You must have come across the distinct and futuristic aesthetic of a capsule hotel amongst all of the accommodation listings online. You’re absolutely right… They do look amazing! However, just before you commit, continue reading this article for some ‘heads up’ that will aid your decision of whether you should be staying in a capsule hotel, or even which one to book.
The concept of staying in a hotel of sleeping pods was first seen in Japan. They were originally designed to accommodate businessmen and workers who had missed their last train home. Buying a capsule to sleep in for the night was cheaper than paying for a taxi ride home. Capsule hotels still service this demographic, but at the same time, now attract the attention of the curious travellers.
What You Need to Know Before Staying in a Capsule Hotel
1. It’s mandatory to keep your belongings in a locker.
Capsules, also known as pods, are a small contained space that can usually be made private with a roller blind, sliding door or curtain from the front. The tiny room feels safe, despite the fact they can’t usually be locked from the inside or outside.
Theft isn’t really a huge problem in capsule hotels, but belongings should still be stored in the provided lockers. These are normally located in a completely separate room (possibly even on another floor). So if you prefer to keep your valuables close to hand, then the rules of staying in a capsule hotel may not suit your personal requirements.
2. Pyjamas are often provided.
I’m sure the local businessmen wouldn’t anticipate being so late in the office, so much so that they would miss their last train home. However, in these unfortunate situations, capsule hotels provide these visitors with clothes that can be worn during their overnight stay. Not every capsule hotel supplies these pyjamas, but functional accommodations like nine hours do. Please note that it’s not mandatory to wear these clothes. They are just complimentary to your stay.
3. You may need to check out every day.
Differently to your standard hotel, some capsule accommodations require visitors to check out every day. This relates back to their main purpose of hosting overnight businessmen. Even though this may sound particularly awkward, I didn’t find it too annoying for a few reasons.
Firstly, it makes sense that everyone is out in order for the cleaning staff to complete their job efficiently.
Secondly, the hotel is most likely to keep you in the same bed and locker anyway.
And lastly, it ensured that I wasn’t being lazy and unproductive in my bunk (I had no option but to make sure I was out before 10 am).
See Also: '15 Tips to Know Before Going to Tokyo'
4. Not every capsule will have an electric socket.
Most capsules come equipped with an electrical plug or even a USB socket. These are normally positioned inside and at the top so that phones can be charged whilst you are laying down. Its worth double-checking that your prefered capsule hotel does include these, as I have been in some where the only socket is in the reception. This can be quite problematic during the hours of check out where people are desperately trying to fill their phones (and cameras) with as much juice as possible.
5. Make sure to check for air conditioning.
Sleeping in such a confined space whilst each capsule is stacked up one on top of another, can often feel like you’re a turkey in an oven. Poor circulation comes with the enclosed nature of these pods. Damn, you can literally roast in there! As a heads up, I urge you to check the accommodation beforehand to see if they include air conditioning. Most of them do… In these cases, you have the option to create your own personal climate inside. Alternatively, there are those without any form of ventilation which is obviously not as pleasant.
6. Are you there to make friends?
Making phone calls, having a conversation and listening to music without headphones are all prohibited inside the capsule hotel dorms. Thus, ensures that the local workers are able to sleep enough hours before their next day of work. After all, that is the original purpose of staying in a capsule hotel. These rules are usually followed, so popping your head outside of your pod to ask the next traveller where they’ve come from is out of the question. Once your fellow travellers have crawled inside their pod, it’s unlikely that you’ll see them again unless it’s during your midnight trip to the bathroom. So don’t expect to make dozens of new friends in a pod hotel; they provide too much privacy in a way that doesn’t allow for socialising.
7. Not suitable for couples.
For the fortunate few who travel with their other half: capsule hotels may not be the best option, especially if you are looking to spend some time together. It is the norm for accommodations to separate their pods, dividing males from females. The two dorms may even be on a completely different floor! Some hotels have taken this into consideration by including capsules that can accommodate two with a double bed.
8. Slippers must be worn at all times.
EVERY single capsule hotel that I have stayed in has made wearing slippers mandatory. Some provide visitors with the standard towelled hotel versions and others have a shoe rack of plastic sandals to choose from. As a result, the capsule hotels are super clean but also feel homely at the same time.
9. Some capsules will provide you with a desk to work from.
Depending on your reason for travelling, you may or may not need a space to work from. Luckily for us digital nomads, some capsules are equipped with folding desks. Considering they are only small, like a lap tray, they are a ‘nice to have’ if you are looking to get the most from your time in a capsule.
See Also: 'A Digital Nomads Guide to Tokyo'
10. Are you needing quiet time?
Overall, visitors follow the strict rules that have been put in place to limit the noise levels. Although, not everybody can control how much noise they create whilst they are catching some z’s. Unfortunately, capsules don’t solve the problem of snorers choosing to sleep in dorms. Moreover, I am tempted to say that the plastic walls in some of these pods may even echo the noise, so don’t expect a soundproofed cacoon.
Recommendations
Although the capsule hotels originated in Japan, they can now also be found in other cities around the world such as Hong Kong, London and Amsterdam. They are becoming increasingly more common, so you are bound to find one to suit your budget and needs. Below are a few examples if you are considering staying in a capsule hotel.
9h Ninehours (Japan)
Ninehours will provide you with nothing short of a true capsule experience. Their hotels have been tastefully designed with a minimalist touch, each showcasing a futuristic aesthetic perfect for the ‘gram. Every inch of the space feels spotless, yet comfortable. I recommend 9hrs for an evening’s stay to rest if you are in transit or about to embark on your next long journey.
iO Hotel (Malaysia)
The unique capsules of iO Hotel are situated in a local neighbourhood within the capital city of Kuala Lumpur. You can see how funky this accommodation really is from one of my Instagram posts that I have embedded below. These capsules have it all: TV, folding desk, aircon, lighting, a large mirror and even a safe. There was honestly not much reason for me to venture outside!
Book And Bed (Japan)
Book and Bed is the alternative version of staying in a capsule hotel which is particularly suited to the readers amongst us. They have re-thought the essence of a capsule hotel to create a haven for bookworms to spend hours reading before obliviously falling asleep midway through.
My Conclusion to Staying in a Capsule Hotel
Capsule hotels are 100% worth at least one evening of your city break stay. However, I recommend that you spend no longer than a night or two inside. I say this because of the reasons stated above; they do become to be a hassle if you are choosing to stay for a longer duration.
Have you already slept in a capsule hotel? Feel free to share your recommendation below in the comments – I’ll add them to my bucket list.
Let’s go!
@katie.maree
4 comments
Never slept in a capsule hotel, but would love to try it. First in my town (Tallinn) just opened last year 🙂
Wow! That’s very cool – I never knew. Tallinn is actually on my list of to-do’s so I’ll be keeping that in mind for if/when I make it there.
Thank you.