Unusual Hotels of The World: Capsule Hotel

Nomadic Lifestyle

About Unusual Hotels of The World

Capsule Hotel you say? Yes I did! Yet another one of the many wonderful quirks of travel to Japan are these high density hotels. Designed primarily with the traveling Japanese businessman in mind there are several hotels of this style spread throughout the larger cities in the country. The hotels vary in size with the smaller ones having 50 or so units and larger hotels can house 700 guests. The guest space is very small – roughly 6 feet long, 3 feet wide and 4 feet high. Luggage is stored outside of the unit – usually in a nearby locker and all facilities such as washrooms/toilets are communal which is nothing new to any traveler who has stayed in a hostel the cleanliness of these facilities however, may be a bit of a welcome surprise. Bath robes (or yakutas) are provided with the idea that either the robe or pajamas which you provide yourself, will be the only thing you wear inside the hotel. Most capsule hotels have a restaurant on site or at the very least vending machines are available.

The sleeping units are designed with televisions built in. They also have a console which houses an alarm clock, radio, light switch and the controls for the television. The capsules are designed such that you won’t knock anything over should you happen to suddenly wake in the middle of the night. Privacy is insured by a curtain or blinds that cover the window in the door. Popular as this style of lodging is in Japan, it hasn’t caught on in other parts of the world, though a few have been built in Europe.

For a uniquely Japanese experience why not stay at one of these the next time you travel to Japan?

Will @ August 20, 2008