9h nine hours Akasaka

The shared experience depends a lot on the people around you, so it can vary. Bring the best earplugs you can afford. The toilets could also use a more thorough cleaning, and some guests need basic manners, like not peeing on the floor. The lockers are cramped, small, and inconvenient. I can only imagine how bad that gets when the hotel is full. I stayed 10 nights in the off-season, at the start of February. My pod was clean, roomy, and comfortable, even though I'm just under 2m tall. Staff were nice and helpful in the few interactions we had. The location is great for seeing Tokyo, with two metro stations a couple of minutes away on foot, and you can reach pretty much anywhere directly or with one transfer. Breakfast came through a nearby cafe and was good. Some reviews seem to expect a Hilton at capsule hotel prices. You can't get into your pod for four hours in the middle of the day, but that's sightseeing time in Tokyo. I also don't understand wanting to sit around in a capsule hotel lobby.

There's very little shared space, just a few counter seats near reception. Also, the basement is off limits from 11am to 3pm, so you can't get to your locker or the showers then. The capsules felt roomy and private. The mattress and pillow were quite firm, but manageable for one night. Most suitcases don't fit in the basement lockers, so they have to go in a secure room by reception. To get anything from your luggage, you need staff to let you in. The locker area is cramped, with barely enough space to repack even a backpack. The showers themselves are spacious with plenty of room to change, but the drains need cleaning because there's a strong, unpleasant smell. They're in the basement too. The check-in staff were lovely and explained everything clearly. The man at checkout, though, was rude. I asked if I could leave my luggage while I went to lunch, and he just stared or kept saying no without explaining, even though I could see other guests' bags there. When I said I wouldn't be long, he still just said no. Only after I told another guest what was happening did he push a leaflet at me, with the no-storage-after-checkout policy in small print at the bottom. He could have explained that from the start. It's probably fine for an affordable night or two, but I think a longer stay would be difficult.

I booked 10 nights in capsule hotels, which is a lot, haha. The pods here were good and I slept really well. For the price, the stay was decent, but compared with my previous experience at the 9h hours in Fukuoka, this one felt less pleasant. The common areas and sinks were short on space, and the lockers and showers weren't to my liking. The shower in particular wasn't as clean. Getting ready efficiently in the morning was hard. Most of the receptionists weren't kind, though a few were very helpful.

The capsule was roomier than the pictures suggest, and I slept surprisingly well. The women's floor was very quiet. Showers were clean and quite nice, and there was a standard high-tech Japanese toilet. The Komeda's coffee voucher was a nice touch too. I had coffee and toast there, and it was delicious. The location is close to the city center and makes it easy to get around. For about $30USD, I thought the value was incredible. That amount in the US would get me something much worse. The rooms and amenities were so clean, and I had a fabulous stay. The staff did seem like they hated their jobs, and I hope they're paid enough, but they were still nice and accommodating. I'd recommend this location.