Capsule Inn Kamata

It did what I needed, and I can’t fault the place. If you’re after a standard Japanese capsule, this is fine. I chose the business option over standard and was glad I did: it had a double bed and some floor space beside it. The showers are simple, and reception spoke enough English to handle bookings. Handy for an early Haneda flight, just two or three stops away.

The capsules are cozy, and having a self-service laundromat on every level made things really easy. The design and sauna are also surprisingly intriguing and fun for a hostel packed with capsule beds. Some of the younger guests checking in can be cute and adorable; the older ones can be obnoxious and off-putting with all the coughing, sneezing, and gagging. Depending on your luck, you might end up with an old, grouchy, crazy bunkmate sleeping below you, or a cute young darling.

For six nights I paid 4700 yen a night for the top-end capsule with a side desk, and I’ve got no regrets. The capsule was well kept, the room was clean, and the bed was great. My health tracker showed nearly four hours of deep sleep a night, a record for me since I usually get at most two in my own bed. They clean every day, so move away from your capsule while they do it. Fresh indoor clothes and a towel are provided daily. While waiting, you can use the free public bath or relax in the guest room. There’s a warning that drunk people and people with tatoo aren’t allowed in the public bath. Vending machines sell hot and cold coffee, beer, and milk. Massage is available for a fee near the bath. It’s a quiet place, not for party people. Guests are expected to stay silent in the capsule and the public resting area, and not bother anyone.

The location made it easy to get around: the hotel is right by the Kamata main thoroughfare, with lots of food and convenience stores nearby, including a 7-11 in the same building and a small shopping centre across the street. It’s close to both Keikyu Kamata and JR Kamata stations, practically beside the latter. Keikyu Kamata is five stops from Haneda Airport, 300 yen to the International Terminal and 300+ to the Domestic Terminal. I spent just one night here, but went to the bath twice. After walking around the Imperial Palace near Tokyo Station, I checked in at 3, bathed and napped, then went out for dinner and walked along the Nomi River towards Omori and the ocean. I got back around midnight, had a snack, and took another bath. If a public bath averages 450 yen, that’s 900 yen for the day just for bathing, so the hotel felt worth the price even if it costs a bit more than other places. The bath is the difference for me. Cold milk from the vending machine outside the 2nd floor bath, 130 yen, was a bonus. I’ve never seen that at another public bath. After that hot bath, I could sleep hanging from a tree branch and still sleep well. I’m a light smoker, but chose a non-smoking floor since I usually don’t smoke in hotels. My clothes and bags still smelled of smoke, so I think I should have picked the smoking floor. I slept in my underwear and kept everything else in the locker so the smell wouldn’t stick. Small enclosed capsules hold smells easily, so that was my mistake. When I tested the pod and closed the blind, it got stuck. The other guests blatantly ignored me when I asked for help, even as I looked one in the eyes. Not a friendly bunch. I used the emergency button and staff came to help, but the blind was still a bit stuck and needed some force. It probably doesn’t get used often. We laughed because I looked like a muscle head but couldn’t open it myself. If I forced things every time, I’d break EVERYTHING, so I don’t. I think this hotel may be for men only, but I’m not sure and didn’t check with staff. I couldn’t see any separation of men’s and women’s areas, so that was my assumption. The public bath is great, and the place is convenient. I recommend it. Privacy is guaranteed, and nobody bothers you, even when you need help. The hotel also has its own public bath and sauna. I walked from Kamata to Omori, and food was easy to find.