WASHINGTON — There is nothing like a good cry — and in fact, science bears that axiom out. But the…
WASHINGTON — There is nothing like a good cry — and in fact, science bears that axiom out. But the Japanese have taken this indulgence one step further, launching the first hotel with a host of “crying rooms” for women who just want to let it all out, and in privacy.
According to reports in Britain’s Telegraph , the New York Post and other publications, Tokyo’s Mitsui Garden Hotel Yotsuya has set aside eight luxury rooms at $83 a day for women to shed their tears — and stress — without witness or regret.
Says the Post’s Lindsay Putnam:
But the hotel’s compassion doesn’t end there. If you find yourself with inexplicably dry eyes upon check-in, the rooms come supplied with a number of tear-jerking aides, including films such as “Forrest Gump” and “A Tale of Mari and Three Puppies” — a 2007 Japanese film about the true story of a dog and her puppies who survived the Chuetsu earthquake, which as far as we can tell is the Japanese equivalent of 1993’s “Homeward Bound.” (And if that movie doesn’t make you cry, then you’re a heartless monster.)
Japanese capsule hotels are all the rage for guest who don’t need space, just a night’s sleep. (Photo by Koichi Kamoshida/Getty Images)
Health experts already know that crying is good for you, not only physically but emotionally: they release toxins from the body, bacteria from the eyes and reduce stress levels.
“Given that I sweat a lot and hate deodorant, I suppose it makes sense that I weep often,” writes columnist Therese Borchard. “But I’m not going to apologize for that, because after a good cry, I always feel cleansed, like my heart and mind just rubbed each other’s backs in a warm bath.”
As the Telegraph points out, Japan is already known for its unique hotel concepts, offering “love hotels” to some 1.4 million couples seeking afternoon delight a day. Then there are the “cuddle cafes,” in which men can sleep with (but no hanky panky) alongside women, and can stroke their hair and/or stare into her eyes briefly for extra.
For those seeking the cheapest, most efficient use of space possible, Tokyo offers “capsule hotels,” which eerily resemble a morgue rather than lodging, but if the price is right, guests can cop some sleep, which is really what all these glorified bins seem good for. Believe it or not, they are also equipped with TV, radio and Wi-Fi.
