Have you ever thought of staying in a capsule hotel? Those cubicles where people sleep "stacked on each other"? The idea may seem claustrophobic, but in practice it is not. At least if you are under 1.90m tall ...
When we were in Japan, I made sure to experience a capsule hotel. I wanted to know what it feels like to sleep so compressed. I went with an open mind and faced the unusual experience. Just in case, I booked only one night.
Find a capsule hotel that accepts women was not very easy. Most hotels of the genre only accepts men and many of the booking sites have no English translation. After much searching (unsuccessfully) in Tokyo, I ended up deciding for a capsule in the city of Kyoto. I chose the Nine Hours Capsule Hotel, located in Shimogyo-ku, who had great reviews on the internet.
Right at the reception you get the instructions (in English) on how to use the hotel. Their philosophy is that nine hours are enough to have a good night's sleep and enjoy the hotel facilities. Why nine hours? In theory, it would be one hour to shower and make the social in the common area, seven hours of sleep and one hour to get ready before leaving the hotel. Hence the hotel's name: 9 hours (nine hours, in English). The idea is to streamline the time and space, two items scarce in Japan.
How does it work in practice? The reception is open 24 hours and you can check in at any time of the day and night. From then count up the nine hours. To conclusively, the reception staff tell the time that each should make the check out. Because of the limited time, people just entering the hotel when they are tired and want to sleep. It is just to spend the night, literally. Bizarro? A little…
Upon entering the hotel, take off your shoes is critical, as should be done in every house and Japanese temple. It is a matter of hygiene and manners, taken seriously in Japan. Staff keep your shoes in a closet and give you a slipper (surippa) for you to walk around the hotel. Then you get his capsule number and locker keys to store luggage. If the baggage is very large, you have to stay on the ground, in an open place near the front (as in the photos below). If it is small, can you put in lockers that are close to the bathroom. Needing store your bags before or after check in, no problem, the hotel staff keep.
The hotel is relatively small and has a young atmosphere, modern and cool. The design is very minimalist. The stickers on the floor and on the walls, indicate the services and also the exclusive floors for women. Yes, to avoid confusion, there are floors for women only, where men are probidos entering. Ladies only!
Next to the reception is the lounge with wi fi. Who have no computer can rent computers available on site. The climate there is hostel. Many people interacting and exchanging experience. Women who prefer a more quiet atmosphere can opt for exclusive lounge for them, which is located separately.
At bedtime, just look at his capsule by number. The capsules are single. No double capsules. Women on one floor, men in another.
The capsules are stacked side by side, forming two floors. The entire hall is taken by capsule. And no, they do not look like coffins ...
Slippers, or rather suripas in front of the capsules. I was in the capsule 406 and it took me to realize that under the rules of good manners, shoes should be left with the tips facing the exit.
The capsules are about 2 meters long, 1 meter high and 1 meter wide. They are locked in the ceiling and sides, with only the space for entering, which can be closed with a curtain cloth. If you have less than 1.80 m, there will be enough space. Gives sleeping on your side. Can you move. You can even sit inside the capsule.
I confess that I found it claustrophobic. It is unusual, but not claustrophobic. As you can exit the capsule at any time and move within it, it is quiet. Even thought most capsule than I expected. I slept well. It feels like sleeping on the floor underneath a bunk bed.
Inside the capsule there is no TV, radio, wifi, nothing. Only a pillow, a clock, a light and an emergency button for those who have a claustrophobia attack ... It's really just to sleep.
For those who are wondering if the capsule is soundproof, or rather the roar of proof, unfortunately not. If the neighbor is noisy, you will hear!
The bathrooms are in a different location. It is an entire floor only with toilets and showers. Women on the 3rd floor and men on the 9th. Everything is extremely clean and organized.
At the entrance are lockers for storing luggage and where each guest receives a towel, pajamas and a toothbrush. It is very interesting to see all the guests hanging out in pajamas throughout the area of the hotel ...
In another area there makeup chairs with many mirrors and hair dryers.
At the end are the showers. Before entering the box there is a small area where you can change clothes in privacy. If you prefer, you also have the bath in oriental style, with a large hot tub where all bathe together.
Anyway, I enjoyed the experience. The price is interesting (the day went for $ 4700 yen, about US $ 50) and the hotel has a hostel atmosphere with the advantage of having more privacy because the capsule. Some habits and philosophies are very different from what we are accustomed. Therefore, it's fun, unusual and unique. At least, it is a great anthropological experience! Just I do not know if it gives to face many nights like this ...
Negative points:
- The capsules have limited size. Very tall people can literally not fit inside the capsule.
- The permanecência time at the hotel is limited. Duty sleepers may find it difficult to adapt to the philosophy of nine hours away.
- Capsules are not a good one for those traveling as a family. The couples are separated and children are not accepted at the hotel.
- Collective Bathrooms.
And then, already faced or would face one capsule hotel?
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