Are Japanese Capsule Hotels Worth Your Bucket List?

Capsule hotels in Japan offer a unique, efficient, and often delightful travel experience that you won't want to miss. 

Check out the show notes for the best capsule hotels and more 👉 

The episode dives into the history, booking tips, and personal experiences, showcasing why these tiny living spaces have become a favorite for adventurous travelers.

• Exploring the unique history and concept of capsule hotels 
• Discussing personal experiences and the joy of staying in a capsule 
• Tips for booking the right capsule hotel 
• Packing essentials for a minimalist stay 
• What to expect upon arrival and check-in 
• Amenities and communal spaces enhancing the experience 
• Final tips for making the most of your capsule hotel adventure

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Transcript

Alexandra 0:00

dare I say , maybe like a little sardine can , but in the best way possible . Hello , adventurers , and welcome back to Ticket Before you Kick it , the podcast that's here to inspire , inform and get you ticking off those unforgettable adventures off your bucket list . I'm Alexandra , and today we're going to be shrinking our space , but not our sense of adventure , as we dive into one of Japan's most unique travel experiences , and that is capsule hotels .

What Are Capsule Hotels?

Alexandra 0:25

Now , if you're just picturing a cozy little sleeping pod about the size of a toaster slot , you're not far off . Capsule hotels in Japan are quirky , efficient and surprisingly comfortable . In this episode , I'm gonna be taking you through everything you need to know about staying in one , from the why to the how and , of course , how to enjoy every second of it . By the end , you'll probably be adding this to your travel bucket list .

Alexandra 0:48

So let's dive in . So let's just start with the basics . What even is a capsule hotel ?

Brief History of Capsule Hotels

Alexandra 0:55

Well , picture this . It's the late 1970s and Japan's urban areas are booming , but space is at a premium and the need for quick , convenient and affordable lodging is on the rise . So enter the capsule hotel . This is a brilliant concept where guests can rent a tiny , efficient pod , stacked along the others , all in a clean , streamlined environment . Each pod offers enough space for just a little bed , has some basic comforts like a little light . It's literally minimalist , living at its best . It's almost like a sci-fi scene brought to light . And there's these rows of futuristic space age capsules waiting to just host travelers . And here's the cool part the whole concept has gone from purely practical to a bucket list experience , because people come and stay in these capsule hotels not just for their budget friendly rates , but just for the novelty , the Japanese efficiency and culture . So let's talk a little bit about my personal experience in a capsule hotel

Why I Stayed in a Capsule Hotel

Alexandra 1:51

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Alexandra 1:51

Now , I ended up going to Japan because I had a few friends working at Disney and we wanted to go visit them . So I ended up going with my best friend to this capsule hotel and we honestly chose the capsule hotel just because of its uniqueness and because it was a bucket list stay . I mean , how often do you get to literally have a little capsule that you go into ? Again , it was like a sci-fi movie just brought to life . So I found this little capsule hotel . We checked in at the front and , honestly , it kind of felt like a really cool bucket list hostel to me . So we had our own little room and each room had their own set of pods and you know we were sharing with others because we were just us two .

Alexandra 2:30

However , it wasn't crowded or anything , and I do say hostel very lightly , because every time I've stayed in a hostel it's been kind of a crapshoot . However , this was very clean , it was very well maintained . There wasn't a partying atmosphere like a normal hostel . I'm just saying that the whole little like dorm room and then you just have your own capsule inside you know it's very communal did kind of feel like a hostel . But again , it was just the experience and it was funny because when we checked in the hostel that we were staying at , personally gave us robes . Then they also had a little spa area where you could go and just sit in these really cool traditional Japanese bathtubs and pamper yourself . So that was really cool . But yeah , it was cool . They gave us like a whole little package . They gave us a little toothbrush and , yeah , very convenient and very efficient .

Alexandra 3:18

So I ended up taking the top capsule , my best friend ended up taking the bottom capsule and it was just fun . It was so fun to like crawl up in there . I don't know about you , but I'm like a little kid and I love forts . You know like it's like building your own little fort . You have your own little tiny space and it was even to the point where as a kid , I would take like refrigerator boxes and then we would decorate them with markers and then I'd sleep in them . So I have been prepping for this capsule hotel ever since I was little and I just didn't know about it because it kind of did feel like sleeping in a large refrigerator box and it was so cute Again , had a little light , had a little charging station , just felt like I was in some futuristic spaceship being prepped to go to the other planets , except just throw in some Japanese culture in there and you've got it . It was probably one of the most unique hotels that I've stayed in , up until I climbed to a pod on the side of a cliff in Peru , but up until then this was pretty much the weirdest , most unique place that I have ever stayed and that's what makes it bucket list accommodation . Overall , stayed a few days , absolutely loved my experience and I can now say that I've checked it off my bucket list

How to Book a Capsule Hotel

Alexandra 4:31

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Alexandra 4:31

So now you're curious about how to book a capsule hotel . If you are looking to add this to your Japan itinerary , again , I would recommend it , because you need accommodation anyway , so you might as well just like check the accommodation itself off your bucket list , in addition to checking off some other Japanese things off your bucket list . So I found some great , easy options on websites like bookingcom , or you can even book through the hotel's own site . If you have a specific place that you like , definitely go check out those show notes on thebucketlistmermaidcom . I will be linking some capsule hotels that are my favorite , so if you don't want any of the work of finding any of them , I will find them for you and then you can just literally click that link and book it . I'll do all the hard work for you . How about that ? I just love lazy travel , don't you ? However , if you are into finding your own capsule hotel , I would recommend checking the reviews and photos just to get a feel for what's offered .

Alexandra 5:25

Capsule hotels can be super high-tech , while others have a more traditional feel . As I said , I feel like mine was a mix . The overall vibe of the dorm room with the capsules , as well as the little spa onsen area , did feel a little bit more traditional , but while I was in the pods it felt a little more high-tech . So I would see what is more important to you . Check out the reviews , check out the photos before booking , just to make sure that you know what you're getting . That being said , look for ones that offer amenities like onsen baths or lounge areas . If you're traveling solo , many capsule hotels offer separate floors or sections for men and women , so check that if it is important to you . We stayed in an all-woman capsule hotel . I don't think that it was necessarily done that way for safety reasons or for comfort reasons . It was just kind of how it worked out and I have no complaints about that . And while most capsule hotels and tourist areas do have English-speaking staff , it is always helpful just to know a few phrases or just have a translation app like Google Translate just to smooth out any language

Packing Tips

Alexandra 6:26

barriers .

Alexandra 6:26

Now packing tips it is a minimalist experience , so do go light . You do normally get a locker for a small bag , and the hotels often provide amenities like towels , pajamas and slippers . As I said , we even got like a cute little robe , which was a very nice touch , and we did also get slippers and , again , that little package . I've just never been to a hotel that , like , gives you all of these things Obviously you get a towel but I've never been to a hotel that's like here's a pajamas and robe and slippers Enjoy your capsule . So if you can help it , maybe only bring the essentials , like a toothbrush , wallet , maybe a change of clothes . You really won't need much , and the less you bring , the easier it is to slip into that capsule .

Alexandra 7:05

Living mindset . This was not available to me , since I was also going to China on the back of this , so I had a giant suitcase and kind of had to just leave it by the door . So maybe , if you are bringing a suitcase , maybe bring a lock or your own lock just to lock up that suitcase , lock it to a bed post or something that you can find there , or maybe find a place where they do offer luggage storage . The lockers were not big enough to store our entire suitcase , but we could store our valuables , like our passports and stuff like that . So now you've booked your stay , you've arrived at your capsule , so get ready for a totally new experience . It kind of felt a little bit like going through airport security meets checking into a spaceship . So in some of them not the one that I stayed in , but I did see some of them where they have automated kiosks instead of a standard reception desk , especially in those high-tech hotels .

Getting Checked In

Alexandra 7:59

So once you're checked in , you'll be given a locker key or maybe a code to store your belongings , and then , the moment of truth , the pod itself . You'll walk down the hall . You'll see your capsule just nestled in a row of other pods , stacked neatly above or beside each other . Again , it's tiny but efficient , and stepping into it you just feel like you're in a little cocoon or , dare I say , maybe like a little sardine can , but in the best way possible .

Experience Inside the Pod

Alexandra 8:23

Now , the experience inside of the pod . Obviously , each hotel is going to be different , but inside the pod it's all about streamlined comfort . So you'll find a mattress , a pillow , just enough space to sit up or lie down . Some pods even have individual lightning controls , like USB chargers or even small TVs or radios built right in . If you're like me and just need a little bit of comfort , some of them have settings to adjust the lighting . Mine did not have a TV in it . However , it did have a place to charge my phone . It was literally just like sleeping in a little box , which I know you're like why would you do this ? But trust me , it's such a cool experience . Now just a little tip for sleeping . Unless you get like a really , really fancy one , the capsules normally aren't soundproof , so bring some ear plugs if you're a light sleeper , and just remember that capsule hotels are usually very quiet , so whisper if you need to talk and keep any noise to a minimum .

Alexandra 9:12

Respecting Japanese cultures in a shared space is just a part of the charm here . So keep in mind that being mindful of others is not just polite , it's part of the Japanese experience . Seriously , japanese people are so polite , it's so impressive . Going to be honest , when we went to ours , we didn't really run into a lot of other people that were staying in the pods . So once we were in the dorm room and there was no one there , we did speak normally , because they're best friends and we're also Americans we're a little louder than most . However , when it was time to pipe down , it was very nice and peaceful and I personally didn't have any issues with people being noisy or anything like that . Again , think hostile vibes , but not hostile party vibes , thank God

Beyond the Pod

Alexandra 9:52

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Alexandra 9:52

Now , one of the surprising perks of capsule hotels is the amazing shared spaces . As I said mine had its own onsen . These places go above and beyond to make up for the compact pods , many capsule hotels have clean communal bathrooms with individual shower stalls and some even again have onsens . And if you're like what is an onsen , you keep talking about this . Basically , this is a Japanese-style bath that you'll love unwinding after a busy day . And it was so funny because the one that we were in it had different shapes of the onsen and one of them was like a giant cauldron , so we were just absolutely loving the fact that we could just sit in this cauldron . It was like we were just being cooked in the best way possible . And also , some of them have lounges , like they're often stocked with vending machines , manga libraries and sometimes even snack bars , also like in japan tell me if I'm wrong but their vending machines , manga libraries and sometimes even snack bars Also like in Japan tell me if I'm wrong but their vending machines are next level . We're talking like hot drinks , cold drinks , ramen , ice cream , you name it . It's like having a mini convenience store inside of your hotel .

Alexandra 10:51

Here's a quirky tip Like don't be surprised if you find a spa , massage chairs in the lounge . Capsule hotels have really put thought into this entire experience just making sure that guests can unwind and relax beyond the pod

Worried About Claustrophobia?

Alexandra 11:03

. So just some final tips before you take on the capsule hotel on your bucket list , if you're worried about feeling claustrophobic , remember it is all about the experience . Just take a deep breath , remind yourself that it is a one-of-a-kind stay and embrace the small space for the adventure it is . If you are very , very claustrophobic and I mean it is a issue this is probably not the bucket list experience for you . I am personally not claustrophobic and I don't think that , unless it was very intense , that you would feel claustrophobic .

Alexandra 11:33

If you are having doubts or issues with it , maybe try to contact the capsule hotel directly , express your concerns . Maybe try to find a picture of another person in the capsule itself so you can see how cramped it really is . Again , if it is a massive issue , I would maybe try to stay in another hotel in Japan . There are so many hotel options that you can do that are bucket list worthy . But if it's just a little issue and you can maybe push past it , I would recommend trying to again just take a deep breath and go for the adventure and how long I would try to stay at least one night just to really get a feel for it . I mean , who knows , you might love being cocooned . As I said , I love forts , I love little , tiny spaces . So it was nice , it was just like my own little space , my own little cocoon , and I loved it .

Would You Add This to Your Bucket List?

Alexandra 12:19

And if you're wondering if these capsule hotels live up to the hype , trust me , they absolutely do . And what I love about it is that no capsule hotel is the same . Each one has their own personality . So if you're heading to Japan , this is one adventure you won't want to miss . Again , you're not limited to just going out to Japan to adventure . You can also adventure while with your accommodation , while you're sleeping . So that's super cool . And again , if you want some ideas for capsule hotels , make sure to check out those show notes book through my link and be one step closer to checking this off of your bucket list .

Alexandra 12:50

Well , that's a wrap for today's episode on capsule hotels in Japan . I hope you're feeling inspired to add this quirky , unforgettable stay to your adventure bucket list . It's just such a unique Japanese experience and I know that they maybe have them other places , but Japan is just where it's at , you know . Thank you for tuning in to Dig it Before you Kick it . If you love this episode , be sure to subscribe and share it with your fellow adventurers . And hey , if you've stayed in a capsule hotel , I would love to hear about it . I'm on all social medias , at the Bucket List Mermaid , or you can check out the website , thebucketlistmermaidcom . Until next time , keep exploring , keep ticking those boxes and stay curious . Catch you in the next episode .