Mini Japanese Hotels

Mini Japanese Hotels

building,shinjuku,tokyo image by yam from Fotolia.com

In 1977, the first capsule hotel, the Capsule Inn, was opened in Osaka, Japan. Created out of need for affordable lodging in an already space-starved area, the capsule hotels offer just the basic necessities for one adult to sleep. Most of these "mini" hotels are located near subway stations and are used by business men that missed the last train home.

Size

The capsules are three feet wide by three feet tall and six and a half feet long. They are stacked two high and some hallways can contain 60 to 70 capsules. For privacy, there is a screen that can be pulled down to cover the entrance to the pod.

Contents

The capsule contains a small TV, a radio, an alarm clock, a light, and a control panel. The control panel turns on and changes the channel on the TV, turns on and dims the light and there is usually a red button that will play movies for a fee. The bottom of the capsule is lined with a mattress and each one has a pillow and blanket.

Belongings

Upon check-in you receive a thin robe, the number to your capsule and a locker key. You can then stash all of your stuff in the locker, change into the robe and head to your capsule. You can also store larger luggage behind the desk when checking in.

Bathroom

The capsule hotels are almost all men-only facilities. They offer a communal bath, like in ancient Rome, and have public restrooms available to guests.

Amenities

The capsule hotels have free Wi-Fi, a room with lounge chairs and a larger TV, some offer massages and some have restaurants. They all have extra shirts, pants, socks, belts, razor and shaving cream for those who didn't intend to stay the night.

Article Written By Danielle Odom

Danielle Odom is a freelance writer and ghostwriter with more than 12 years experience. She is a certified medical transcriptionist and is working on a degree as a medical office assistant. As a writer she enjoys learning new things daily and is committed to entertaining and informing everyone that reads her work.

Write for Trails.com
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