The 5 Coolest Capsule Hotels in Japan

Capsule hotels are a budget-conscious traveler’s lifesaver when it comes to lodging in Japan. The dorm rooms with rows of beds stacked closely together have everything a real hotel does, at a much cheaper price.

For the uninitiated, capsule hotels feature pods just big enough for one person to sleep in, rather than full-sized rooms. Showers and toilets are shared with the whole floor.

Staying in a capsule is one of those ‘Japan experiences’ that you have to try at least once.

Some old school capsules can feel like sleeping in a coffin with only a curtain to give you privacy from other guests. These days though, many new scale, trendy capsules are available to accommodate millennial travelers.

Even for those not looking to skimp on cash, staying in a capsule is one of those “Japan experiences” that you have to try at least once. Here are 5 of the coolest capsule hotels in Japan.

The Millennials

This high-tech and super artsy capsule chain gives users an iPod to control their bed position, temperature, and lights. Need a wake-up call? Just set an alarm on the iPod, and it will raise your bed slowly, alerting you gently without annoying the other guests.

Local artists were enlisted to cover the walls of the comfy pods with eccentric masterpieces, giving them a young and hip feel. Enjoy the breakfast buffet, communal working space, and free draft beer from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. every night.

• Locations: Tokyo, Kyoto, and Fukuoka
• Average Price: ¥8000 a night depending on the day
• https://www.themillennials.jp/?lang=en
• Amenities: Free Wi-fi, on-site restaurant (Fukuoka location), free beer (only between 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.)

9h Nine Hours

Sleep like an embryo in a cryopreservation chamber at 9h Nine Hours. The hotel’s futuristic-looking pods can be found throughout Japan, and there’s even a convenient location in Narita Airport! With a very minimalist feel, the squeaky clean capsules give you all the basic necessities for your stay without any extra fluff. Their 24-hour check-in system makes it perfect for those with flights arriving late at night!

• Locations: Tokyo, Kyoto, Fukuoka, and Sendai.
• Average Price: From ¥6500 a night.
• https://ninehours.co.jp/
• Amenities: Free Wi-fi, 24-hour check-in

Book and Bed

Ever wondered what it feels like to sleep in a bookcase? Probably not, but Japan has a knack for creating things beyond your wildest dreams. Climb in between rows of books into an alcove with a snug bed. These capsules have that coffin feel that we mentioned earlier, but staying at Book and Bed is more about the novelty of it all. Cozy up with a warm brew and drift off to sleep while reading bedtime stories.

• Locations: Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, and Fukuoka
• Average Price: ¥6000 (¥7000 on weekends and holidays)
• http://bookandbedtokyo.com/en/
• Amenities: Free Wi-fi, cafe (some locations), unlimited supply of books (only for reading, not for sale)

First Cabin

Think of your stay here like riding on your own private jet — First Cabin offers more space than most of the others. A premium or first-class cabin offers the most space, with economy class cabins providing just a bit less. With luxurious bars serving premium wine, and bathing facilities with supple skin products for women, you’ll never want to stay in a normal hotel again.

• Locations: Hokkaido, Chiba, Tokyo, Aichi, Kyoto, Osaka, Wakayama, Fukuoka, Nagasaki
• Average Price: ¥6000
• https://first-cabin.jp/en/
• Amenities: Free Wi-fi, bar, cafe, hot tub

Bay Hotel Group

An example of a more classic capsule hotel, this one keeps it simple and cheap. This polished brand of capsule hotels can be found across Tokyo and offers guests all the basic amenities necessary for a good night’s rest. The Akihabara location, decked out in pastel-pink, is for women only, so be careful when you book!

• Locations: Only in Tokyo (Akihabara, Ginza, Tamachi, Nihombashi, and Tokyo Station)
• Average Price: ¥6000 a night
• https://www.bay-hotel.jp/eng/
• Amenities: Free Wi-fi