REVIEW: sleeping in a capsule hotel

I think most people have heard of the crazy phenomenon that is capsule hotels.  As there are a lot of mixed reviews out there, ranging from horrible (“disappointing and very dirty, never again”)  to amazing (“unique, awesome experience”), I was eager to try it out myself. It was pretty hard to find one allowing women, but I did and I spent two nights there!

So what is a capsule hotel?
It’s a super space efficient, basic and cheap way of hosting people, developed in Japan. In one room about 20 tiny ‘rooms’, capsules, are stacked up above and next to each other. Every capsule sleeps one person and I guess they were about 2.00 x 1.20 m in size. Bigger than I thought but maybe still not recommended for claustrophobes. They look like… well, do you remember one of those scenes from a science fiction movie where they are breeding slimy humans or aliens or whatever in pods.. the look of the capsules  kinda remind me of that.

About 30 capsules in 1 room

.... see what I mean?

No.
Also, it doesn't look / sound very appealing…
I know..  but to me it’s basically like a hostel dorm where you spend the night in a room with strangers, but here you have your own little lair where you can hide.  To be honest, I can sleep comfortable in most beds  (or floors, chairs etc) but this wasn't bad at all. They give you clean sheets, towels and A PAJAMA every day.  Yes, the pajama part got me excited as they looked a little bit like a traditional kimono..

Ready for bed in the kimono wannabe

Also, the capsule has little tv, radio, light, mirror and alarm, and you get a free locker. The free locker wasn't big enough for my luggage and I was too cheap to pay for a bigger one so I just left it on the floor. Not sure if that was the safest choice ever but it worked out fine. The one thing missing was a power outlet. 

And wifi.
But I feel like there is a chronic deficit of power outlets and wifi all over the world.

Why was it hard to find one allowing women?
The thing with the capsules is.. there’s no door. You can not close or lock your capsule, you just have some sort of curtain you can pull down. Apparently Japanese men (especially when drunk..which is often) have a hard time controlling themselves so it’s not very safe for women to sleep in an ‘open’ capsule next to a man. This capsule hotel had different, closed, floors for men and women and as far as I can remember, nothing weird has happened to me or the other ladies at night.

My capsule, open

Old lady's capsule, closed

So what kind of people stay at capsule hotels?

In the male-only hotels it’s supposed to be mostly businessmen who either live pretty far away from the city/their work or got too drunk to go home, so it’s easier to stay the night at a capsule hotel.  As I spent most of my time on the women’s floor I only saw a few of them. In my room there was a diverse group of people.  One older woman with a black eye who seemed homeless.  Another grandma. Two businesswomen.  Some girls who missed their last train home.  And of course, a tourist here and there.

How was the rest of the experience?
Pretty comfortable too. When you enter the hotel you are supposed to take your shoes off, put them in a locker and use the slippers they provide. When you’re lucky there is someone at the desk to help you (not that they speak a word of English), but if not, there is a machine where you can pay for the room too.  There is a common room with a computer and wifi, big pay lockers, drink and food vending machines and iphone/ipod chargers.
All facilities are shared and you’d better not be shy when you want to wash yourself as there is only a sento.  Showers where you can sit and wash yourself and a nice hot bath to soak in afterwards.  My first shower and bath was shared with the lovely homeless grandma who kept blabbering in Japanese to me. Just nod and smile and it’s all good.

First a shower...

..then a bath

What was the specific hotel you stayed at and would you recommend it?
I stayed at Asakusa Capsule Hotel Riverside. It is very near a subway station and in a nice area, in walking distance from the famous Senso-ji, the oldest temple in Japan! It’s a little worn, occasionally smelly and the staff speak very limited to no English at all but they are friendly and try to help you in any way they can. For a $30 bed in Tokyo, you can’t complain too much. True, it’s not as comfortable as a regular hotel room  and when travelling as a couple it sucks you can’t sleep together, but when you’re  by yourself, down for something new and are a cheapskate like me.. give it a try!

A busy Senso-ji