NOT A HOTEL

Tokyo, Japan (February 12, 2025) — NOT A HOTEL Co., Ltd. (Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, CEO: Shinji Hamauzu, hereinafter referred to as "NOT A HOTEL") has announced that globally-renowned creative directors NIGO® and Pharrell Williams will serve as formal creative advisors in conjunction with becoming investors in the company. The two multihyphenates have had a long-standing partnership with the company, and are proud to invest further. This announcement builds upon NIGO®’s existing collaboration with the company: NOT A HOTEL TOKYO - THE NIGO HOUSE announced in July 2024. Williams will advise on future projects both in Japan and overseas.

NOT A HOTEL partners with the world’s leading architects and designers, giving them freedom to dream up one-of-a-kind, fully-serviced vacation homes. In its innovative business model, the homes go on sale for fractional ownership. Owners of one NAH property can use their allotted nights to stay at other properties in the network.

Since its founding in 2020, NOT A HOTEL has achieved a cumulative contract value of ¥37.6 billion from 748 owners (as of February 1, 2025). NOT A HOTEL currently operates properties in four sites across Japan, with two more sites becoming operational this year (TOJI in Minakami and EARTH in Ishigaki) and four more sites in planning or under construction (including SETOUCHI by Bjarke Ingels Group and MASU by Masamichi Katayama of Wonderwall).

CEO Shinji Hamauzu said, “In partnering with these true cultural visionaries, we will take NOT A HOTEL to the next level and further extend the unique charms of Japanese hospitality and design culture to the rest of the world. We are honored to work with NIGO and Pharrell in globally expanding the innovative business model we have cultivated in Japan."

NIGO® and Williams join a major list of established investors in NOT A HOTEL, including Open House, ANRI, Nissei Capital, and SMBC Venture Capital.

◼️ NIGO® Profile and Comment

NIGO® is a fashion designer and creative director. He founded his own clothing brand in 1993, which gained immense popularity around the world and laid the foundation for the "street fashion" scene that continues to this day. In 2010, he launched a new brand HUMAN MADE. In addition to serving as creative director for other companies, NIGO has been active in various fields from music to food and beverage. In September 2021, he was appointed artistic director of the Parisian fashion brand KENZO. In January 2025, he presented a collaborative menswear collection with Pharrell Williams for Louis Vuitton.
　
NIGO says, "NOT A HOTEL TOKYO - THE NIGO HOUSE gave me the opportunity to work in architecture, which is something I had always wanted to do. During this collaboration, I was able to learn firsthand about the excellence of NOT A HOTEL, and today I'm extremely honored for this chance to help out as a creative director alongside my good friend Pharrell Williams."

◼️ Pharrell Williams Profile and Comment

Pharrell Williams is a visionary recording artist, producer, songwriter, philanthropist, fashion designer and entrepreneur with over 10 billion combined global music streams to date. He has been honored with 13 Grammy Awards, two Academy Award nominations, and Golden Globe and Emmy nominations. In 2019, Pharrell founded YELLOW, a non-profit that evens the odds for youth through education. That same year, Pharrell launched his first SOMETHING IN THE WATER festival. In 2020, Pharrell founded Humanrace to empower individuals in their pursuit of wellbeing. Williams also launched Black Ambition, a non-profit providing a bridge to success for Black and Hispanic entrepreneurs. In February 2023, Pharrell was named Louis Vuitton’s new Menswear Creative Director. Pharrell recently released his critically-acclaimed animated biopic PIECE BY PIECE, produced by his company i am OTHER and directed by Morgan Neville in partnership with Focus Features and LEGO®.

Williams says, “I’m looking forward to joining my brother NIGO in this next venture, bringing our different perspectives and design elements together through hospitality. NOT A HOTEL is creating never-before-seen experiences for guests and everyday adventurers who are looking to stay or spend time somewhere that is unique and elevated.”

◼️ ABOUT NOT A HOTEL TOKYO - THE NIGO HOUSE

Announced in July 2024, NOT A HOTEL TOKYO - THE NIGO HOUSE is the company’s first residence in the Tokyo area, created under NIGO®’s direction. The house will be built into a cliff overlooking the ocean off of Tokyo Bay, with a direct view of Mount Fuji from the living room’s floor-to-ceiling windows. Located on the coast of Futtsu, Chiba, the home is around 45 mins from Haneda Airport and one hour by car from Tokyo Station. NIGO® has curated the entire experience of NOT A HOTEL TOKYO, from the overall concept to the smallest details. The furniture in the living room and office includes vintage pieces from Jean Prouvé and Pierre Jeanneret, two of NIGO’s favorite designers. And inspired by NIGO’s deep involvement in the world of Japanese pottery, the house has a proper traditional tea room ready for sadō tea ceremony.

Last fall, Pharrell Williams’ digital auction house JOOPITER partnered with NOT A HOTEL for an exclusive auction to promote the launch of NOT A HOTEL TOKYO, offering an individual a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to stay there before its official opening.

Computer graphics renders of NOT A HOTEL TOKYO, under the creative direction of NIGO

NOT A HOTEL TOKYO https://notahotel.com/en/properties/tokyo
Video rendering of the home: NOT A HOTEL TOKYO | Directed by NIGO®

About NOT A HOTEL Co., Ltd.

Company name: NOT A HOTEL Co., Ltd.
Representative: Shinji Hamauzu
Established: April 1, 2020
URL: https://notahotel.com/
X: @notahotel_inc（https://twitter.com/notahotel_inc）
Facebook: @NOTAHOTEL.official
Instagram: notahotel_official（https://www.instagram.com/notahotel_official/）
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NOTAHOTEL
Inquiry form: https://notahotel.com/contact
Contact: [email protected]