Travelers in Japan can now reserve lodging for their plush companions at select hotels
Toyoko Inn Embraces the Trend of Traveling with Stuffed Toys
In a heartwarming move, Japanese hotel chain Toyoko Inn has launched a unique service for guests traveling with their beloved stuffed animals. By posting a picture of the scene on social media using the hashtag #推し活なら東横イン (Toyoko Inn is the place to go for your favourite idols), guests can receive an extra gift at the hotel's front desk.
This service, which costs 300 yen (€1.74) and includes overnight gear (bed linen and bath robe), has been exceeding expectations in terms of popularity and enthusiasm from guests and online users. It is a part of Toyoko Inn's strategy to cater to a wider range of customer needs and preferences.
The service is aimed at providing a peaceful and stable environment for stuffed toys during a guest's stay. This trend reflects the broader culture of traveling with plush toys where guests dress them up and include them in their trip experiences, often sharing photos on social media. Some guests even carry stuffed animals in clear-window backpacks or place them in travel photos and hotel beds.
The idea for this service was inspired by Toyoko Inn's existing service for guests traveling with dogs. The representative of the company who was in charge of the project stated, "We saw the joy it brought to our guests traveling with their pets, and we wanted to extend the same experience to those with their stuffed animals."
The service, launched on 25 June 2025, is part of an initiative to enter the travel-with-your-stuffed-toy market. The company is looking to expand the service to other locations soon.
While the most prominent and documented offerings come from Japan’s Toyoko Inn with mini beds and pyjamas for stuffed toys, the broader phenomenon of traveling with plush animals is gaining traction and may inspire similar initiatives globally over time. Other related examples include flight attendants in China humorously buckling stuffed toys in seats to the delight of passengers, indicating increased cultural acceptance of plush companions in travel contexts.
In summary, this heartwarming and affordable service resonates with younger travelers who find comfort in their cuddly companions. While there is no widely reported global hotel chain offering similar standardized services for stuffed animals as of now, the growing popularity of the trend in Asia (notably China and Japan) suggests potential future adoption elsewhere.
- Highway Inn, inspired by Toyoko Inn's service for stuffed toys, considers implementing a similar program for their guests.
- The trend of traveling with plush toys has extended to the realm of fashion-and-beauty, with travelers searching for stylish ways to carry their companion toys.
- Fresh Adventures Tours announces a new package tour specifically designed for tourists who bring their favorite stuffed animals along.
- As the traveling-with-your-stuffed-toy trend expands, lifestyle magazines and blogs catering to younger audiences begin featuring articles on tips for integrating favorite plush companions into travel plans.
- Luxury hotels, aiming to cater to a wider market, begin offering exclusive amenities, such as fashionable doll suits and posh toy pillowcases, to entice traveling toys and their owners.
