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Japan has a reputation as being an expensive country to visit, and it’s true that you could blow through a lot of yen quickly if you are the type who enjoys staying in five-star hotels or dining in Michelin-rated restaurants. However, it’s actually quite easy for a budget traveler to enjoy Japan in style and without going broke. There are great business hotels often in good locations and offering compact, functional and a relatively cheap rooms (approx $80 per night), there are minshuku offering relatively cheap options at a per person price, but perhaps the most interesting option is the unique and innovative capsule hotel.
What is a capsule hotel?
Well, in general, capsule hotels feature tiny but stylish capsules or pods that are typically just big enough for a person to sleep or to sit up in. These coffin-like rooms, which are stacked on top of each other in rows, were originally intended to be used by businessmen who had been working late or had partied too long at happy hour and had somehow missed the last train home.
Nowadays, the capsule hotel has also caught on with some travelers as an inexpensive and interesting alternate to a hotel room. Typically, these futuristic-looking capsules will set a traveler back about $35 to $65 for a night. Most of the units even provide some form of entertainment for their guests, such as a small television or a radio…..some of the TV is not for everyone…
In addition to the pods, capsule hotels also offer shared bathroom facilities, lockers for your belongings. Some may also feature a large communal area for relaxing as well as. Although a majority of these capsule hotels cater only to men, there are also some available that offer separate floors for men and women.
Of course, these little pods aren’t going to be everybody’s cup of tea. The Japanese, especially those living in big cities like Tokyo and Kyoto, are used to living and sleeping in tight quarters, but for many foreigners, these pods may be just too claustrophobic for their tastes. In addition, the walls tend to be thin, so your neighbor’s snoring may be a problem but, then again, that is also true of hostels. Capsules are a fun ‘cultural’ experience for a night, but not recommended for your entire trip.
There are some modern ‘designer’ capsules these days offering a more relaxing and good looking capsule for your money. Here’s a video from the cool, yet functional 9 Hours Capsule in Kyoto.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CRT4dU6r-KQ]
A good experience…perhaps not for everyone.