Japanese capsule hotel chain Nine Hours (9h) is offering free sleep analysis to all guests at its newest location – an office building owned by partner NTT Data, an IT and business service provider.
First launched back in 2021, the ‘9h Sleep Fitscan’ service uses infrared cameras, microphones and a host of other sensors embedded in the capsules to monitor guests’ sleep patterns. The devices track physiological markers such as heart rate, breathing, snoring and body movements to deliver a personalised sleep report, sent via email after guests have checked out.
As of October 2024, Nine Hours is expanding its sleep technology. Its new hotel, Nine Hours Shinagawa Station Sleep Lab for Men, features 70 capsules equipped with advanced, non-invasive sleep analysis tools, including EEG sensors and deep body temperature monitors. NTT Data benefits by building out its wellness and food data business, while Nine Hours says it plans to use the data to expand its sleep-tech hotel offerings.
Though it may seem invasive, Nine Hours says that all the data it collects is anonymised. So far, over 100,000 guests have consented to having their sleep analysed in what is marketed as a win-win – guests receive a comprehensive sleep analysis far more detailed than what wearables like Fitbits or Apple Watches can provide,helping them identify potential issues such as poor sleep quality or sleep apnea, while Nine Hours gets access to valuable data it can use to build its business.
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