A study was conducted to find ways to create a more comfortable environment in terms of napping methods and posture. The developer received positive comments from test users such as “I was able to relax without worrying about being seen,” and “I was comfortable in a relaxed state without putting any pressure on my body.”
The “Nescafé Sleep Café × Girafnap ‘Standing and Sleeping Coffee Nap’ Experience Seat” will be available on the 2nd floor of Nescafé Harajuku for a limited time from August 22 to September 17. Users can choose between “Spacia,” and “Forest”. The “Spacia” is a futuristic space with a futuristic image, while the “Forest” is a forest-like space. Reservations are recommended. This event will be the first time the product will be shown to the general public. The “giraffe nap” box may go on sale around January 2024.
Text: SCCIJ based on material of Nestlé Japan
