First Cabin Kyoto Arashiyama

The hot bath is lovely and soothing, and it was practically empty during the day. Mornings can get crowded in the bathroom, and sometimes evenings too, so plan ahead if you need the sink and vanity. The facilities are pretty and the location is excellent. Someone made a lot of noise with their luggage late at night, though, and the door is just a screen, so it was hard to sleep. Earplugs are a good idea. Don’t skip the rooftop patio.

The area is great for visiting shrines and the bamboo forest around Arashiyama, with plenty of shops nearby. There’s a lovely view from the roof terrace over the little tram station. The shared facilities were clean, and the common areas felt comfortable and modern. Sleeping was the hard part. The pods are roomy, but the mattresses and pillows are extremely firm. The shutters stop about four inches above the floor instead of closing fully, so a lot of hallway light gets in, and the lights don’t seem to dim at night. My partner’s pod also had a window in one wall that was badly covered, letting in even more light. You don’t feel exposed, but it’s difficult to sleep. Front desk staff could at least hand out sleep masks at check-in, or the shutters could be made to close all the way. Maybe they had masks if we’d asked.

I chose an Economy Class capsule for the night and found it clean, spacious enough for an overnight stay, and well equipped. It came with a small lockbox, TV, USB, vents, remote, towels, cabin wear and blankets. There were very few guests in the women’s quarters, and everyone was quiet and courteous. The bathrooms, showers, toilets and vanities were clean and working well, in a separate area down a short hallway. I couldn’t check in early, but the friendly staff offered to hold my bag and gave me a tag that matched the one on it. I came back after 5pm to check in. I’d stay again.

The service was really considerate, and they had umbrellas ready by the exit when it rained. They also provide lots of useful things for women, including curling tongs, makeup remover, skin lotion and skin emulsion, along with the basics. The location is the best, close to food, convenience stores, souvenir shops, tourist attractions and more. Highly recommend this place!