Tech and Auto

Rooms in this hotel come with self-parking slippers

A state-of-the-art hotel in Japan has opened with rooms that have self-parking SLIPPERS.

The ProPILOT Park ‘Ryokan’ will combine the ultimate in traditional hospitality with Nissan’s autonomous driving technology to give guests some quirky amenities.

Using automotive systems the slippers “park” themselves at the entrance of the traditional inn at the push of a button, ready for guests to use upon arrival.

The rooms will also come with self-parking tables and floor cushions.

At first glance, the ProPILOT Park Ryokan looks like any other traditional Japanese inn.

Slippers are neatly lined up at the foyer, where guests remove their shoes.

Tatami rooms are furnished with low tables and floor cushions for sitting.

What sets this ryokan apart is that the slippers, tables and cushions are rigged with a special version of Nissan’s ProPILOT Park autonomous parking technology.

When not in use, they automatically return to their designated spots at the push of a button.

First introduced in the all-new Nissan LEAF in Japan in October 2017, ProPILOT Park detects surrounding objects and lets drivers automatically park the vehicle in a selected parking space by pressing a button.

The same technology is being used in the amenities at the ProPILOT Park Ryokan during a demonstration to entertain guests and reduce staff workload.

Nissan spokesman Nick Maxfield said: “The self-parking slippers are meant to raise awareness of automated driving technologies, and their potential, non-driving applications.”

Nissan will offer a free night at the ProPILOT Park Ryokan, located in Hakone, Japan, for one lucky pair of travelers.

For a chance to win, contestants must post on Twitter using the hashtags #PPPRyokan and #wanttostay between Jan. 25 and Feb. 10.

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Jack Peat

Jack is a business and economics journalist and the founder of The London Economic (TLE). He has contributed articles to VICE, Huffington Post and Independent and is a published author. Jack read History at the University of Wales, Bangor and has a Masters in Journalism from the University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne.

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