Capsule Hotel Famy (Male Guests Only)

When I was a college student planning concert tours in Tokyo, this was the cheapest place I could find, and it was really cheap. If you’ve got more money to spend, I wouldn’t recommend it. But when your budget’s tight, it’s not a bad place to spend the night.

If you want good value, this is worth considering. It’s near the station and about 20 minutes from Makuhari Messe by train and bus. At ¥3,300 a night, the price is a steal. The bathroom is very basic, and if that matters to you, Funabashi might suit you better. Check with a staff member about where to go before taking off your shoes if you’ve made a reservation. The shoe lockers, regular lockers and capsules all use the same numbering system. Lockers are small, so it’s better to sort your things out in the adjacent lounge to avoid disturbing people. You can’t smoke cigarettes in the lounge, but e-cigarettes are allowed, which may or may not suit you. Some people brought in their own food. There’s a hot water kettle, and a sign says you can use the microwave if you ask staff. The bathroom felt like something from a training camp. It’s small, seemingly set up for about three people. The bath gets cold in the evening, but you can adjust it yourself with the faucet. The water doesn’t seem to circulate. For the sauna you need a mat, and there are only two provided, so without your own, it can hold two people. The sauna was in the high 90s. The cold bath felt around 16°C, and has a tap so you can add water if it runs low. The capsule has one power outlet and no USB port. There’s a fan-like ventilation device that you can switch on and off. It also has a TV, but I couldn’t change the channel no matter what I tried. There was a straight strip of duct tape stuck inside the capsule. Maybe it was broken?

I’d used this place for the first time ten years ago and remembered it fondly, so I came back. This visit was very unpleasant. While I was naked in the bath, female staff kept coming in. It looked like routine work, not something they had to rush through, and I think they could have chosen a more considerate time. If the genders were reversed, this would be a serious issue. It’s plainly sexual harassment. I wish they wouldn’t assume it’s fine to be so casual about this just because I’m a man.

The other staff gave excellent service, but one elderly male employee at the front desk really brought down my impression of the place. When I checked in in August 2025, he seemed busy looking over reservation lists and was grumpy, without even saying “welcome.” I asked for my shoe locker number, and all he said was “number XX.” Then he threw my room key from the front desk onto the floor. I don’t think it’s acceptable for front desk staff to throw a guest’s key.