What is a Capsule Hotel in Tokyo?
You likely have a general idea of what a capsule hotel looks like. Typically, the capsule rooms are compact, providing just enough space for a good night’s sleep. These rooms are usually arranged in rows, with a narrow walkway separating the rows. What you might not know is that capsule rooms cannot be locked, neither from the inside nor outside. Consequently, you should avoid leaving valuables in your capsule and instead use the lockers provided. Additionally, the walls of the capsules are often made of plastic, which can make it noisy at night, so earplugs are highly recommended.
Akihabara Bay Hotel
44-4 Kanda Neribeicho, Chiyoda City
101-0022 Tokyo, Japan
www.bay-hotel.jp/akihabara
Just a short walk from Akihabara Station, the Akihabara Bay Hotel is a women-only capsule hotel with a 2-star rating. It offers a range of amenities, including 130 capsule rooms in soothing pastel colors. In addition to your capsule, you’ll have access to a locker room, lounge, shower facilities, and a laundromat. Of course, complimentary Wi-Fi and a USB port, alarm clock, towels, and toiletries are provided. Prices start at 3,800 yen (about $26.34), although a TV-equipped room will cost a bit more. The hotel is also conveniently located near popular attractions such as anime and comic stores, maid cafes, and video arcades.
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(credit: Play Tokyo)
Book and Bed Tokyo Shinjuku
Kabukicho APM Building 8F
1-27-5 Kabukicho, Shinjuku
160-0021 Tokyo, Japan
www.bookandbedtokyo.com
As the name suggests, this capsule hotel combines the comforts of a cozy stay with the charm of a library filled with books. In fact, the reading area could easily be mistaken for an upscale bookstore. Many of the capsule rooms are positioned next to bookshelves, allowing for easy access to your literary sanctuary. A single capsule room is priced at 3,720 yen (about $25.77). However, additional options such as ordering food and drinks, early check-in, and late check-out are available. The hotel also features a café, double rooms, and a superior room. Moreover, you can enjoy the facilities during the day, including the book lounge or a capsule room with book access.
Capsule Hotel Anshin Premier Shinjuku
Shinkin Building, 2-10
Shinjuku 4-Chome
160-0022 Tokyo, Japan
www.anshin-oyado.jp
Located conveniently near Shinjuku Station, Anshin Oyado is a 1-star hotel for men only. However, don’t let the 1-star rating fool you; the furnishings and amenities here are on par with those of a 3- or 4-star hotel. For instance, guests have access to a spacious hot tub, a dry sauna, and a locker room. There’s also a stylish lounge where you can enjoy complimentary soft drinks, with alcoholic beverages available for a fee. Additionally, you can indulge in a free breakfast or purchase late-night snacks at the front desk. A standard capsule room comes equipped with a Simmons mattress, bedding, a TV, headphones, and more.
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Do-C Ebisu
1 Chome 8-1 Ebisu, Shibuya City
150-0013 Tokyo, Japan
www.do-c.jp/ebisu
Known as C Sauna+Sleep, Do-C is part of Japan’s Nine Hours Group of capsule hotels. This location offers day-use options, overnight stays, and separate sauna facilities for men and women. Besides the sauna, you can access lockers, showers, and a dining lounge. Amenities include complimentary Wi-Fi, toiletries, loungewear, and more. Capsule room rates start at 3,800 yen (about $26.32), with a 5% discount if you register online as a member. The hotel’s location near Ebisu Station provides easy access to numerous dining options, including the popular Ebisu Yokocho.
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First Cabin Akasaka
3 Chome 13-7 Akasaka, Minato City
107-0052 Tokyo, Japan
www.first-cabin.jp/hotels/akasaka
Despite its 1-star rating, First Cabin Akasaka is undeniably one of Tokyo’s finest capsule hotels. This hotel offers business-class cabins for both men and women. Moreover, it’s conveniently located just outside Akasaka Station, as noted on the website: “30 seconds away.” Prices for overnight stays start at 5,500 yen (about $38.10), which is slightly above the average capsule hotel rate. However, rooms frequently sell out, especially during peak times. Business-class cabins provide a bit more space than typical capsule rooms, along with amenities such as room and reading lights, Wi-Fi, toiletries, and access to showers, a communal bath, and a lounge. Like most capsule hotels, First Cabin Akasaka has separate floors for men and women to ensure comfort and safety. Onsite facilities include coin-operated washers and dryers, vending machines, and luggage storage.
(credit Bagus)
Glansit Akihabara
4 Chome-4-6 Sotokanda, Chiyoda City
101-0021 Tokyo, Japan
www.glansit.jp/en/akihabara
Another outstanding capsule hotel in Akihabara is Glansit, a 2-star hotel that welcomes both men and women. Located in the heart of Akihabara Electric Town, Glansit offers separate bedroom floors and lounges for men and women. Accommodation options include a standard capsule, a private capsule, or a twin capsule with two beds. The private and twin capsules have additional space and a side desk, while all rooms have a TV, Wi-Fi, and more. Glansit also offers complimentary coffee and tea, as well as other amenities like laundry facilities, free rental tablets, and a smoking area.
MyCube by MyStays
2 Chome-6-7 Kuramae, Taito City
111-0051 Tokyo, Japan
www.mystays.com
Despite its 1-star rating, MyCube by MyStays offers an experience far superior to what you might expect. The design and furnishings of this capsule hotel, located near Kuramae Station, are more akin to a 3-star hotel. For example, the contemporary lounge area is exceptionally stylish, as are the shower and toilet facilities. On the other hand, overnight rates are slightly higher than the average capsule hotel, starting at 7,400 yen (about $51.26). However, the hotel’s location offers easy access to top attractions like Senso-ji Temple and Tokyo Skytree, making it a worthwhile choice.
Nine Hours Akasaka
4 Chome 3-14 Akasaka, Minato City
107-0052 Tokyo, Japan
www.ninehours.co.jp/akasaka_sleeplab
Nine Hours is one of Japan’s most popular capsule hotel chains, with several locations across the country. This includes Nine Hours Akasaka Sleep Lab, just a four-minute walk from Exit 1 of Akasaka Station. While the standard capsule room offers competitive rates, you also have the option of staying in a room that analyzes your sleep. The Fitscan room, for instance, electronically monitors the quality of your sleep. Regardless of the room type, prices remain consistent on most days. Additionally, you can receive a discount by signing up for a Nine Hours Membership online. The hotel also provides a variety of excellent amenities, including a coffee bar.
(credit: BRT Hotel)
Resol Poshtel Tokyo Asakusa
2 Chome-25-1 Nishiasakusa, Taito City
111-0035 Tokyo, Japan
www.resol-hotel.jp/en/poshtel-asakusa
Resol Poshtel stands out from the many capsule hotels in Tokyo in several ways. To begin with, the hotel’s sophisticated décor, infused with Japanese artwork, evokes the Edo Period. As for accommodations, you can choose a standard cabin or even reserve an entire block of cabins for larger groups. The hotel also features a beautiful lounge area, vending machines, a laundromat, and a smoking area. Conveniently, Resol Poshtel is just a short walk southwest of Asakusa Station.
(credit: Nippon Com)
The Millennials Shibuya
1 Chome 20-13 Jinnan, Shibuya City
150-0041 Tokyo, Japan
www.livelyhotels.com/en/themillennialsshibuya
With a prime location, The Millennials is the top-ranked capsule hotel in Shibuya Ward. This 2-star hotel offers a range of amenities that are often unavailable at other capsule hotels in its class. For instance, you’ll find storage space for your luggage inside your room, and the ceilings are notably higher. Additionally, your bed can recline or convert into a sofa, and you can use your smart device to create an 80-inch screen. If that’s not enough, The Millennials also features a stylish lounge, a communal kitchen, and a large coworking space. Located less than a 10-minute walk from Shibuya Scramble and the iconic Hachiko Statue, this hotel is a great choice for anyone visiting the area.
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About the Author
Randy Yagi is an award-winning freelance writer who served as the National Travel Writer for CBS from 2012 to 2019. More than 900 of his stories still appear in syndication across 23 CBS websites, including New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and San Francisco. During his peak years with CBS, Randy had a reported digital audience reach of 489 million and 5.5 million monthly visitors. Additionally, his stories have appeared in the Daily Meal, CBS News, CBS Radio, Engadget, NBC.com, NJ.com, and Radio.com. He earned a Media Fellowship from Stanford University.
