Best Capsule Hotels In Tokyo

Staying a night in a capsule hotel is a quintessential “only in Japan” experience and Tokyo is the place to do it. If you’re male, you can stay in a traditional capsule hotel (these are male-only). And both males and females can stay in newer “modern” capsule hotels. Here are our picks for the best capsule hotels in Tokyo.

[MyCUBE by MYSTAYS Asakusa Kuramae capsules]

Introduction: What’s a Capsule Hotel?

Capsule hotels are usually covered in shows and articles about “weird and wacky Japan.” They were even referenced in Seinfeld when Kramer housed several visiting Japanese businessmen in a large chest of drawers. So, you’ve probably heard of capsule hotels, but a bit more explanation might be helpful. The first thing to note is that there are traditional capsule hotels and updated modern ones. Read on for details.

[Chilling in the capsules - image © Peter Woodman / CC BY-SA 2.0]

Traditional Capsule Hotels

Traditional capsule hotels are cheap lodgings designed for Japanese businessmen who have missed the last train home. These places always have two parts: a large bathing area with multiples tubs, a sauna and a washing area, and a nearby sleeping area where you’ll find the eponymous capsules. The capsules are often stacked two or three high. Many capsule hotels also have restaurants where you can get a meal and dry-cleaning facilities, so you can get your clothes cleaned while you bathe and sleep (very handy if you’ve been at a smoky bar and need to go to work in the morning).

[Ueno Station Hostel Oriental II capsules]

Modern Capsule Hotels

As mentioned above, traditional capsule hotels cater only to men, which is pretty disappointing for female travelers to Japan. Luckily, there’s a new breed of capsule hotels that cater mostly to foreign travelers both male and female. We call these “modern capsule hotels.”

[Capsules at Resol Poshtel Tokyo Asakusa]

Modern capsule hotels usually offer updated and spacious capsules or mini-rooms, along with pleasant lounge areas and, of course, bathing areas. These places are popular with foreign backpackers and flashpackers and they’re great places to meet other travelers. Popular chains include 9 Hours, The Millenials, and First Cabin.

Are Capsule Hotels for You?

You probably don’t need to be told this, but capsule hotels can be noisy, as people come and go all through the night and the walls of the capsules are very thin. If you’re a light sleeper, you should stay in a regular hotel instead. And the capsules themselves are very cramped, with little room for big suitcases or backpacks. Some places have lockers but even these can be pretty small. If you’ve got big luggage, you can stow it in a train station luggage storage office before your capsule hotel adventure.

[Capsules at Anshin Oyado Tokyo Shinbashi Ekimaeten]

The Best Traditional Capsule Hotels in Tokyo

If you’re a guy looking for a place to try the capsule hotel experience, you cannot go wrong with these excellent places:

[Anshin Oyado entrance]

Capsule Hotel Anshin Oyado Tokyo Shinbashi (male-only)

(View on Booking.com or Agoda.com)
Right next to Shimbashi Station, the Anshin Oyado is our favorite traditional capsule hotel in Tokyo. It’s a clean, efficient and stylish place that also offers tiny rooms in addition to capsules. And Shimbashi is a convenient base for exploring Tokyo.

[In a capsule at Anshin Oyado]

Capsule Hotel Anshin Oyado Premier Tokyo Shinjuku Station (male only)

(View on Booking.com or Agoda.com)
Another branch of the Anshin Oyado chain, this updated traditional capsule hotel is a short walk from the west exits of Shinuku Station. It’s a great place to stay if you want to stay out late exploring Shinjuku nightlife.

[Bathing area at Hotel Oriental II]

Ueno Station Hostel Oriental II (male only)

(View on Booking.com or Agoda.com)
If you want to go old school, this excellent capsule hotel is a good option. It’s up in Ueno, which is convenient to the sights in Ueno Park and Asakusa. Don’t expect frills, but do expect an excellent bath. Note: no tattoos.

[Millennials Shibuya lounge]

The Best Modern Capsule Hotels in Tokyo

Here are the best modern capsule hotels in Tokyo that welcome both men and women. If you’re a backpacker or just want to save money, these places are great for a multi-day stay, not just a handy place to crash after a late night. As with all capsule hotels, just don’t expect silence and space. If you want a bit more space and quiet, keep in mind that you can sometimes find regular budget hotels with fully private rooms for less than the cost of these modern capsule hotels. See our Best Budget Hotels in Tokyo for some picks.

[Millennials Shibuya lounge]

The Millennials Shibuya

(View on Booking.com or Agoda.com)
If you want to be right in the heart of the action in Shibuya and you don’t want to spend a lot on accommodation, check out The Millennials Shibuya. It’s a stylish and friendly place with comfortable pods, sociable lounges and helpful staff.

[Capsules and bookshelves at Book Tea Bed]

Book Tea Bed Shibuya

(View on Booking.com or Agoda.com)
A book, a cup of tea and a bed, what else do you need? This modern capsule is convenient to the shopping and dining district of Shibuya and the rates are incredibly low. If you’re on a tight budget, definitely give this place a look.

[Resol Poshtel lounge]

Resol Poshtel Tokyo Asakusa

(View on Booking.com or Agoda.com)
Located in the sightseeing district of Asakusa, the Resol Poshtel may not be particularly posh, but it’s a friendly and fun modern capsule hotel with ultra-low rates. The sleeping pods are larger than standard capsule and it’s a great place to meet other travelers.

[MyCUBE lounge]

MyCUBE by MYSTAYS Asakusa Kuramae

(View on Booking.com or Agoda.com)
A short distance south of Asakusa and close to Kuramae Station on the Asakusa subway line (which will get you to the Tokyo Station area relatively quickly), this is a nice, comfortable and relatively quiet modern capsule hotel.

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