Capsule Hotels
If you’re ever in Tokyo and looking for a cheap place to spend the night, one of the many capsule hotels located throughout the city are your best bet. There’s usually a capsule hotel located close to a train station, primarily for businessmen who miss the last train home and don’t want pay the high fare for a long taxi ride home. The capsules are stacked in rows of two, looking more like washers and dryers than hotel “rooms”. Each capsule contains a mattress, pillows, small television, alarm clock radio, a light and a control panel with a number of buttons to control everything. For privacy there’s a thin screen that you can pull down to seal of your capsule from the outside world. Most of the capsule hotels also have a sauna, bath area, restaurant, bar and a lounge area with sofa chairs, TV and vending machines. Most of the capsule hotels only accept men, the few that accept women do so only on weekends. If you’re not claustrophobic, around Y3000 ($25) is all you need for an unforgettable night in a capsule hotel.
November 14th, 2006 at 7:16 pm
I was once a time in capsule hotel! It was in Tzukuba - Japan. It was a howful experience!
December 1st, 2006 at 3:32 am
Wow. I’m amazed at the concept. It seems so right for Tokyo though!
I spent two weeks in Tokyo a few years ago. I couldn’t find much vegetarian food, so I elected to stay in a serviced apartment. I still remember the tiny bathroom and the narrow passage that passed off as the kitchen. The sleeping area was tiny as well.
- Deepa