nine hours Kyoto

The pods have their own reading light and charging outlet, and there are plenty of clean showers with soap, shampoo, and conditioner. The beds and pillows are firm but still comfortable. Each pod has a small luggage locker, though bigger suitcases have to stay in the lobby. We liked the place overall. Its futuristic look is interesting, but it costs quite a bit more than other hostels, and the enclosed pods may not suit anyone who gets claustrophobic.

The location worked well for us, with restaurants and shops about five minutes away and subway stations easy to reach. It’s a capsule hotel, so the room is small, but the bed was comfortable and everything was very clean. They provide a toothbrush and toothpaste, towel, pajamas, shampoo, and liquid soap, and there’s a locker for a bag and some clothes. A good choice if you want to keep costs down and don’t need a big room or luxury.

The common area was a letdown: the “lounge” is just a few seats near the entrance, so there isn’t much space to hang out or much of an atmosphere. The cabins themselves were nice, but the mattress was thin, my sleep alarm didn’t work at all, and there’s no USB socket despite the futuristic look. The locker is too small for a backpack, and the lockers and bathroom are on a different floor from the cabins. Staff were friendly and the place was clean, and the stay was okay, but we chose it to try a “real” capsule hotel and wouldn’t come back for that alone. Next time I’d pick a hostel with capsules and a livelier space.

The price was reasonable, and the staff were friendly. The place has a clean, futuristic feel, and the capsule was comfortable enough. But the supplied indoor clothes made it too warm. As a light sleeper, I had trouble getting a full night’s rest: people came into the sleeping room at all hours, and the privacy shades were hard to use quietly. Every attempt seemed to end with banging. I’d recommend it to someone who sleeps well.