Looking for a place to stay in Kanazawa? Here's one that has great accessibility, reasonable pricing, stylish ambience, and best of all — it's sustainable and environmentally friendly. Eight Point Inn Kanazawa is a hotel that just launched in Tatemachi, a 400-year historical and hip street in the center of Kanazawa. The most unique aspect of this hotel is that everything about the hotel is based on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). If you're not familiar with the term, don't worry. The manager of this hotel, Mizushima-san will be telling us everything we need to know about SDGs, what this hotel is all about and why you should stay here during your travel to Kanazawa.
Q: Tell us about this sustainable hotel, Eight Point Inn Kanazawa:
A: Sure! Eight Point Inn Kanazawa is a new hotel that just launched in Tatemachi Street, Kanazawa in 2019. The hotel is located inside of a shopping mall called "CoCoTTo Kanazawa".
We have 124 guest rooms on the 3rd to 4th floor with common bathrooms and shower rooms. There are several types of rooms, but the most reasonable one is the cabin type for 2,500 yen. On the 5th floor, there's a front desk with a self check-in monitor, a common kitchen, laundry room, co-working / rental office space and a unique shop full of local goods and souvenirs.
And everything we do in our hotel is based on our mission to raise awareness of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Q: What exactly is Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) ?
A: Good question. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is 17 goals adopted by all United Nations Members to be reached by the year 2030. These goals are focused on social, economic and environmental sustainability. To name some of the goals: "No Poverty", "Gender Equality", "Climate Action", "Responsible Consumption and Production"... the list goes on. These are integrated goals, so accomplishment in one area affects the outcomes in another area.
Q: What exactly is Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) ?
A: Good question. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is 17 goals adopted by all United Nations Members to be reached by the year 2030. These goals are focused on social, economic and environmental sustainability. To name some of the goals: "No Poverty", "Gender Equality", "Climate Action", "Responsible Consumption and Production"... the list goes on. These are integrated goals, so accomplishment in one area affects the outcomes in another area.
Q: How is Eight Point Inn Kanazawa contributing to these goals?
A: Unlike most hotels, we don't provide disposable amenities in our rooms. For example, you won't see any plastic toothbrushes or razors in our rooms. Instead, we have washable and reusable towels and room slippers. If guests need amenities, we provide them at the front desk.
We also do not have any plastic straws. Instead we sell natural straws made by barley stems in our store. It's all about responsible consumption. We're all aware by now that plastic is one of the main causes of global warming and it's also harming life in the ocean. We want to eliminate anything that is harming the earth and also create a sustainable system where the guests can be involved in the SDGs goals by staying at our hotel.
Q: We see some interesting products in the shop. Are these related to SDGs as well?
A: You bet. For example, these earrings and bags are made of upcycled "kimono yarn".
Kimonos, however pretty they are, tend to be pushed away in the back of the closet or even discarded after its peak usage. It's kind of like a prom dress for the Japanese. You wear it once for a special occasion, but after that, there's really no need for it in their everyday life. So this company called Recra, started a service that collected unwanted kimonos and turned them into "kimono yarn", to be used as material for artists and crafters.
This rice from JA Hakui is naturally made without any fertilizers, pesticides, or herbicides. It's made in Noto's Satoyama and Satoumi, which is certified by the Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS). The Noto Peninsula is located in the northern part of the Ishikawa prefecture and is characterized by beautiful terrestrial and aquatic landscapes. The community surrounding the area is known for sustaining centuries of natural agricultural methods and traditions aiming to build resilience towards climate change.
Q: What kind of events are planned moving forward in the hotel?
A: We're planning events and workshops in collaboration with activists and organizations taking action to accomplish Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
For example we're in discussions with Kanazawa Institute of Technology (KIT), a University that has been taking leadership in SDGs. KIT hosted the Japan SDGs summit and launched the SDGs Global Youth Innovators project, creating card games and workshops for young children to raise awareness of SDGs. We'd like to support them in spreading the word in their activities to our guests.
Whether it be technology, art, music, food, our goal is to raise awareness to as many people as possible from various angles of SDGs.
Q: Lastly, what are some of your recommended shops on Tatemachi Street?
Well, I just moved to Kanazawa so I'm still exploring myself... but I can tell you two of my favorite places as of now. First, Tsun Tsun Bun No Ringo! I know, it's hard to pronounce but they're a candy apple & hedgehog cafe! First of all, that combination in and of itself is awesome! When I actually visited, some of the candy apples are decorated with "Kinpaku" (gold leafs), which represents Kanazawa's traditional art and craft. So beautiful and instagram-worthy. And there's no doubt about the hedgehogs. Cuteness overload.
Another one of my favorites would be Nodaya Saten which is a teahouse and cafe who's been roasting their own Kaga Bocha (roasted twig tea) for over a century now. Their matcha and traditional Japanese sweets is seriously a must when you're in Kanazawa.
Through the interview, we learned that Eight Point Inn Kanazawa is more than a hotel, reasonable stay for travelers, or fun and stylish aesthetics. It's making a statement and educating their guests about important challenges our world faces today. By removing a disposable toothbrush in their rooms, they're providing an opportunity for guests to think about responsible consumption. By supporting local businesses and innovators taking action to protect the earth, they're proposing alternative and creative options in place of the current system that's no longer working.
We can't wait to attend some of their workshops and events! Be sure to check them out if you're in the area!
Whether it be technology, art, music, food, our goal is to raise awareness to as many people as possible from various angles of SDGs.
Q: Lastly, what are some of your recommended shops on Tatemachi Street?
Well, I just moved to Kanazawa so I'm still exploring myself... but I can tell you two of my favorite places as of now. First, Tsun Tsun Bun No Ringo! I know, it's hard to pronounce but they're a candy apple & hedgehog cafe! First of all, that combination in and of itself is awesome! When I actually visited, some of the candy apples are decorated with "Kinpaku" (gold leafs), which represents Kanazawa's traditional art and craft. So beautiful and instagram-worthy. And there's no doubt about the hedgehogs. Cuteness overload.
Another one of my favorites would be Nodaya Saten which is a teahouse and cafe who's been roasting their own Kaga Bocha (roasted twig tea) for over a century now. Their matcha and traditional Japanese sweets is seriously a must when you're in Kanazawa.
Through the interview, we learned that Eight Point Inn Kanazawa is more than a hotel, reasonable stay for travelers, or fun and stylish aesthetics. It's making a statement and educating their guests about important challenges our world faces today. By removing a disposable toothbrush in their rooms, they're providing an opportunity for guests to think about responsible consumption. By supporting local businesses and innovators taking action to protect the earth, they're proposing alternative and creative options in place of the current system that's no longer working.
We can't wait to attend some of their workshops and events! Be sure to check them out if you're in the area!
▼Eight Point Inn Kanazawa
Address：CoCoTTo KANAZAWA 3-5F 45-2 Tatemachi, Kanazawa
TEL：076-222-2425
E-mail：info@8pointhotel.com
Hours：15:00 (Check-in) 11:00 (Check-out)
Website：http://8pointhotel.com/kanazawa/
Instagram：https://www.instagram.com/8point_inn_kanazawa/
▼Tsun Tsun Bun No Ringo (Candy Apples and Hedgehog Cafe)
Address：Saimai Building 1F, 1-12-26 Katamachi, Kanazawa
TEL：076-221-2252
Hours：Hedgehogs（Weekdays 13:00～18：00 / Weekends and Holidays 12:00～19:00 ）
TEL：076-221-2252
Hours：Hedgehogs（Weekdays 13:00～18：00 / Weekends and Holidays 12:00～19:00 ）
Candy Apples（12:00～19:00） ※Hours may change due to hedgehog's condition
Closed on： Wednesdays / The 1st and 3rd Tuesdays (Hedgehog) , Wednesdays (Candy Apple)
Website：https://www.harinezumi-tsun.com/
Instagram： https://www.instagram.com/tsuntsun_bunno_ringo/
▼Nodaya Saten (Teahouse)
Address：3 Tatemachi, Kanazawa
TEL：076-221-0982
E-mail：nodaya@m2.spacelan.ne.jp
Hours：9:30～18:30
Closed on：1/1 , 1/2
Website：https://www.nodayatea.jp/
Instagram：https://www.instagram.com/nodaya_official/
▼Tatemachi Social Media
Facebook：https://www.facebook.com/kanazawa.tatemachi/
Instagram：https://www.instagram.com/kanazawa.tatemachi/
Twitter：https://twitter.com/tm430
▼Tatemachi Website
https://www.tatemachi.com/
Website：https://www.harinezumi-tsun.com/
Instagram： https://www.instagram.com/tsuntsun_bunno_ringo/
▼Nodaya Saten (Teahouse)
Address：3 Tatemachi, Kanazawa
TEL：076-221-0982
E-mail：nodaya@m2.spacelan.ne.jp
Hours：9:30～18:30
Closed on：1/1 , 1/2
Website：https://www.nodayatea.jp/
Instagram：https://www.instagram.com/nodaya_official/
▼Tatemachi Social Media
Facebook：https://www.facebook.com/kanazawa.tatemachi/
Instagram：https://www.instagram.com/kanazawa.tatemachi/
Twitter：https://twitter.com/tm430
▼Tatemachi Website
https://www.tatemachi.com/