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The Pros and Cons of Staying in a Capsule Hotel

Capsule hotels are becoming increasingly common across East Asia. Particularly in Japan. In a capsule hotel, you sleep in a small pod with just a mattress inside. There are shared bathrooms and common spaces. Capsule hotels are cheaper than regular hotels and they are surprisingly comfortable. There are some drawbacks. They don’t offer the same level of privacy. This guide outlines the pros and cons of staying in a capsule hotel to help you decide whether or not it’s the right choice for you. I’ll cover comfort, convenience, amenities, cost, privacy, cleanliness, and more. 

The capsule room in a capsule hotel in Tokyo, Japan
A capsule hotel in Tokyo
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Pros

  • Affordable
  • Conveniently located
  • Clean
  • You can meet other travelers
  • More privacy than hostels
  • 24 hour reception
  • Nice amenities
  • Novelty

Cons

  • Capsules can feel claustrophobic
  • Can be noisy
  • You have to share a bathroom
  • You can’t unpack and spread out
  • Luggage is usually stored in a separate room
  • It can be difficult to climb in and out of a capsule
  • The capsules can get stuffy

What is a Capsule Hotel?

A capsule hotel is a type of hotel with bed-sized rooms. The capsules are around 7 feet long by 4 feet wide by 3 feet tall. The entire floor of the capsule is covered by the mattress. The capsules are closed on all sides for privacy. There is a door on one side that you can crawl in and out of. Capsules are large enough to sit up and move around in but they are not tall enough to stand up in. There are many capsules in each room. The capsules are placed in rows and stacked. 

Each capsule usually has a small shelf inside as well as a couple of hangars where you can hang some clothes. Most capsules have an outlet inside where you can charge your devices. There will also be a reading light. Sometimes, there is a small lockbox inside where you can store valuables like a camera or laptop. Some higher-end capsules have a small TV inside. Oftentimes, there is a fan as well for ventilation. Of course, there is also a pillow and sheets and a blanket. 

Capsule hotels have shared bathrooms and showers. There are also lockers where you can securely store your belongings. Many capsule hotels also have a common area with seating where you can work on your laptop, meet other guests, read, eat, or just hang out. 

Capsule hotels originated in Osaka, Japan in 1979. They were designed to provide a cheap, comfortable, and convenient place for Japanese workers to sleep if they missed the last train home. These days, capsule hotels are common all across East and Southeast Asia. They are starting to pop up in other parts of the world as well. Sometimes, they can be found in airports. Capsule hotels are also known as pod hotels. 

Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan

Pros of Capsule Hotels

1. Capsule hotels are affordable

Staying in a capsule hotel is far cheaper than staying in a regular hotel. The cost varies depending on the country you’re in. On average, a bed in a capsule hotel costs $20-$40 per night in more expensive countries like Japan, Korea, or Singapore. In cheaper countries like Thailand or Indonesia, you can find a bed in a capsule hotel for around $10-$20. 

On average, staying in a capsule hotel costs about half as much as staying in a budget hotel. The cost is comparable to staying in a hostel. The low cost makes capsule hotels great for budget travelers, solo travelers, and those who only need a place to sleep for a few hours.

2. Good locations

Capsule hotels are usually located in dense urban areas, near public transport. This makes them convenient for travelers. You can easily access the metro from the hotel and go anywhere in the city. This makes sightseeing easy. You won’t have to spend time walking or taking a taxi. In these central areas, there are also lots of bars, restaurants, convenience stores, and other shops. There may even be some attractions nearby. It’s extremely convenient to stay in a good location in the city center. Regular hotels are also available in these locations but they are far more expensive. 

Oftentimes, there are also capsule hotels located either inside or near airports and large train stations. This is convenient if you just need a place to sleep for a few hours. I stayed in a capsule hotel in Denpasar airport in Bali when I arrived late at night. It was really convenient.

3. More privacy than hostels

A capsule hotel is not as private as a regular hotel but it is more private than a hostel. You can close the door on your capsule and have a space to yourself where nobody can see you or bother you. It’s much more private than a bunk bed. Nobody will even know you’re inside.

There are walls on all sides that separate you from the other capsules. The capsules are large enough to sit up in. You can organize your luggage and even change your clothes in your capsule. 

Inside a capsule hotel room
Inside a capsule. There is a small TV, a fan, a mirror, headphones, a blanket, a pillow, a charging port, a small shelf, and a clothes hanger.

4. They’re clean

Every capsule hotel that I’ve stayed in has been spotless. The capsules are always clean and fresh. The bathrooms are cleaned regularly.

This is probably a cultural thing. Most capsule hotels are located in East Asian countries like Japan, Korea, and Singapore where cleanliness is part of the culture.

5. You can meet other travelers

Capsule hotels aren’t as social as hostels but there are opportunities to socialize. Most capsule hotels have a common area where you can work on your laptop, read, eat, and just hang out. It would be easy to strike up a conversation with other travelers here. If there is a kitchen you could interact with other travelers there. You could even meet other travelers in the capsule room. 

Generally, people staying in capsule hotels aren’t as social as people staying in hostels. Many people who stay in capsule hotels are only there for one night. Locals may also stay in capsul hotels. They may not be looking to meet travelers. The people you meet will be friendly but they may not be open to hanging out or going sightseeing with you. If you’re looking to socialize, a hostel is better.

6. You can charge your devices inside the capsule

Most capsules have an electrical outlet inside where you can charge your phone, laptop, camera, etc. Some capsules only have a USB port.

This is nice because you can charge everything up while you sleep.  You never have to leave your valuable devices unattended charging in the common area. You never have to fight over outlets with other guests.  

7. 24 hour reception

Most capsule hotels have a reception that is open 24 hours. This is convenient if you’re arriving in the middle of the night or very early in the morning. You can check right in and get to sleep. 

I did this when I arrived in Bali. My flight got in a midnight. By the time I picked up my luggage and went through immigration, it was 2 am. I stayed in a capsule hotel at the airport. It was so convenient being able to check right in. 

8. Novelty

Staying in a capsule hotel is kind of a unique experience. Particularly if you’re traveling in Japan, where the idea originated. There are some really great capsule hotels there. If you’ve never stayed in a capsule before, I recommend you try it out. It’s kind of fun. 

I stayed in an incredible capsule hotel in Tokyo. The place was basically a resort. In the common area, there were free alcoholic drinks every evening. You just served yourself. They also had free rice 24/7. For breakfast, they served Japanese curry. There were also massage chairs and there was an onsen in the basement. In the bathroom, they had almost every type of toiletry you could imagine. There were free disposable toothbrushes and razors. I could have lived at that place. It was so unique and comfy. 

A serve-yourself open bar at a capsule hotel in Tokyo

9. Amenities

Capsule hotels can come with some nice amenities. Oftentimes, breakfast is included. There is usually free tea and coffee as well. Many capsule hotels also have free toiletries in the bathrooms. You don’t need to bring your own soap and shampoo. Sometimes, there are even free toothbrushes and razors. There are sometimes workspaces. There may be a TV in the capsule. 

Cons of Capsule Hotels

1. Capsules can feel claustrophobic

A small capsule can make you feel a little bit claustrophobic. You can’t stretch your arms out without hitting the walls. The capsule will be just tall enough to sit up inside. When the door is closed, you can feel a bit confined. This may make some people feel anxious. 

Not all capsules feel this way. I have stayed in higher-end capsule hotels with larger capsules that feel almost like a small room. Lower-end capsule hotels often buy cheap pre-made capsules that are very small.

2. At some capsule hotels, you have to clear out your capsule every day

Some capsule hotels close during the day and clean all the capsules. There may be a period during the day where you must leave the capsule and remove your belongings, even if you’re staying more than one night. There will be lockers where you can lock up your belongings. 

This policy is pretty rare. I have only experienced it at one capsule hotel. Usually, you can leave your belongings in the capsule as long as you’re a guest. You can use your capsule at any time of day. You will have to remove your belongings if you want your sheets changed. 

3. They can be noisy

Most capsule hotels have quiet hours. Usually, you are expected to stay quiet in the capsule room at all times. The common areas often have quiet hours as well. Usually between 10pm and 7am. 

There will still be some noise. If someone near you is snoring, you will be able to hear them. The walls between the capsules block some noise but they are thin. Someone could also accidentally hit the side of the capsule while moving around and make a knocking sound. You will hear people opening and closing their capsules. You will hear people walking around. In the morning, you will hear people’s alarms going off. It won’t be silent. This can be an issue if you’re a light sleeper.

There are a few ways to block the noise. Most capsules have a fan built in. You can turn the fan on for some white noise. This will drown out most sounds. Most capsule hotels also offer earplugs. Just ask reception.

4. Most spaces are shared

You will have to share the bathroom with other guests. During the morning and evening, you may have to wait to use the shower if they’re all occupied. You’ll also share the common areas. If the hotel is busy, the common area could feel crowded. There will be people in the locker room and dining room pretty much all the time.

Sharing facilities with other guests can be annoying. Sometimes you may have to wait to use certain facilities. Some people simply might not feel comfortable sharing. It can feel awkward at times. 

A common area in a capsule hotel
An outdoor common space at a capsule hotel

5. You can’t unpack and spread out

When you stay in a capsule hotel, there isn’t room to unpack and spread out in your capsule like you can in a hotel room. You will store most of your luggage in a locker. There may be a small cubby or shelf in your capsule but that’s about it. The bed is usually large enough that you could sleep next to a small day pack or laptop bag. 

You will have to store your main luggage in a locker. One nice thing about a locker is that it keeps your belongings safe. You can lock up your laptop, passport, camera, etc. in the locker where nobody can get to it. 

6. Luggage storage is usually in a separate room

At most capsule hotels, you store your luggage in a locker room. The lockers are usually not located in the room with the capsules. 

This can be kind of a hassle. If you need to get something from your luggage, you’ll have to go to your locker, unlock it, dig through your suitcase, and then lock everything up. If you forget something, you’ll have to go back to the locker room. 

I stayed in a capsule hotel where the locker room was located on the ground floor and the capsules were located on the 4th and 5th floors. Every time I needed to get something from my luggage, I had to take the elevator down. It was a hassle. 

7. Climbing in and out of the capsule can be a challenge

Usually, there are two capsules stacked on top of one another. If you’re on the lower capsule, you’ll have to climb in from the floor. If you’re in the upper capsule, you’ll have to climb a ladder, kind of like climbing into a bunk bed. The door to some capsules can be pretty small. You may need to crouch down or duck your head when entering and exiting the capsule.

It can be kind of tough to get in and out of the capsule. Particularly if you’re tall, overweight, or if you have some type of mobility problem. I’m fairly tall and I sometimes struggle to climb in and out of the capsule. I might have to bend my neck in an uncomfortable manner or climb in on my hands and knees. It’s kind of uncomfortable. If you’re on the top capsule, climbing a ladder in and out in the night if you have to go to the bathroom is also a hassle.

8. The capsule can get stuffy and smelly

If you’re staying in the same capsule for 3+ days, it can get kind of stuffy. There isn’t much air circulation in such a small space. You might start to smell your dirty laundry and body odor. 

When your capsule starts getting smelly, you can ask for it to be cleaned. You can also reduce the stuffiness by keeping your dirty laundry out of the capsule and keeping yourself clean. Some capsules also have a ventilation system to help keep odors out. 

The author dressed in lounge clothes at a capsule hotel
Some capsule hotels in Japan provide you with lounge clothes

My Experience

I first stayed in a capsule hotel while traveling in Japan a couple of years ago. Since then, I have stayed in capsule hotels in South Korea, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, and Jordan. 

I love staying in capsule hotels. I have found that they are a nice cross between a regular hotel and a hostel. They are far cheaper than hotels but offer more privacy than hostels. Staying in a capsule is usually a bit more expensive than staying in a hostel but not much.

There are different types of capsule hotels. Lower-end ones have cheap plastic capsules that are small and kind of uncomfortable. Higher-end capsule hotels have roomier and more comfortable capsules with more amenities. When I stay in a capsule hotel, I won’t book the cheapest one. I’ll look for a higher-end one and pay a little more for a more comfortable bed. 

Capsule hotels are clean, affordable, and surprisingly comfortable. They also offer convenient central locations and 24 hour reception. There are some drawbacks to consider. Capsule hotels don’t offer as much privacy. You have to share the facilities. Some people find the capsules to be claustrophobic. 

If you’ve never stayed in a capsule hotel before, I recommend you give it a try to see whether or not you like it. 

Have you stayed in a capsule hotel before? Share your experience in the comments below!

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