I mean capsule hotels aren’t that unique anymore and some of the ones in Europe are even better than Japan, but I feel like I still have to try it in Japan. So today I listed all the best capsule hotels in Tokyo.
I didn’t just list based on my experience, but collected information from friends and forum sites like Reddit.
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Tips on Staying at Capsule Hotels
First few tips you need to know staying at Capsule hotels :
- Make sure to get a bed furthest away from the door (Unless you want to hear people walking back and forth + the door sound)
- Normally it is hard to store large luggages
- If you do have a large luggage, the front desk will keep it for you
- 11:00AM – 3:00PM is cleaning time which means you have to check in and check out everday (even if you booked for two nights)
- Capsule hotels are for Japanese workers who need a quick place to stay. not for tourists. So use tourist friendly capsule hotels (will list it later).
- Most of the capsule hotels (except 9 hours) are split to woman / men only
Best Capsule Hotels in Tokyo
Most of the capsule hotels are catered for Japanese workers, so it is not convenient for tourists for many reasons (i.e. luggage storage, check-in / check-out etc). So it is better to stay at tourist friendly capsule hotels.
Here is the list I found, but if there is more please let me know below comment :
- 9Hours (several locations) : 관광객들 사이에서 캡슐 호텔 하면 가장 유명한 곳. 하지만, 매일 체크인 / 체크아웃 해야 함
- First Cabin (Asakasa) : 일반 캡슐 호텔과 달리 벙크로 되어 있지 않고 일반 호텔처럼 나만의 공간이 있습니다.
- The Millennials (시부야) : 지금 가장 핫한 호스텔, 매일 체크인 / 체크아웃 할 필요 없음
- Grids, Asakusa or Ueno) : 매일 체크인 / 체크아웃 할 필요 없음
- Anshin Oyado (Shinjuku) : 제가 지낸 곳, 매일 체크인 / 체크아웃 할 필요 없음, 남자만 가능
Pros and Cons of Staying at Capsule Hotels in Tokyo
Pros :
- Cheap
- It’s always in good location
- Onsen is included
- Communal space is great
Cons
- Noise
- Security (Not that unsafe, but still)
- If you are tall, very uncomfortable
How to Use Capsule Hotel
This is my experience at Anshin Oyado Premier Shinjukueki-mae.
Most of hotels have similar process, so you can just read this even if you stay at different capsule hotel.
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1. First, you can first check in and then take your shoes off and change to indoor slipper.
They will give you two keys. One for the shoe locker, and the other for your belongings.
You can have another key for big luggages to tie it up. If you don’t want that you can always leave it behind the counter.
This is where you put your shoes and lock it.
You don’t have to but they have indoor clothe for you to change.
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Because I was going in and out a lot, I didn’t change to indoor clothe.
Now you put your belongings in the locker. It is quite small, so I just put important stuff like money and computer.
All the other stuff, I put it in my bed.
TIP : It is always great to have a small tote bag, so you can put stuff you use often (i.e. face wash, charger etc).
Then you go into the capsule area. The locker key is normally the key to enter the capsule.
My Experience at The Capsule Hotel
This was my capsule. I always stay here in Tokyo if I go alone.
The picture below is from 2016.
Now, below is from 2023. Nothing really has changed.
They have fans and TV, but I never actually used it.
Of course, I left all the important belongings in the locker.
But clothings and my bag was in my capsule, so I always close my bed when I go out (Not that there were anything they can steal).
This is communal area. They have manga to massage chair and food.
At last, the second floor is where you find the public bath.
It can be odd for Western standard going into public bath, but it is pretty common in Asia lol.
One Tip : Please shower before you go into the tube
There are several floors, but it felt like all the tourists were on seventh floor. The good thing is that you don’t have to check in and out everyday.
