The Best Capsule Hotels to Stay at in Tokyo

Uniquely Japanese, capsule hotels are a great way to get a feel for the culture and save some money at the same time. Mainly aimed at businessmen who just need somewhere to sleep the night, many having missed the last train home, it's now become highly popular for budget travelers looking for alternatives to hostels.

Nine Hours

If you're flying out of Narita Airport early in the morning, or arriving late at night, there's no need to sleep in the airport terminal. Nine Hours features some rather alluring modern decor for their capsules, albeit it's still no frills here. Prices are a little high compared to the city, ranging from 5,500 yen if booked in advance, but it's a no brainier if you need to stay around the airport. You can also use it in the day for a few hours to catch up on sleep.

First Cabin

For those that want something a bit more than the typical claustrophobia-inducing capsules, First Cabin's pods are much more luxurious than the average capsule hotel. Here you'll get a normal bed, although quite a slim single, it's much bigger than anything a capsule hotel can throw at you. They also have superior rooms available which are much larger and have space to stand around in.

Capsule Hotel Anshin Oyado Premier Tokyo Shinjuku Station

If it's your first capsule hotel experience, you could do much worse than the capsules at Anshin Oyado. While the name might be a bit of a mouthful to repeat to taxi drivers, luckily the hostel is located right next to Shinjuku Station, less than a minute walk from the east exit. The cabins themselves look gorgeous and are fitted with TVs, with enough space for most people as long as you're not taller than two meters. There are even baths provided for customers along with a reading room with free drinks.

Capsule Hotel Transit Shinjuku

Offering no frills, basic capsules at the heart of Kabukicho, this hostel is one of the cheapest you'll find starting from just 2,500 yen. Most importantly the rooms and capsules are clean, with space to put belongings and charge your phone.

Conclusion

When visiting Tokyo, it's highly recommended to try staying at a capsule hotel for at least one night, however this style of accommodation isn't for everyone. If you're a light sleeper, it can be difficult to get off to sleep, as people are often coming in late at night, sometimes a little drunk. The capsules can often be quite hot too, most tend to have poor ventilation inside. If you can't sleep at a capsule hotel but need budget accommodation, consider business hotels or even love hotels. Aimed at couples, it's fine for anyone to stay there and prices are usually much cheaper than regular hotels.

If you do decide to stay at a capsule hotel, it's best to book for just one night, in case you can't get used to it. But also because almost all capsule hotels require guests to check out in the morning everyday and check back in later in the afternoon, even if you stay there for consecutive nights.