Do-c Ebisu

Ebisu is a lovely, cozy area with good connections around Tokyo, and it's a great option if you want somewhere quiet near Shibuya. This is a capsule hostel, so don't expect a big, fancy room. It has what you need, and there's even a sauna. I highly recommend it.

For 9080 yen, I decided to give this place a chance despite the bad reviews. I was here alone for two nights, stopping over before my flight home. It's a perfectly usable hostel if all you need is somewhere to sleep and shower, but I'd only suggest it for solo travellers who pack light. It's not for everyone, though I found it better than the reviews suggested. The location was my favourite part: Ebisu station is a minute away, Shibuya station is a five-minute ride, and there's a seven eleven across the road. It's also convenient if you're using the narita express. Staff at the 24-hour reception were polite, quick to respond, and the hotel was clean. Noise didn't bother me, though people sometimes made a bit of sound coming in and out. You get two towels and pyjamas, and the sauna was amazing, like one you'd find in an onsen. The capsule had enough room for me to sit upright, even at 184cm and 75 kilos. There are some downsides. You arrive at a narrow flight of stairs, so it's not accessible, and carrying luggage up them would be rough on bad knees. The locker room is a tight corridor, barely roomy enough to open a bag. Lockers only fit cabin-sized luggage, so anything bigger has to stay outside. I definitely wouldn't bring more than one bag. The pillow, if you can call it that, seemed to be filled with gel balls and was very uncomfortable. My neck pillow was better. The bed is thin too, which didn't bother me, but I can see some people disliking it. For the price, I think it's worth it. Just don't expect a resort like the one-star reviews seem to have.

The capsule had a little stand, light, fan and charging socket, and at 180cm and around 88 kg I had enough space to be comfortable. It was clean and quiet, just what I needed for a quick night after an event in Shibuya. I didn't use the shower or sauna, so 14k yen for one night felt quite expensive to me. I picked it for the location, 24-hour check-in, locker and amenities, including the loungewear/pijamas. Earplugs are provided, but light sleepers should know, and the air felt a bit dry.

The pod felt cozy, and it stayed very quiet all night. I had none of the problems mentioned in the negative reviews. The shower pressure was amazing, and the toilets have heated seat bidets.