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Staying In A Japanese Capsule Hotel
By admin | February 28, 2008
Japan offers a wide range of accommodation options, but nothing is as quirky as a capsule hotel. The first capsule hotel opened in Osaka in 1979 and they can now be found in major cities across Japan. The capsule hotel idea has not taken off anywhere else though which makes for a unique Japanese accommodation experience.
Upon arrival you take your shoes off, as you would in a Japanese home, and place them into a shoe locker at the front entrance. Hand the locker key to reception and once you are done with check in formalities you are given another locker key attached to a wristband. The number on your wristband is your locker number and capsule number.
The hotel’s make the most of a small space, so The lockers aren’t built for long haul travel. The locker’s might only have enough room for a suit and an overnight bag. Capsule hotels are mainly frequented by business people staying in town overnight and people who have missed the last train home, so accommodating for bulging backpacks and unwieldy wheelie bags is not usually required. If you have larger bags you can leave them in a secured luggage room.
When you are ready for bed you go to the locker room and change into your usual nightwear. If you go to bed ala naturale, you are supplied with a yukata (Japanese bathing robe). You are also supplied with a Japanese stlye bath towel, which is about the size of a tea towel.
Now it is off to capsule. The capsules are located on multiple levels, separated into male and female floors. Climb in and draw the bamboo blind at the entrance hole and you are in your little Japanese bolthole for the night.
The capsules are the width of a single bed and are high enough for you to sit up in. A TV is built in to the roof and everything is designed as to not get in your way should you awaken suddenly in the night. A control panel with clock radio, alarm, TV controls and light switch is built into the side with a small ledge for personal items.
There are toilets on each level and the bathroom can be found next to the locker room. The bathroom is in the style of Japanese bath houses. There are showers and a large public hot bath. You are required to shower first before using the hot bath (of course).
There is usually a floor which is a common area with vending machines, newspapers and internet facilities.
Capsule hotels encapsulates (pun intended) the hi-tech, limited space image of Japan. So if you are looking to do something a bit different, then a stay in a capsule hotel could be for you.
This article was written by James Clark, owner and editor of itravelnet.com Travel notes from James can be read at Notes from the Editor
Tags: capsule, hotel, japan, japanese
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