Last Updated on March 17, 2024 by Christine Kaaloa

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From manga cafes to Korean jjimjilbangs, love motels and now capsule hotels, I love to explore alternative hotels. This complete guide to Japanese Capsule Hotels will break down all you need to know to survive your first night’s stay at a capsule hotel in Japan.

Read Things to know about Japan before your visit

A quick history of capsule hotels in Japan

Japan was the country that first invented capsule hotels.  Historically, capsule hotels and their sleeping pod rooms were used by Japanese businessmen who missed their train home and wanted a peaceful night’s sleep. These hotels provided quick rest and came equipped with the basic facilities to get that workman back to his office in the morning.  Until the past decade, capsule hotels used to be male-only facilities and if you were a female traveler, you’d find it challenging to find a co-ed hotel. Today, tourism and the market have exploded to embrace luxury capsule hotels, thematic futuristic designs, and accommodate mixed-sex facilities and women’s only hotels while still retaining its Japanese rules and authenticity.

Read Essential Tips for Staying in Hotels

A strict quiet policy

There is a strict quiet policy in all capsule hotels to ensure the noise levels are down to respect sleeping individuals. Typically,  around 9 pm -10 pm is when the policy gets stricter and if you want to chat with friends, you must go to the lounge room.

Same-Sex floors

Most capsule hotels designate floors to different sexes. If you have difficulty deciphering which sex you belong to, check your passport. Your passport is your identity card and you will be assigned according to it.

Same-sex hotels to mixed-sex hotels

A decade ago, Japanese capsule hotels used to be largely male-only. There were very few co-ed hotels. These days, due to tourism, the concept has expanded.  Today, there are a few female-only capsule hotels, and co-ed capsule hotels.

What is it like staying inside a capsule hotel?

When you stay at a capsule hotel, you are renting a sleeping pod. Typically, it is not hotel room-like, unless you stay at a luxury capsule hotel.

• The capsule is generally large enough to fit one person with a single twin-sized but long bed (my feet could dangle in some cases). It is spacious enough to sit upright in, but you typically cannot stand in it. Although, I did stay in a luxury capsule that was single room-sized where I could stand fully upright.
• You are assigned a storage locker, shoe locker, and card key to get onto your assigned floor. (It’s very similar to a Korean spa!)
• Eating and drinking inside the capsule are not allowed. You must eat and drink outside your room in one of the shared spaces or shared lounge. Some lounge facilities may have coffee and tea dispensers and microwaves to heat up food and drink.
• Checkout times are strict and you cannot stay in your sleeping pod the entire day, even if you are staying the next night.
• Typically, your sleeping pod has one wall plug outlet or USB outlet for mobile charging (you may need a travel adapter), a smoke detector, and sometimes, a television with accommodating headphones.
• There is wifi in the lounge and shared spaces; but not always in your sleeping pod area.

• Some capsule hotels offer a lot of cool toiletries, amenities, and facility conveniences. It really depends upon the business. Some of the amenities I’ve enjoyed are:

  • Uniform smock, wash towel, toothbrush, and hairbrush

  • Bathroom: Skin moisturizers, hair styling oil, facial moisturizers

  • Lounge: Free drinks like coffee, tea, or soft serve.

  • Goodie bag of snacks, water, and sleeping aid, such as free ear plugs, facial masks, etc.

    

    

• Cons:
  • Your door is a shade blind, so you are unable to lock your pod door.
  • It can feel tricky to get in and out of your pod, especially if you are in a top pod or have bad knees.
  • Uncomfortable to sleep so near to others where they might hear your movements and the noise you make
  • Some folks feel many claustrophobic
  • Not a place for social interaction or making friends.

Where do you store your luggage at a capsule hotel?

People ask me about luggage sizes at capsule hotels and the general recommendation as a traveler to Japan is that your luggage should be able to fit in a locker. Navigating budget Japan, you’d be thankful to pack light as you will be able to navigate easier. Otherwise, different capsule hotels have different policies of luggage storage but overall, your luggage should be able to fit in a locker if you want peace of mind, safety and convenience.

Some hotels allow you to keep your luggage with you, while a majority request you keep it in your locker due to noise, outside dirt and cleanliness for the shared community.

I’ve seen travelers with large luggage have to set it aside in an out-of-the-way public area and I’ve seen hotels that kept them in the lobby with a large net over them to prevent the public from tampering.   But do not expect the capsule hotel to accommodate your luggage. Most of the capsules are for Japanese who are packing light. If you have large luggage, kindly inquire about luggage storage facilities. Otherwise, I recommend a wheeled backpack carryon.

Download a free packing list with my Ultimate Packing List tool

How much does it cost to stay in a capsule hotel in Japan?

$30-50/night, depending upon the city. Tokyo was around $40, Osaka was around $30 and Kyoto can be as high as $50. Although budget travelers prefer hostels, Japanese capsule hotels outperform them, as your interaction and shared spaces with messy, unruly, drunken, and boisterous travelers is minimized. You are in the safe sleeping community, where an access card key is assigned to specific floors and you still, have the individual freedom to go about your business.  As carry-on luggage, solo female traveler, capsule hotels have been a perfect solution for me!

Read my guide of Best Wheeled Backpacks

 Business and decent hotels you’re looking at $100+ /night which makes more sense to me if I’m traveling with another person where I can split costs. Airbnb, they’re starting to cost as much as hotels, especially with cleaning fees and you need to research the location, which isn’t always central or close to a metro.

Can you choose your sleeping pod?

Typically you are assigned a locker and sleeping pod. You can request a top bunk or bottom bunk room and if your room is not to your liking, you can ask the front desk if you can change.

Read about 33 airport sleeping pods

How long can you stay at a capsule hotel in Japan?

You can book your stay at a capsule hotel for as many nights as you need, but you need to recheck in each day.

At what time is check out?

Each sleeping pod has designated hours of check-in and evacuation of the sleep capsule. The typical hours I found were that check-in was in the afternoon around 4 pm and checkout time was anywhere from 8 am to 9 am. The evacuation is for capsule cleaning, so you will not be able to lounge in your capsule the entire day.

Can you stay in the same capsule during the length of your stay?

You can certainly request to stay in your capsule room pod if you are staying more than one day at the same hotel.

Are there capsule hotels for couples or families?

Most capsule hotels allow couples, but typically you will need to split up according to the same-sex floor as each sleeping capsule is built to accommodate one person. Most capsule hotel rooms fit only one person, thus couples cannot stay together. However, more and more capsule hotels are starting to offer bigger pods. As far as families go, there is a cut-off age limit for youth. The experience is primarily for adults, although this may change in the future as the concept grows.

How to find a good capsule hotel?

Capsule variety can range and it’s up to you to research your perfect match, although I have personal recommendations and videos of where I stayed below. Not all capsule hotels offer an optimum or comfortable lodging so it is important to do your research.

As a solo female traveler, I look at guest ratings, for a convenient location, and cool design, if they have electrical plugs in the units and amenities provided.

• Convenient Location: many are located near a metro/subway station, usually within 5-8 minutes. But sometimes, they are hard to find as they might be in small alleys off to the side. It helps to get landmark directions or request more information from the hotel— station exit number and a large nearby landmark. I always forget the latter and I’m always kicking myself hunting down the place with luggage in tow.
• WiFi and electrical outlets, depending upon where you need them. WiFi is seldom in the sleeping pod. I got my Japanese SIM here. You can also rent a pocket wifi.
• Storage lockers– store valuables in your locker- some places might have a safe or … There has only been one place which let me leave my stuff in my capsule during the day.
• Cleanliness-  Japanese are very conscious about outside dirt entering and removing their shoes. So safety is prepared in that way also.
• Women’s Only- There is something nice about staying in a Women’s hotel or even floor. So far, all the capsule hotels I’ve stayed at which were women’s only were predominantly Asian.  The dressing room is not like a western locker room where everyone is flashing each other and walking around naked (sorry to burst your bubble). There’s more of a sense of conservative restraint and modesty, not to mention everyone is in uniforms and if you’ve ever seen Asian women get ready— it’s some time spent in front of the mirror concentrated on skin care. Most folks are to themselves. 

Are staying at a luxury capsule hotel worth it?

You’d be surprised to find out that the price difference between capsule hotels does not always vary greatly. In some cases, paying $10 more may get you a more luxurious pod-like room vs a mere capsule. Typically the luxury capsules I’ve stayed at are more room-like than pod-like and can offer larger storage near or under your pod. The upgrade is highly worthwhile!

I’ll let you be the judge below:

Recommended Japanese Capsule Hotels:

Due to the pandemic, this list of hotels may have changed. Feel free to update us on your experience.

Best Capsule Hotels in Tokyo

Most capsule hotels cost about $30-40 per night and if you’re lucky, you can stay at a luxury capsule hotel for nearly that same price too!

9 Hours Shinjuku North – Located 3 minutes from Shin-Okubo Station (Tokyo’s Koreatown). I really loved the 9 Hours brand and you’ll find them in my Instagram feed a lot. The futuristic design is consistent in all their locations but slightly different from the building design. The Shinjuku location emulates a large spaceship. Pros: The locker and shower facilities were on the same floor as the sleeping pods. Con: There was always a funky smell in the female locker room which smelled a bit like pee.

9 Hours Asakasa Capsule Hotel– The Asakasa location design looked cool from the outside and inside, the rooms were arranged like a Rubick’s cube-like beehive hibernation. Located about 100 feet to the right of the #4 exit of the subway station. You can see the exit with the Japanese roof in the bottom left.   Pros: You can check in around noon and have to check out by 10 am. As Asakusa is not a hyped neighborhood, rooms feel like they are rarely full.  This one had a bath on the top floor and you can walk out on a balcony and show yourself (literally) to all of Tokyo. Cons: Showers were not on the same floor as the sleeping pods.

Luxury capsule hotels in Tokyo

First Cabin Tsukiji  is a Tokyo capsule hotel themed around the idea of sleeping in an in-flight cabin. A step above other capsule hotels it offers a touch more for travelers looking for a bit more space. Located a minute from Tsukiji station.

MyCube by MyStays Asakusa Kuramae is my favorite Tokyo luxury capsule hotel, with your own comfortable cubicle room, storage space under your room and free toiletries. Depending upon day, price can be comparable to the other hotels. Highly recommended. Watch my video.

Best Osaka Capsule Hotels

Read things to know about Osaka

I stayed at Capsule Astii Dotonbori Osaka in the heart of Dotonbori . Located around the corner from Don Quijote, this capsule hotel was my favorite of Osaka. Full amenities, a free gift bag per day (a free drink+ pastry + with you can choose one goodie item). Each capsule gets a concierge mobile device for calls and trip research.  Check out my video in the playlist below or click here.

Cabin & Capsule Hotel J-SHIP Osaka Namba -1792 reviews with a Booking.com rating of 9.0. Free wifi, helpful staff, clean, near Namba station, Featuring male and female public baths

HOTEL Cargo Shinsaibashi  – 541 reviews, booking.com rating 8.6. Spacious room with small table and sitting pillow. A public bath and open-air bath

First Cabin Midosuji Namba 571 reviews, booking.com rating 8.3. Namba Subway Station at Exit 13. Free WiFi is available throughout the property. It has a spa bath and a modern lounge with a comic book corner

Best Kyoto Capsule Hotels

Read things to know about Kyoto

Millineals Kyoto: 2462 Reviews, 9.1 rating on Booking.com
Millineals Kyoto has an excellent location and is a 5-minute walk from Kyoto Shiyakusho-mae Station. Travelers love its modern decor and that the bed reclines to a sofa. They feature large rooms with convenient luggage storage under the bed. You can rent pajamas.

Glansit Kawaramachi Capsule Hotel was a favorite stay of mine when I visited Kyoto. Located one or two streets from Pontocho Alley and 4 minutes from Gion Station, it was smack in the heart of downtown Kyoto and a five-minute walk to Gion, crossing Shijo Bridge .  The capsule hotel is lovely with a classy-looking check-in lobby that feels like a “hotel”. Locker and dressing areas are a little snug and there is a reading room with free coffee and tea. Upgradable capsule rooms with study desk space. Reasonable rates for Kyoto.

Capsule Hotel Anshin Oyado Premium Resort Kyoto Shijo Karasuma – Capsule hotel in heart of Kyoto with Hot spring

Sauna & Capsule Hotel Rumor Plaza – Saunas and rooftop patio. 8.3 on booking.com from 847 reviews

Comicop Capsule Hotel Kyoto  – If you love Japanese manga, Comicap Capsule Hotel is your soulmate. It is a coed capsule hotel with a manga cafe theme, it houses a library of manga, a comfy and cute lounge area for eating and for kicking back and luxuriating on your own reading bed. It has a mini kitchen if you want to microwave anything and offers free coffee and tea. A little difficult to find at first, it is housed on the second level in a shotengai. Located 8 minutes from Gion station and not too far from a bus stop.

Women’s Capsule Hotels

Nine hours woman Shinjuku – Clean spacious and super stylish. the capsule bed was simple and spacious and I had very quiet neighbors. They provide 3 towels, a toothbrush, slippers, and pajamas! The shower rooms are huge a few steps from Taiso-ji Temple.

Akihabara Bay Inn Hotel-This was my first capsule hotel and it’s one of my favorites largely because it’s a Women’s Only hotel and there’s some comfort in that.  The energy here is down-to-earth and all-female. The shower and lounge (eating, watching TV, or hanging out) are on the basement and first floor. Sleeping pods are spacious and twin-sized beds. I could sit up upright in them.  Well-maintained and felt clean.

Location: 5 minutes from Akihabara Station, exit towards Yodaibashi Store (you can’t miss it!). Walk straight, towards the corner 7Eleven Store. It’s the second side street after Yodaibashi, turn right and then make a left. It’s tricky to find and even Google Maps has difficulty with it as it’s very tucked away. But it’s closer to the station and easier than you think.

Hotel A-Style Shinsaibashi  All female capsule hotel perched above a 7 Eleven, it is 3 minutes from the subway. Capsule rooms are standard size to many capsule hotels with exception, locker and luggage can feel cramped. It gets quite busy and maintenance is not always spot on. No shoe locker. Located next to a 7-Eleven and a few minutes’ walk from the subway.. After my perfect female capsule hotel experience in Akhihabara, this hotel came into 3rd or 4th place as a capsule hotel.