One of the more unique interests many foreigners notice in Japan is the ever convenient capsule hotel. The idea of a capsule hotel is to provide customers with a modest place to sleep for a reasonable cost. The ‘capsule’ part of the name comes from the compact sleeping area provided to each guest, just large enough to lay down and get some sleep. When looking for accommodations to stay a night in Shinjuku,  I knew that this was my chance to experience one of these nifty accommodations.

When I began my search, I found that there are a surprising amount of capsule hotels to choose from (especially in more bustling areas such as Tokyo), and the price for each is more or less the same (around $20). I eventually decided upon nine hours, since it really seemed to play up the different nature of a capsule hotel. I made my reservation and was set to go!

From the outside, nine hours is very unassuming, so much so that I passed by it completely during my first attempt to locate it. I walked inside and took an elevator up to the reception desk (it’s not on the first floor, but closer to the top). I was greeted by two receptionists, whom I handed my reservation number to. One of them handed me a bag with some items (slippers, sleeping clothes, towel), and explained the basics of the facility:

• Provided slippers were to be worn while in the hotel. Sleeping clothes were to be worn while in the sleeping pod area (the capsules are referred to as ‘pods’ here).
• the men’s area was on one floor, women’s on a separate floor (sleeping area and lockers included)
• Communal showers and restrooms were on a separate floor as well (one floor for men, one for women.
• Check out time was at 10am, and would apply to all guests (even those staying multiple nights)

For travelers coming to Japan, I strongly recommend printing out your reservation receipt, or at least having it ready to pull up on your phone, as communication with staff can be a little difficult if your Japanese isn’t strong. It’s possible that some staff may be stronger in English, but the people helping me seemed hesitant to speak it. I should also note that there is a lounge area behind the reception area, where guests are free to sit, use the complementary wifi, and chat with fellow guests. I chose to forego exploring the area, as I had an early morning the next day, but it seemed to be fairly normal.

After I was checked in, I headed to the men’s floor to drop my things off in my assigned locker. In place of a key, I was given a card with a QR code. I was told all I had to do was place the code under the sensor, and my locker would open. Seemed simple enough. Unfortunately, I had a bit of trouble making the sensor read the code. A couple of friendly people using the locker next to mine were kind enough to help me figure it out; it seems you have to hold the code very close to the sensor, and then slowly pull it away, this will help the reader focus (I guess). It wasn’t too bad once I knew what to do, though I am still a fan of using an old fashioned key.

As for the communal shower area, I don’t have too much to complain about. You can use any available shower area, which includes the shower itself, as well as an area to place your clothes and towel. Very convenient, and everything worked as it should.

Now to the main event: the capsule sleeping area. Upon exiting the locker area and stepping into the sleeping quarters, I was greeted with a startling silence. Of course this is to be expected, since there are people trying to sleep, but this along with the hallway of illuminated portholes created a certain atmosphere. There were also numbers along the ground indicating to guests where their assigned area was. I was intrigued. It reminded me of something you might see in a Sci-Fi movie. In addition, wearing the required sleep wear (black top, black bottoms) enhanced the unnatural feeling. Everyone was given the same clothes, assigned a number and an area. Strict check out time. Stripped of any individuality (or maybe I’m looking into this too much).

Following the numbers along the floor, I soon found my sleeping pod. I climbed the ladder and gazed inside to view my abode for the next few hours. As expected, it was quite modest. The pod offered some sheets and a pillow, two small shelves, a couple power outlets, and a dimmer switch for the light. There was also a shade at the front that could be pulled down to provide some privacy. The pod was much roomier than I had anticipated. I am around 6 feet tall, and I was able to sit straight up without any difficulties (with even a little room to spare). I could also lie down with enough room to stretch out a bit. I took this time to test the free wifi provided, and it worked fairly well (no real problems to report). In general, everything offered seemed adequate for the price I paid.

My biggest problem with the pod was the material: the walls of the capsule seemed like some sort of plastic. This worked well to give off a cool aesthetic, but the material is also useful for reverberating and carrying sound. Put this together with a flock of tourists shifting around, dropping phones, accidentally hitting their heads against the roof of their pod, it creates sudden noises that echo in the hall of the otherwise quiet room. Though this didn’t happen too frequently, it happened often enough to be annoying (this may not be the proper accommodation for a light sleeper).

Once morning came I changed into my normal clothes, retrieved the items from my locker, and checked out of the hotel. In general it was a favorable experience, with a few downsides. In many ways I would liken capsule hotels to hostels, perhaps with a bit more privacy since your sleeping area is enclosed.

Pros:

• Price: Like most capsule hotels, the price is generally about $20 a night (possibly closer to $30 during busier seasons)
• Decent accommodations: Your basic needs are adhered to. A place to sleep, shower, place your belongings, wifi, and even a lounge area.

Cons:

• Noise: The sleeping pod material, while cool to look at, help sound resonate more than other places of this type, which is not ideal for accommodations housing multiple guests.
• Not ideal for those staying more than a single night: If you are planning to stay for a single night, there is little to no problem. However, if you plan on staying for longer, it can be inconvenient, as you are required to check out at 10am every morning, and check back in around 1pm (this includes emptying your locker). The reason for this is that you are not guaranteed to have the same sleeping pod and locker every day, which I find to be a bit strange. Perhaps there is a better reason as to why it is done this way, though other capsule hotels don’t require this.

Neutral:

• The atmosphere. Though this could be a pro for some people, others may be turned off by the atmosphere given off at nine hours. It really does give off a Sci-Fi appearance that many can appreciate (myself included), especially in the pod room, but the sterile aesthetic could make others feel uneasy.

At the end of the day, I would recommend a stay at a capsule hotel to solo travelers looking for a cheep place to stay during their adventures. As far as staying at nine hours, I would only recommend it to those who are looking for the specific atmosphere it offers, as well as to those looking for a single-night stay. If you are looking to stay at a capsule hotel but aren’t sure nine hours is for you, there are plenty of other options to choose from. If the cons are a deal-breaker for you, a different type of accommodation might be better suited.