Pop Japan

                                                                               Photo by Kojach/ Licensed under creative commons

Tokyo, Osaka and other Japanese cities are highly urbanized and constitute rented apartments or Apa-to （アパート) in Japanese. Such apartment rentals could range from a few hundred to thousands of Yen. The average rent in Tokyo is higher in its 23 wards that cost from 40,000 per month or $400 USD up to 150,000 yen per month or $1,500 USD. On the other hand, the rent outside of these 23 wards costs lower. Because of housing space congestion and rental rates, salarymen and tourists search for an affordable and convenient place to sleep. 

What are Capsule hotels?

Capsule hotels or pod hotels are a bed-sized space used for sleeping or napping. Because of the high rental rates and sprawling living spaces, people came up with an idea of accommodation that is good for one person and inexpensive for daily use. A capsule hotel includes a mattress, pillow, control panel for air conditioning system, lights, mirrors, and a hanger bar. The capsule hotel facility also offers a common bath and sauna; and a locker room.

Quick facts about the capsules/pods

• A typical Japanese capsule is two meters long and one meters wide - enough for a typical bachelor

• There’s a capsule hotel for women and they are separated although most capsules cater for men. If you are woman, check out if such a capsule hotel is for men/women.

 

Tips for using the capsule hotel

• Keep the wrist number provided by the receptionist to identify your capsule number.

• Place your shoes in the locker.

• Surrender your keys to the lobby receptionist. You’ll need the key later if you want to leave the hotel.

• For faster reservation, book online. You can also take advantage of coupons online.

• Use the locker near the lobby to keep your personal belongings such as towels and clothing.

 

Why are there Capsule Hotels?

• Provides an affordable and convenient place to stay overnight or live for a long-term stay.

• Provides quick accommodation for salarymen who have been left behind by last-trip of bullet trains and buses. 

• Provides a safe home for people who are too drunk to go home or are too shy to face their spouses late at night.

• Provides a dignified living space for homeless people.

Precaution: Capsule hotels are not recommended for claustrophobic or people who have irrational or fear of confined spaces.

What are the cool Capsule hotels in Japan?

 

• Centurion Cabin and Spa Kyoto

This capsule hotel is 3 minutes walk from Karasuma Station (Hankyu Railway) and Shijo Station (Kyoto Municipal Subway).  Here you can select three types of the cabin - the Centurion Cabin for females, the Standard Cabin and the Family Cabin. There are a free-WiFi,  coin laundry and Yukata ( a Japanese garment) for rent. 

 

Address: 68-2 Tachiuri-Nishimachi, Takakura Nishi-iru, Shijo-dori, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto

Phone: 075-708-6657

Price: From 5, 500 per night to 33, 000 per night

Web: http://www.centurion-cabin.com/kyoto/

Location: See Map

 

• Wellbe Sakae in Nagoya

Wellbe Sakae lies near Sakae Metro Station. It caters to men and provides a sauna, 180 rooms, free Wi-Fi and a 24-hour concierge. Other amenities include luggage storage, safe-deposit box, computer and photocopier. If you’re a little bit of a bookworm, you can read in their library filled with books and magazines. One of their unique services are themed-saunas such as the Lapland saunas named Lapland after it was modelled from the Finish region of Finland, others are Mist in the birch forest and Lapin mountain. 

 

Address: 3 Chome-13-12 Sakae, Naka Ward, Nagoya, Aichi 460-0008, Japan

Phone:  +81 52-262-1126

Web:https://www.wellbe.co.jp/sakae/

Location: See Map

 

• Moon Station Hotel Tokyo

This one brings the feeling of being in a moon-based space station. The hotel features moon-themed pods, blue lights, a common dining area and a vending machine. They also provide shower rooms and lavatories. Facilities include non-smoking and smoking areas, free WiFi, lift, luggage storage and heating.

Address: 3-1-6. Ojima, Koto-Ku, Tokyo 130-0072

Phone: 03-5858-8925

Price: From $18.4

Location: See Map

Nearest landmarks: Ario Kitasuna Shopping and Kameidoryokudo Park

 

• 9 Hours Hotel 

                                                                                 Photo by Tobin/ Licensed under Creative Commons

Styled and built like a complex from a sci-fi movie, 9Hours Hotel features a minimalist yet sophisticated functioning capsule lobby walkthrough and capsule. Inside the capsule, there’s a timer with light that can wake you up. They also provide sachets of shampoo, body soap, and conditioner; and bottled water from the foot of Mt. Fuji, and amenity slippers.

Address: Japan, 〒282-0004 Chiba, Narita, Furugome, Narita Airport

Phone: +81 476-33-5109

Price: 4,900¥/night

Web: https://ninehours.co.jp/en/

Location: See Map

 

• The Millennials Kyoto

Located in central Kyoto, the Millennials combines a futuristic functionality, minimalism and modern design. Unlike some sleeping pods that constitute rounded corner entrances, their pods are rectangular and marked with individual numbers in the upper right of the entrance. As shown on its website video, each rectangular space includes a reclining bed and headrest that can be adjusted to suit one’s comfortable position. Underneath the bed is a retractable container to keep your luggage. Likewise, there’s a vertical pull-down door that can act as a screen for a projector and privacy cover. You can control the timer-alarm and the bed-recline through a smartphone. 

 

Address: 604-8032 Kyoto, Nakagyo-ku, Yamazakicho 235 Japan

Contacts: +81 75-212-6887, master@themillenials.jp

Price: 4, 500 ¥ / night

Web: http://the-millennials-kyoto-jp.book.direct/en-gb/

Location: See Map

 

• Book and Bed

As its name suggests, Book and Bed are for Bookworms or book lovers. Reading books is one of the activities that can help you fall asleep and this is what the hotel owners want to emphasize. The hotel provides 3,200 books and a library and bookshelves that can store up to 5,000 books (English & Japanese Travel guide books). There are shared washrooms, showers and toilets.

 

Address: 1-17-7, Lumiere building, 7, 8th floor, Nishi Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku Tokyo, Japan 171-0021

Price: 1, 620 Yen flat rate for weekday and 100 Yen for Weekend

Hours: 13:00 - 20:00

Contacts: info@bookandbedtokyo.com

Web: http://bookandbedtokyo.com/en/tokyo/index.html

Location:See Map

 

• Shell*Nell Namba

Located in Osaka City, Shell Nell Namba comprises capsules for men and women. If you’re into capsule hotels that are non-smoking areas, then this is among the best in Osaka. They provide facilities and amenities such as toothbrush, free Wi_fi, ear-plugs, one face towel, bath towel and locker. For each capsule, there’s a USB terminal, electric outlet and lights. As stated on their website, they don’t allow eating and drinking inside the capsule.

Address: Nipponbashi Center Building, 2-9-16 Nipponbashi, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka

Price: For Men (2, 288 Yen), Ladies (2, 473 Yen) 

Contacts: (81)6-6633-5170

Web: https://www.hotelwbf.com

Location: See Map

 

• Nine Hours Namba Station Osaka

                                                                                              Photo by Sergio Ortega

A branch of 9hours in Osaka, Nine Hours Namba Station is located near Namba station. Their facility offers separate capsule hotels for men and women. 9hours is notable for its numbers printed on floors in washroom and capsule entrances. Such numbers indicate/refer to the identification for each capsule and the wearable number tags. There are huge capsules that can accommodate a rectangular table and sits.  They provide storage lockers and hygiene kits such as toothbrush, shampoo and conditioner.

Address: NAMBA PARKS Tower 3F 2-10-70 Namba,Naniwa-ku,Osaka 556-0011 Japan

Price: 4, 900 Yen

Contact: 06-6635-2208

Landmarks: near Kyoto Station

Web: https://ninehours.co.jp/namba-station

Location: See Map