Sleep Tight: One night at a capsule hotel in Tokyo

This post is real rich coming from me. I just wrote a post a few days complaining about budget hotels and here I am fresh out of one! It’s crazy because it was one of my top things to do here in Tokyo. I wanted to stayed in a capsule hotel and ride on bullet train! One down and one more to go.

It’s weird because initially I didn’t even consider it a budget hotel. I just thought of it as a cool concept. And it actually wasn’t all that budget friendly, it was $161. But, I’m sure I was paying more for the location rather than a closet sized room. Also the hotels in Tokyo are expensive period, but thats a whole ‘other blog post to come.

After searching the net for reviews on cool capsule hotels, I came across this Rakuten site that listed the best ones in Tokyo. I don’t know why I didn’t look at all of them and just chose the Millennials Shibuya, but yeah.

I packed up my bags and left from my first hotel, the Hyatt Regency in Tokyo Bay. If you plan on going to Disneyland I definitely recommend it, it was perfect. Anyhow! I headed towards the city and got there shortly after 3, check-in time. I handed over my passport and watched a quick video of how the hotel works. No food or drinks in the room. No extra body in the hotel or your bed. And no walking around naked. Got it.

The room I chose was on the females only floor. I think it was around twenty or so beds. I was more around the corner so I only had one bed next to mine. There is a sliding rack under the bed, but it is only large enough for carry on sized luggage. I had to put my large suitcase in at angle to close the plastic “door” for my room.

After situating my luggage I explored the rest of the floor. There is a shower room, with three different individual showers in its own room, adjoined with a private dressing room. The sinks are communal and it was three of them. In the bathroom it was the same set up. Everything was really clean and well stocked. They shower stalls even had nice body wash and shampoo. The bathroom included a washer and dryer as well. It wasn’t free though.

Shortly after doing the tour of floor, I headed downstairs for free beer hour. It’s just not in my DNA to turn down free alcohol. They offer free beer in a really cute lounge area in the lobby. It has comfy seating and lighting and a nice vibe. In the morning they have a nice espresso machine with really good coffee in there too. After my drinks and grabbing dinner a few blocks away, I came back to the hotel and jumped in the bed.

The room and the bed were really comfortable! Even though it was a bed and nothing else, it didn’t feel weird or uncomfortable. The bed reclined up and down into a flat or sofa position. The mattress was not too firm but not too soft. I really enjoyed my night and morning there.

And you know what’s crazy?

I could have spent a few more nights there and didn’t need all the other trappings of a traditional hotel room! I was kind of sad to go. The hotel was clean and close to everything. Just wow.

I only have one little slight negative, and that would be lack of personal security. The hotel does have security at night, but your individual room does not. Like if you don’t have a lock on your luggage, someone could go through it while you’re away. Or if you left your purse on the bed while showering someone could take it. There are cameras in the sleeping areas, but still.

So yeah that was my first experience at capsule hotel. I would definitely stay there again.