I had to write a separate entry on my capsule hotel experience in Tokyo. Why this was one of my to do list before I die, I really don't know. But I can now scratch this off.
On my last evening and after my trip to Nikko, I decided to give my relatives some rest and take a night out of their house. The adventurer in me decided to this last minute as usual. I've always wanted to experience the capsule and so that evening, I was searching for the Asaksa Capsule Hotel as soon as I got off the subway. At first when I got to the lobby, I thought okay...not so bad, there were already other guest checking in. Little did I know, I went into the wrong lobby. They told me to go to the back side of the hotel. I should've known it was too good to be true.
Don't expect a warm lobby because it wasn't. It was hostelish...if you know what I mean. It had foot lockers to switch over to slippers. A man is there to assist you in the process...which is to buy a ticket for the night in the vending machine and he gives you the keys. I chose Asaksa for the fact that is had a separate floor for the women. I felt myself loosen up after I saw another handsome tourist (a tall one, which made me wonder how he was going to fit in the capsule). Hehe, always a plus.
They provide another small locker (and I mean small), a kimono style shirt and short ensemble, towels, toothbrush and shower amenities. After I settled in, I decided to take a look at the showers and it's in a separate floor. I knew it was going to be communal, so I decided to take a shower early. Luckily there was only one female there...yes naked, who finished her shower. I asked her the etiquette if you will, because I didn't know whether I could wear clothes in the shower room. She said for me to only take a small towel in. So there I was naked with my bad self! There was a small jacuzzi or onsen if you will and I didn't opt to go in...because I just have issues like that. As I was almost done, I see about six old ladies ready to take a shower. They were peeping in as I was finishing my bath. I couldn't help but laugh. When they went in, they showered, then went straight into the onsen. After that experience, I guess I'm not so self conscious of my body. It's only natural right?
I finished up and went out to eat in a rotary sushi restaurant. It was easy for me to get a table since I was alone. But I tell ya...I ordered myself a beer and enjoyed my meal. It was fun and relaxing. I totally splurged on myself. I so loved all the fresh sushi I ate that night. I was a bit lightheaded as I made my way to walk the surrounding area.
When I went back to the hotel, I was excited to see my capsule. As I went in, it was two levels of capsule space. I opted to take the top capsule, since the man said it's better to occupy the top space. As I did, I climbed up to my space and well.....it really is capsulish. I was quite amazed...it was clean and super comfortable. I'm only 5'3 so I fit perfectly. The size isn't as bad as I expected. There was a TV and a radio, alarm, etc. in the space. The only way to get some zzzz's was to pull the shade down.
While I did get a comfortable sleep, the disadvantage of a capsule hotel is if you have noisy tourists. There were a group of Chinese tourists who kept yacking away....not realizing everything could be heard. I heard a Japanese customer say something like noisy to them. But that didn't help. After a few hours into the morning....you can hear some alarms go off and another. At one point, someone's alarm went off and they weren't even in their capsule so there i was half awake listening to music for a bit until a neighbor turned it off.
All in all, it was a great experience. If you have those layovers and don't want to spend a significant amount of money, this is the most convenient place to rest. I can definitely see myself doing it again, if I had a short trip somewhere in the area.
On my last evening and after my trip to Nikko, I decided to give my relatives some rest and take a night out of their house. The adventurer in me decided to this last minute as usual. I've always wanted to experience the capsule and so that evening, I was searching for the Asaksa Capsule Hotel as soon as I got off the subway. At first when I got to the lobby, I thought okay...not so bad, there were already other guest checking in. Little did I know, I went into the wrong lobby. They told me to go to the back side of the hotel. I should've known it was too good to be true.
Don't expect a warm lobby because it wasn't. It was hostelish...if you know what I mean. It had foot lockers to switch over to slippers. A man is there to assist you in the process...which is to buy a ticket for the night in the vending machine and he gives you the keys. I chose Asaksa for the fact that is had a separate floor for the women. I felt myself loosen up after I saw another handsome tourist (a tall one, which made me wonder how he was going to fit in the capsule). Hehe, always a plus.
They provide another small locker (and I mean small), a kimono style shirt and short ensemble, towels, toothbrush and shower amenities. After I settled in, I decided to take a look at the showers and it's in a separate floor. I knew it was going to be communal, so I decided to take a shower early. Luckily there was only one female there...yes naked, who finished her shower. I asked her the etiquette if you will, because I didn't know whether I could wear clothes in the shower room. She said for me to only take a small towel in. So there I was naked with my bad self! There was a small jacuzzi or onsen if you will and I didn't opt to go in...because I just have issues like that. As I was almost done, I see about six old ladies ready to take a shower. They were peeping in as I was finishing my bath. I couldn't help but laugh. When they went in, they showered, then went straight into the onsen. After that experience, I guess I'm not so self conscious of my body. It's only natural right?
I finished up and went out to eat in a rotary sushi restaurant. It was easy for me to get a table since I was alone. But I tell ya...I ordered myself a beer and enjoyed my meal. It was fun and relaxing. I totally splurged on myself. I so loved all the fresh sushi I ate that night. I was a bit lightheaded as I made my way to walk the surrounding area.
When I went back to the hotel, I was excited to see my capsule. As I went in, it was two levels of capsule space. I opted to take the top capsule, since the man said it's better to occupy the top space. As I did, I climbed up to my space and well.....it really is capsulish. I was quite amazed...it was clean and super comfortable. I'm only 5'3 so I fit perfectly. The size isn't as bad as I expected. There was a TV and a radio, alarm, etc. in the space. The only way to get some zzzz's was to pull the shade down.
While I did get a comfortable sleep, the disadvantage of a capsule hotel is if you have noisy tourists. There were a group of Chinese tourists who kept yacking away....not realizing everything could be heard. I heard a Japanese customer say something like noisy to them. But that didn't help. After a few hours into the morning....you can hear some alarms go off and another. At one point, someone's alarm went off and they weren't even in their capsule so there i was half awake listening to music for a bit until a neighbor turned it off.
All in all, it was a great experience. If you have those layovers and don't want to spend a significant amount of money, this is the most convenient place to rest. I can definitely see myself doing it again, if I had a short trip somewhere in the area.
