Capsule Hotel

Sleeping in a capsule hotel has been on my bucket list for a while now.  I'm really glad I made the effort to stay in one on my trip up to Tokyo.  I haven't done it sooner because they are not very family friendly, and they are not cheap either.  I stayed in the one located right in the Tokyo airport.  It was about $75 for the night.  I say they are not family friendly because the women and men are separated and you have to pay per person.

Once walking in there was a desk and a small reception area.  I checked in, and was given a bag with a towel, robe, and key.  I was informed my locker and pod number and was told to read the rules, which included no talking and no talking on the phone.  Pretty much, don't make any noise.

Then I went through the door on the right, while the men went through the door on the left.  Immediately inside there were lockers.  I saw people with their suitcases getting their robes on, so I followed suit.

Then I headed to to the shower and brushed my teeth.  

Next I went into another door into the sleeping area with the pods.  About half were closed and half were open.  I arrived around 10 or 11pm.

I had plenty of room in my pod to sit up and move around.  

It had one simple pillow and blanket.

The pod area was dark and I could turn off my individual pod light at anytime.  I was told check out time was at 10am and the weird thing was there were absolutely no windows not even in the reception area so there was no way to mark the time.  The pod area stays dark the entire day (except the couple hours it is closed for cleaning).  I guess so anyone can come sleep in peace even during the daytime.

The pods were also not very secure, there was nothing stopping anyone from going into anyone else's pod.  I think that is the reason for the women being on opposite side of the building from the men.  While it was quiet I could easily hear others climbing in and out of their pods after I was in bed.

It was so bizarre to see other people getting ready and walking around but not acknowledging each other.  Not a single hi or head bow was offered.  I think it felt quite lonely and isolating.  In a way it was so Japanese.  Very efficient, very clean, everyone was respectful to each other to a point of ignoring them.