MyCube by Mystays Asakusa Kuramae Hotel

Getting to Narita is especially handy: come out of Kuramae Station at exit A2 and you're right by the hotel, with a direct train to the airport. I found a lot of thoughtful touches inside too, including fresh towels, toothbrushes, and new pajamas each night. The dorm was spotless, and the toilets are inside the room, which makes them easy to reach. The shower gels felt high quality as well. I booked through Booking.com expecting an ordinary hostel, but the experience felt closer to a four-star hotel and was far beyond what I expected.

I stayed for six nights and slept really well, though I was initially unsure about sharing space with other people. Once or twice someone was packing after 1 a.m., but earplugs helped a lot. The locker inside the room and the space beneath the bed were handy for luggage while I was out during the day, and having a subway station close by was a plus. As a woman traveling solo, I felt safe and comfortable. The staff were friendly, accommodating, and helpful the whole time. I'd book MyCube again if I come back to Tokyo on my own.

The water machine had mold on it and really needed cleaning. Luggage storage is offered for a fee. The hotel is near the train station, although finding the right exit is confusing, and some exits leave you quite far from the entrance. My room felt private and comfortable, and the shower and toilet areas were spacious and clean. The shared space is on level two and open to everyone.

The sound on the floor made sleeping almost impossible for me. People were snoring, talking, shifting bags, and rummaging around late at night, and the walls between cubes are so thin I could hear the man next to me coughing constantly. Some people had headphones on and may not have realized how loud they were. A curtain doesn't keep the noise out, and it stays pretty bright even with it closed. You have to buy earplugs. Eating in the cubes was another issue, even though the hotel says meals should be eaten in the public lounge downstairs. The air also felt poorly ventilated, with body odor and other smells lingering on the floor. There's no way to control the temperature in your own cube, and the floor was usually warm or hot. It would help if staff put up more reminders to keep quiet, and turned off the main floor lights from around 11 p.m. to 8 a.m. People could use their cube and luggage lights, or the flashlight provided, if they needed to get up. The room, shower, and restroom were good, staff were patient and helpful, the subway wasn't far, and McDonald's is right next door for a quick, cheap meal. This ended up being one of the worst hotel styles I've tried. I wouldn't count on having considerate neighbors. I've learned capsule hotels aren't for me, and I'd spend a little more for a regular room if I wanted peace and privacy.