Capsule Hotel Summary

Costs: Approximately 2,000-4,000 yen
Benefits: Convenient and cheap
Negatives: A bit claustrophobic
Size: Average is 1 tatami mat (910mmx 1820mm)
Ceiliing: You can sit but not do much else
Provided: Shampoo, brush, soap, razor, towels, yukata

Although capsule hotels are quintessentially Japanese, the first capsule hotel was only built in 1979 by a chap in Osaka by the name of Kisho Kurokawa. The rates were a bit lower back then at about 1,600 yen. Capsule hotels are a uniquely Japanese phenomenom not only because of space restrictions but because Japan is still a relatively safe country and such a facility would be unthinkable in many other countries.

It wasn’t until 1985, when the Tsukuba Science Expo was held, that capsule hotels became well known in Japan. There wasn’t enough room to accommodate everyone so the organisers decided to make capsule hotels so everyone could enjoy the expo and stay overnight. This became big news when reported on Japanese televsion, and since then capsule hotels have become part of the Japanese vocabulary. The first reported capsule hotel in Tokyo was Green Plaza Shinjuku, located in the red light district of Kabukicho. The Green Plaza is also the biggest capsule hotel in Tokyo with 630 rooms.

Most people associate capsule hotels with miniscule rooms and drunk busines-men (otherwise known as salary men)who miss the last train home, but more recently a variety of capsule hotels have emerged which offer more services, creature comforts and slightly larger rooms.

Most capsule hotels do not have a key to the room so you need to place your valuables in a separate locker. You have to share the bathroom, rest room and bath with everyone else (most capsule hotels have a sauna included).

How to use a capsule hotel
When you enter you have to take off your shoes, put them in a locker and lock them with the key which is provided. You then give the key to the reception staff and they provide you with a locker key in return. At this point they give you a description of how their system works. There is usually a Yukata, bath towel and a small hand towel in the locker. You then place your belongings in a locker (which is usually really small) and then you get in the elevator and go to your room.

You can watch tv while lying down with a small TV (usually around 8inches). In fact, the capsule hotels are so compact that it is possible to operate the lights, air conditioning, TV, radio and Alarm Clock from the bed without having to move. One negative aspect of Capsule Hotels is that they are not sound proof, so it is possible to hear the person next to you snoring.

Most capsule hotels have a two-tiered system and each room has two capsule rooms – one on top and one on the bottom. The people at the front tell you whether you are on the top or bottom one. For those over about 190cm, you have to bend your legs slightly when you go to bed. For those who are a little overweight there usually isn’t a problem with the width.

Location
Most capsule hotels are found in central city areas where it is common for people to miss the last train or bus, at which point they start looking for a capsule hotel.

Reservations
It is usually possible to reserve from the internet or you can phone or just by turn up.

Conditions
Many of the capsule hotels only accept men, but there are some which are exclusive to women. They have a communal bath where you can get naked with all the other guys who didn’t quite make it home. In terms of time restrictions, most places have a check in time of 10:00 and depending on the type of capsule hotel, you are required to return to the hotel by 02:00, but others are 24 hours.

Although most capsule hotels require you to stay a night, there are some which allow you to use facilities for a shorter period of time if you just want to take a break. For example, at Capsule Inn Akihabara they allow you to take a shower for 500 yen or sleep/rest for 3 hours for 1,200 yen or 7 hours for 2,500 yen. But, you are only allowed to stay for 2 nights in a row. They also have women only rooms.

Facilities
Some of the more recent capsule hotels have internet access, a key for your room, private videos (such as Hotel Dandy in Ueno) and a private shower room. They also have cabin types which have a chair and table. More recently double-bed capsule hotels also exist and you are allowed two to a room. In many places, on the top floor they have an open sauna and a separate massage room. In particular, some of the women only ones are quite extravagant with high quality spas.

There are also resort capsule hotels such as the Resort Capsule Sakuragicho, located in the basement of the Breeze Bay Hotel in Yokohoma, which provide people with a slightly more up-market experience. The rooms are pretty much sound proof and you get a small desk and chair with internet access. For those who don’t need internet access it costs about 3,980 yen and 4,980 if you want a private room with chair, desk and internet access.

At most capsule hotels you can not take your own food or drink into the capsule hotels and must be over 18. Many places, such as the Asahi Plaza in Shinjuku, offer accommodation for both men and women.