Tokyo - Capsule Hotel - I've finally done it!

The first time I came to Japan was 7 years ago.  In that time I have stayed in many many hotels and guest houses all across the country from the top of Hokkaido to the tip of Kyushu. 

But never in that time have I taken the opportunity to stay in an infamous 'Capsule Hotel'.  These are the hotels where all you get is a private bunk to call your own. usually people just stay there if they're downtown and stay out too late and just need a place to crash for the night.

In actuality the main reason I never bothered was because they're generally not that great of a deal.  If you look hard enough you can find a real hotel with your own room and own bathroom that's only maybe 1000 yen more... 

But this time I came to Tokyo I had to spend one night in a hotel, since my plane landed late at night and I couldn't get to my friend's house before the last train.  I found a discounted price on a Japanese travel website for a capsule hotel in Shinjuku, so I decided why not...

Shinjuku at night on a friday.  As I got off the train, I was swimming against the stream of throngs of Friday drinkers who were rushing to get on the last train back home.

took me a while to find the place... its on the third floor of retail building.  As with everything in Japan, it has a well articulated pricing system that varies depending on when you come and go.    The posted price is about US$50 a night, but I got it at about US$30 with my Rakuten discount booking! :-P

Actually the first two floors of the building are actually dedicated to this fine establishment....   I'm not exactly sure what it is... but all I know is that ain't a lady... :-P

OK, let's get to the details of the hotel!  onwards with the tour:

You gotta take your shoes off at the entrance and put them in these lockers.  when you check in at the front desk, you pay and then trade your shoes key for a locker key.

then go to the locker room and find your locker number.  you leave your stuff here and change into a pair of shorts and shirt (typical sauna type outfits).  After changing and/or showering, you can head up to the capsule floors... 

Here's the money shot!  rows upon rows of two tiered capsules!   Each one has a screen that rolls down over the entrance.

Here's my capsule...  basically just a bed with a TV built into the ceiling.

it has a control panel w/ an alarm clock and the controls for the TV.  I decided to pay an extra $6 to get the internet connection (so I could do work from my capsule!) :-P

Oh, also there is a lounge area with a small food counter and some tables and magazines to read.  If you get the munchies late at night, there's also one of those fancy food serving Japanese vending machines:

yes, it does Hot Dogs, Chicken Wings, French Fries... you name it!

Anyway, long story short - it wasn't super awesome but it was quite bearable.   I'm not sure how the locker thing would work if you were staying more than one night, but if you're just there for one night and if you don't have a ton of baggage and you're only crashing for the night, its plenty fine!   I may do it again in the future...

Bonus picture:

Red Bull BC1 is coming to Yoyogi Hall on November 27th! too bad I can't stay a few days longer! :-(