“Without words, without writing and without books there would be no history, there could be no concept of humanity.” Hermann Hesse

Hermann Hesse, the 1946 Nobel Prize laureate for Literature, worked as a bookseller in the J.J. Heckenhaurer Antiquariat in Tübingen, Germany from 1895 to 1899. That should give hope to aspiring writers toiling away in bookshops everywhere.

Last year, I shared a story about Tokyo’s brilliant Book and Bed Hostel. Now the traveling bibliophile’s Eden has expanded with a new location in the heart of Kyoto. The 20 bed hostel, which officially opens tomorrow, features cozy sleeping nooks tucked away among shelves packed with more than 5,000 books. The sleeping pods are all equipped with reading lights, power points, and wifi. The hostel also provides storage lockers, communal spaces for socializing and reading, and a bar. At just 5,300 Yen per night, it’s a bargain. You can learn more and reserve at the website.