Capsule hotel
04/01/2007
I had wanted to try a capsule hotel for quite some time, I finally did it in Akihabara!
I think everybody has heard about capsule hotels, but here is an explanation just in case: as the name suggests, one sleeps in a tiny box. Don't even think about it if you're claustrophobic! Here's a picture of the corridor:
It looks like a spaceship with hibernation capsules!...
Here is my friend Florian just before he's going to enter his presidential suite:
And a close-up shot of the beast:
Inside, just a tiny TV, a radio and an alarm clock. No flourishes, but it's not what you're looking for when you stay here. I must say I slept well, and there was a nice Japanese style bathroom so I could get a real good bath every night.
For the luggage, three solutions:
- put them inside the capsule if their size allows it
- store them in a locker: same remark
- leave them at the reception desk: practically, it means leaving them in the entry hall, which is not the best solution in terms of safety
But capsule hotels were not designed with that in mind. They are typically used as the last solution when one does not know where to sleep. In four nights, I've almost exclusively seen salary men and backpackers, which is really representative of targeted customers.
To be honest, I wouldn't do it again just for fun, but it may help in some situations. However, if you're going to try that kind of "accommodation", I would rather recommend to go an internet cafe, more friendly and cheaper. Indeed, a night at a capsule hotel costs around 4000 yen per night, which is rather expensive considering the services provided.
Category: Accommodation
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