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A capsule hotel in Japan is legion, especially in Tokyo, and it is rather easy to sleep. You can find them in almost every neighbourhood of Tokyo and they offer affordable housing for a booster. I tried them, right from my arrival in Tokyo in May 6, 2011.
Several of you have certainly followed the manga such Dragon Ball during their childhood (or even during their adulthood for some of you). You probably remember the famous capsules in which super heroes were sleeping right after days of fighting?
Well I just tried them on my arrival in Tokyo. And yes, you are not dreaming, I sleep in what is called a capsule hotel, just like the ones in manga.
Capsules Hotel Tokyo
As you can see from the photo on the side, it is actually two cabins stacked and equipped with a mattress to sleep well. The interior is very narrow, given that there is only room for a mattress.
However, this capsule is still well equipped as it has a TV and a private telephone. See for yourself what that gives an inside view of this “mini spare bedroom”.
So I would say it’s narrow but it is still very comfortable for aTokyocapsule Hotel.
You should know that if the Japanese launched this mode of sleeping capsules, it is not to track the movement of manga, but rather to overcome a lack of space. Indeed, Japan, and especially Tokyo, is experiencing a very high density (62nd global area for the 10th world population) which requires research in space saving, more and more elaborate.
The advantages of these capsule hotels is two fold for the owners of these places that can benefit from:
- A space savings in a real estate market that has reached exorbitant rates
- A special attraction for tourists, eager for new experiences of sleeping.
Inside the Capsule – A l'intérieur de la capsule
So I would say, in Japan, the space between manga’s life and real life is thin, as well as the capsules are narrow. I let you try them and tell me what you do think about them. Anyway, personally I like it, although I confess I do not want to spend an eternity in them. The experience in itself is fun to do but everything as limits and I do not want to spend weeks in such a narrow space.
