Staying at a capsule hotel had been on my Japan list for years, but every time I got close to booking one, I would change my mind. The capsules looked too small, the shared bathrooms sounded inconvenient, and the whole thing just seemed a little too weird.
Then, on one trip to Tokyo, I didn’t have much of a choice. I arrived just after cherry blossom season, and finding an affordable hotel anywhere reasonably central was surprisingly difficult. The few regular hotel rooms I could find were either fully booked or far more than I wanted to spend, so I finally booked a capsule hotel. Not just for one night, either. I stayed for six.
Since then, I’ve stayed at several capsule hotels in Japan, and these days, I actually really like them. I probably wouldn’t spend an entire vacation sleeping in one, but for a few nights in Tokyo, they can make a lot of sense.
What is a capsule hotel?
Capsule hotels have been around in Japan since the late 1970s, when the first one opened in Osaka. Traditionally, they catered mainly to men, including office workers who had worked late or missed the last train home, but today there are plenty of options for women too, including women-only capsule hotels and hotels with separate sleeping areas for men and women.
Instead of a room, you get a small sleeping pod with a bed inside, while bathrooms, showers, and other facilities are shared. The capsules are arranged next to and sometimes on top of each other, a little like very private bunk beds.
Checking in and where to put your stuff
When you check in, you’ll usually be handed a key or key card, but it’s typically for your locker rather than the capsule itself. Capsules generally don’t have doors or locks. Instead, there’s a blind or screen that you pull down for privacy.
Most places have lockers for your luggage and valuables, though the size varies, and larger suitcases might have to go in a separate luggage storage area. There isn’t much room inside the capsule itself for anything besides you and a few small personal items.
One thing that can take first-time visitors by surprise is the daily cleaning period. At many capsule hotels, you have to leave the sleeping area during the day while the capsules are being cleaned, and you won’t be able to access yours for several hours. At some hotels you can wait in the lounge or other common areas, while others require you to leave the hotel altogether. It never bothered me much because I was usually out in Tokyo anyway, but you shouldn’t book a capsule hotel assuming you can sleep until noon or pop back for a nap whenever you feel like it.
What do capsule hotels provide?
Usually quite a lot. Towels, slippers, and pajamas or loungewear are commonly provided, and the shared bathroom and vanity areas tend to be very well equipped. You’ll typically find hair dryers, shampoo, conditioner, and body wash, and some places also provide toothbrushes, hairbrushes, cotton swabs, and skincare products.
This was another thing that surprised me the first time I stayed at one. Capsule hotels might be inexpensive, but they don’t necessarily feel bare-bones, and I’ve stayed at places where the shampoo and other bathroom amenities were nicer than what you get at many regular hotels.
What is it like inside the capsule?
Before my first stay, I had imagined something closer to a coffin, so I was surprised by how roomy the capsule actually felt. I could sit upright without hitting my head, and once I was lying down, I didn’t feel particularly cramped.
The setup varies from hotel to hotel, but you’ll usually have a light and a power outlet, and there might also be USB charging, an alarm clock, a TV, or other controls inside. Wi-Fi is generally available throughout the hotel.
I actually find the capsules quite cozy. The main thing I miss is a proper door, because while the blind gives you visual privacy, it does absolutely nothing about noise.
During my first stay, there was a guy who set his alarm for 7am every morning but just couldn’t get up, so he would hit snooze 10 times or more and wake up everybody else. I also had a neighbor who snored incredibly loudly, but luckily she only stayed for one night. If you’re a light sleeper, bring earplugs.
What is the atmosphere like?
Capsule hotels aren’t hostels, and you shouldn’t go there expecting much of a social scene. Most have a lounge or common area, but people generally keep to themselves, and the sleeping areas are very quiet. You’re expected to keep noise to a minimum, so conversations and phone calls belong elsewhere, and if you come back late at night, you’re supposed to do so without waking everybody around you.
Personally, that suits me fine. Given the choice between a capsule and a bunk bed in a hostel dorm, I would pick the capsule any day.
Would I stay at a capsule hotel again?
Absolutely. For a few nights in Tokyo, especially when regular hotel prices are high, I’d happily stay at a capsule hotel again.
The photos in this blog post are from my stay at Kiba Hotel. That capsule hotel which is now permanently closed, but you can check out my blog post about Akiba Bay Hotel (women only) if you're considering booking a stay in a capsule hotel in Tokyo.
Book your stay in a capsule hotel in Akihabara, Tokyo (female only)
Book your stay in a capsule hotel in Shibuya, Tokyo (all genders)
