Sleep Inside a Giant Poké Ball: NOT A HOTEL and Pokémon Sleep Team Up for a Once-in-a-Lifetime Stay

Ever dreamed of curling up inside a Poké Ball? Thanks to a collaboration between NOT A HOTEL and Pokémon Sleep, that fantasy is becoming a reality—at least for a lucky few.

Set beside a tranquil lake in Tomakomai City, Hokkaidō, the Poké Ball-Themed Hotel is a three-meter-diameter spherical bedroom designed to commemorate two milestones: Pokémon’s 30th anniversary and the third anniversary of the Pokémon Sleep app.

The structure, crafted by NOT A HOTEL ARCHITECTS, is built from molded acrylic hemispheres with a sliding door that closes seamlessly along the curved surface. Inside, a custom circular mattress fits the rounded interior, while a large curved acrylic window offers guests a view of the surrounding Hokkaido landscape right from bed. Even the washroom tiles feature colors inspired by Snorlax—a subtle nod to the franchise’s most famous sleeper.

The experience is as much about technology as it is about architecture. The room runs on a smart-home system developed in-house by NOT A HOTEL’s team. Guests can select their favorite Pokémon on an in-room iPad, and once the lights go down, the interior lighting shifts to match that Pokémon’s theme. It’s a seamless blend of physical space and software—less like a themed hotel room and more like a piece of product design scaled up to sleep in.

For NOT A HOTEL, a Tokyo-based hospitality venture founded in 2020, this project represents a departure from its usual work. The company typically builds one-of-a-kind serviced homes across Japan with renowned architects and designers, with ongoing projects involving names like NIGO, Masamichi Katayama’s WONDERWALL, and Snøhetta. Here, they’ve channeled that expertise into a temporary, dreamlike structure rather than a permanent villa.

Access is deliberately limited. The Poké Ball-Themed Hotel is not open to the general public for bookings or visits, and unauthorized trips to the site are prohibited. The only way in is through a Pokémon Sleep social campaign on X (formerly Twitter).

Campaign Details:

• Entry Period: September 15 at 10 a.m. through September 30 at 11:59 p.m.
• Eligibility: Users who have downloaded the Pokémon Sleep app and set their X (formerly Twitter) account to public
• Prize: Ten pairs (20 people total) will be selected by lottery for a free one-night, two-day stay including meals
• Travel: Transportation to nearby New Chitose Airport and other personal costs are covered by winners

For those lucky enough to win, it’s a chance to experience Pokémon in a way that’s never been possible before—sleeping inside an iconic Poké Ball, with the lights of your favorite creature lulling you to sleep. For everyone else, it’s a reminder that sometimes the wildest dreams are the ones worth chasing.

Source: Hypebeast