Yes, the headline doesn’t lie: According to this press release, the Best Western Miyako Inn, in San Francisco, will be remodeled to reflect “the vibrant energy of Japanese pop culture”:
Undergoing a more dramatic change will be the 125-room Best Western Miyako Inn, which will take inspiration from contemporary Japan, featuring the bright colors, modern embellishments and art styling found in Japanese anime, manga and street fashion. An optimistic blend of practical comfort and quirky details, the Inn will attract a diverse spectrum of guests.
I like that “optimistic.” The stodgier Miyako Hotel will retain its “respectful interpretations of Traditional Japanese culture”—soaking tubs, rice paper screens, like that.
Interesting. This is their Japantown hotel, not the larger (and more business oriented) Union Square one. J-town has been a struggling neighborhood (partly because the bulk of the area is owned by two landlords) which has been struggling to find its raison d’etre (especially since the immediately surrounding areas are fairly expensive, gentrified and non-Japanese). The neighborhood association has been trying to make the area more of a tourist destination (and someone who’s a Japanese pop culture addict would have fun making J-town their base of operations while visiting San Fran).
That’s the long way of saying I’m feeling optimistic.