Top 5 Capsule Hotels in Tokyo for Budget Female Travellers
Japanese capsule hotels have small, individual sleeping ‘rooms’ (capsules) and communal facilities where you can stay for as little as ¥1,800 a night. Although some capsule hotels are men only, the stereotype that they're only for drunk businessmen is being broken by comfortable, modern, female-friendly accommodations perfect for solo and budget travellers.
9h nine hours woman Kanda
Photo: Nacasa & Partners
One hour to shower, seven hours to sleep, and one hour to get dressed — this is the minimalist concept behind the 9hours capsule hotel. Guests are given the essentials for a comfortable stay: towels, a toothbrush, slippers, and pyjamas. The hotel has a very futuristic spaceship-like design. Everything flows efficiently, with spacious lockers, modern, well-equipped shower rooms, and sleeping areas clearly marked. The sleeping pods have comfy beds, are surprisingly roomy, have light dimmers. With locations in Narita Airport, central Tokyo, and a women-only branch in Kanda, 9hours should be on every budget Tokyo traveller's accommodation list!
Centurion Cabin & Spa
Centurion Cabin & Spa provides a relaxing refuge for the weary Tokyo tourist. This central Tokyo hotel offers a sauna, a traditional Japanese onsen-style public bath, and heated footbaths. As the hotel has a public bath and no individual showers, if you're a bit shy this may not be for you. However, if you truly want to have a Japanese experience it is highly recommended. The hotel offers clean, comfortable capsules, free toiletries, a 24-hour desk, and a drink vending machine. The hotel has strict rules on keeping noise to a minimum and bans the use of alarms, so a reliable, personal wake up service is available.
Centurion Ladies Hostel Ueno Park
This female only capsule hotel is situated near beautiful Ueno Park, which has stunning cherry blossoms in spring. The beds in the capsules are comfortable and all pods are fitted with flat-screen TVs. The bathrooms are modern and clean, and offer all the basic amenities. The staff speaks English well, and are very friendly and welcoming. The kitchen is fitted out with all the essentials and is really useful if you want to save money and prepare your own meals.
Ueno Station Hostel Oriental I
Though most of the three Ueno Station Oriental Hostels are men only, Ueno Station Hostel Oriental I has a female floor. In the shared women’s lounge guests can eat, prepare food, and relax. Guests are given pyjamas, a towel, and a toothbrush. There are several showers and toilets so you don't have to wait, and there are face steamers, hairdryers, and free toiletries. The sleeping capsules are decorated with traditional Japanese design wallpaper and are quiet and comfy. Enjoy gazing at the artificial Zen garden as you sink your feet into a stone footbath.
Inno Family Managed Hostel Roppongi
The beds in Inno Family Managed Hostel Roppongi are a bit more spacious than in a standard capsule, with beds longer than two metres. Units are equipped with a personal light, mirror, dresser, outlets, hanging hooks, a privacy shade, and a lockable closet to store any valuables. The staff is friendly and speaks English, checking in and out is fast, and there is a small kitchen to prepare meals. Roppongi is a hub for foreigners in Tokyo so you're bound to meet someone to chat with in the communal areas if you're feeling social.
Staying in a capsule hotel may not be everyone's cup of tea but if you're looking for a budget friendly, uniquely Japanese accommodation experience they're worth a stay!