TRAVEL BLOG
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Staying in a Japanese Capsule Hotel
Tokyo offers a wide range of accommodation options, but nothing is as quirky as a capsule hotel. The first capsule hotel opened in Osaka in 1979 and they can now be found in major cities across Japan. The capsule hotel idea has not taken off anywhere else though which makes for a unique Japanese accommodation experience.
I stayed at the Capsule Inn Akihabara, in Akihabara, Tokyo. This area seemed like the appropriate place to stay in a futuristic capsule as Akihabara is the big electronics and manga shops area of Tokyo.
Upon arrival you take your shoes off, as you would in a Japanese home, and place them into a shoe locker at the front entrance. Hand the locker key to reception and once you are done with check in formalities you are given another locker key attached to a wristband. The number on your wristband is your locker number and capsule number.
The hotel's slogan is "making the best of a small space", and they really mean it. The lockers aren't built for long haul travel. The locker is "L" shaped with room for hanging suits and jackets, and a shelf big enough for an overnight bag.
Capsule hotels are mainly frequented by business people staying in town overnight and people who have missed the last train home, so accommodating for bulging backpacks and unwieldy wheelie bags is not usually required.
If you have larger bags you can leave them on a luggage rack in the foyer. A security wire and padlock is provided.
When you are ready for bed you go to the locker room and change into your usual nightwear. If you go to bed ala naturale, you are supplied with a yukata (Japanese bathing robe). You are also supplied with a bath towel which is about the size of a tea towel.
Capsules
Now it is off to capsule. The capsules are located on multiple levels, separated into male and female floors. Climb in and draw the bamboo blind at the entrance hole and you are in your little Tokyo bolthole for the night.
Capsule Interior
The capsules are the width of a single bed and are high enough for you to sit up in. A TV is built in to the roof and everything is designed as to not get in your way should you awaken suddenly in the night. A control panel with clock radio, alarm, TV controls and light switch is built into the side with a small ledge for personal items.
Capsule TV
There are toilets on each level and the bathroom can be found next to the locker room. The bathroom is in the style of Japanese bath houses. There are showers and a large public hot bath. You are required to shower first before using the hot bath (of course).
Bathroom
Down in the foyer there is a common area with vending machines and newspapers. You won't find copies of The Japan Times or International Herald Tribune here though, it's all Japanese language papers. Like everywhere else in Tokyo there is wireless internet available.
Capsule Inn Foyer
Capsule hotels encapsulates (pun intended) the hi-tech, limited space image of Tokyo. So if you are looking to do something a bit different, then a stay in a capsule hotel could be for you.
- James Clark
Bedtime in my Yukata
I stayed at the Capsule Inn Akihabara, in Akihabara, Tokyo. This area seemed like the appropriate place to stay in a futuristic capsule as Akihabara is the big electronics and manga shops area of Tokyo.
Upon arrival you take your shoes off, as you would in a Japanese home, and place them into a shoe locker at the front entrance. Hand the locker key to reception and once you are done with check in formalities you are given another locker key attached to a wristband. The number on your wristband is your locker number and capsule number.
The hotel's slogan is "making the best of a small space", and they really mean it. The lockers aren't built for long haul travel. The locker is "L" shaped with room for hanging suits and jackets, and a shelf big enough for an overnight bag.
Capsule hotels are mainly frequented by business people staying in town overnight and people who have missed the last train home, so accommodating for bulging backpacks and unwieldy wheelie bags is not usually required.
If you have larger bags you can leave them on a luggage rack in the foyer. A security wire and padlock is provided.
When you are ready for bed you go to the locker room and change into your usual nightwear. If you go to bed ala naturale, you are supplied with a yukata (Japanese bathing robe). You are also supplied with a bath towel which is about the size of a tea towel.
Capsules
Now it is off to capsule. The capsules are located on multiple levels, separated into male and female floors. Climb in and draw the bamboo blind at the entrance hole and you are in your little Tokyo bolthole for the night.
Capsule Interior
The capsules are the width of a single bed and are high enough for you to sit up in. A TV is built in to the roof and everything is designed as to not get in your way should you awaken suddenly in the night. A control panel with clock radio, alarm, TV controls and light switch is built into the side with a small ledge for personal items.
Capsule TV
There are toilets on each level and the bathroom can be found next to the locker room. The bathroom is in the style of Japanese bath houses. There are showers and a large public hot bath. You are required to shower first before using the hot bath (of course).
Bathroom
Down in the foyer there is a common area with vending machines and newspapers. You won't find copies of The Japan Times or International Herald Tribune here though, it's all Japanese language papers. Like everywhere else in Tokyo there is wireless internet available.
Capsule Inn Foyer
Capsule hotels encapsulates (pun intended) the hi-tech, limited space image of Tokyo. So if you are looking to do something a bit different, then a stay in a capsule hotel could be for you.
- James Clark
Bedtime in my Yukata
Labels: capsule hotel, japan, tokyo
Posted by James Clark - editor of itravelnet.com
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Walking in the cherry blossoms
Walking in the Cherry Blossoms - Tokyo
Labels: cherry blossom, japan, tokyo
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Eat the whale
A restaurant in Tokyo serving whale. The picture depicts all the bits of the whale that are on the menu. Japan still insists that its whale hunting is
"scientific".
I love whales, but I couldn't eat a whole one
"scientific".
I love whales, but I couldn't eat a whole one
Labels: food, japan, tokyo, whale
Posted by James Clark - editor of itravelnet.com
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A homage to two great subway systems
Seen on the streets of Tokyo.
A nod to New York...
...and a nod to London.
A nod to New York...
...and a nod to London.
Labels: japan, metro, sign, tokyo
Posted by James Clark - editor of itravelnet.com
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Tuesday, April 24, 2007
The Tokyo Subway
Tokyo is well known for its crowded subway system. If you are arriving to Tokyo around peak hour and are thinking of using the subway system, then it might be better to wait it out until the crowds subside. I got into town at about 10 at night so there was plenty of room to carry my two bags.
I thought I would try the peak hour at least once though. Sure enough the trains are packed. The first time a packed train passed I let it go through, thinking that the next one only 2 minutes away won't be as bad. It was just as packed, so just got on.
Once you are near the doors though you don't really have a choice. A crowd of commuters builds up behind you and before you know it you are being herded into the compartment by the crush of people and a station attendant who is there packaging the crowd in his white gloves.
It is a true sardine express, but I have to say that everyone behaves in an orderly manner and shows courtesy to their fellow travellers.
Ueno Subway Station - Tokyo
I thought I would try the peak hour at least once though. Sure enough the trains are packed. The first time a packed train passed I let it go through, thinking that the next one only 2 minutes away won't be as bad. It was just as packed, so just got on.
Once you are near the doors though you don't really have a choice. A crowd of commuters builds up behind you and before you know it you are being herded into the compartment by the crush of people and a station attendant who is there packaging the crowd in his white gloves.
It is a true sardine express, but I have to say that everyone behaves in an orderly manner and shows courtesy to their fellow travellers.
Ueno Subway Station - Tokyo
Labels: japan, subway, tokyo, train
Posted by James Clark - editor of itravelnet.com
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Tokyo fire hydrant
This below ground hydrant seen on the streets of Tokyo is so cool. Todays society has lost the art of making ordinary things interesting.
Tokyo Fire Hydrant
Tokyo Fire Hydrant
Labels: fire hydrant, japan, tokyo
Posted by James Clark - editor of itravelnet.com
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Fugu me
If prepared incorrectly, the fugu (puffer fish) is lethal.
Puffer Fish Restaurant - Tokyo
Puffer Fish Restaurant - Tokyo
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I can get food by myself
I Can Get Food By Myself - Tokyo
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Hi-tech toilets of Japan
Ahh, the fabled hi-tech toilets of Japan. I had heard much of these WC's, so I was delighted to finally see one.
To start off with the seat was heated. I'm not sure if this was a built in feature or due to the fact that I was hot seating after a portlier than normal Japanese man.
On the right hand side is a control panel with instructions in Japanese and Braille, but no English. With a possible risk of a hot jet of water splashing me before I was ready I pressed some of the buttons. Nothing happened, so I pressed all the buttons in different combinations, and still nothing happened. It appears that you need to be a commercial pilot or a Rhodes Scholar to operate these things. Either that or the toilet was broken.
It did flush though, saving myself and the queue of Japanese guys lots of blushes all round as I finally emerged from the cubicle.
Hi-Tech Toilet - Tokyo
To start off with the seat was heated. I'm not sure if this was a built in feature or due to the fact that I was hot seating after a portlier than normal Japanese man.
On the right hand side is a control panel with instructions in Japanese and Braille, but no English. With a possible risk of a hot jet of water splashing me before I was ready I pressed some of the buttons. Nothing happened, so I pressed all the buttons in different combinations, and still nothing happened. It appears that you need to be a commercial pilot or a Rhodes Scholar to operate these things. Either that or the toilet was broken.
It did flush though, saving myself and the queue of Japanese guys lots of blushes all round as I finally emerged from the cubicle.
Hi-Tech Toilet - Tokyo
Labels: japan, public-toilet, tokyo
Posted by James Clark - editor of itravelnet.com
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Monday, April 23, 2007
Aussie Beef
Aussie Beef served in Tokyo
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The walking ciggie
Public health notice - Tokyo
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Godzilla and I
On my city map of Tokyo I noticed a dot marked "Godzilla Statue". In my mind's eye I pictured a statue at least one storey high of the lizard, perhaps eating a car, with life size people statues fleeing the scene in terror. With this image in my head I made straight for the said dot.
I have heard that some people are disappointed when they see The Little Mermaid in Copenhagen or the Mannekin Pis in Brussels. They usually say that it wasn't as big as they expected. I don't see how you could have got your expectations so high, seeing that they already tell you that the Mermaid is little, and Mannekin Pis is Brabantian for little man piss after all (its website though must be the most comprehensive for any statue in the world).
So I have to say that I was a little disappointed when I saw the bonsaied Godzilla.
Godzilla and I
I have heard that some people are disappointed when they see The Little Mermaid in Copenhagen or the Mannekin Pis in Brussels. They usually say that it wasn't as big as they expected. I don't see how you could have got your expectations so high, seeing that they already tell you that the Mermaid is little, and Mannekin Pis is Brabantian for little man piss after all (its website though must be the most comprehensive for any statue in the world).
So I have to say that I was a little disappointed when I saw the bonsaied Godzilla.
Godzilla and I
Labels: godzilla, japan, statue, tokyo
Posted by James Clark - editor of itravelnet.com
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Capsule vending machines
Capsule Vending Machines - Tokyo
Labels: japan, tokyo, vending-machine
Posted by James Clark - editor of itravelnet.com
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Who's the boss in Tokyo?
There is a vending machine of some sort on just about every corner in Tokyo.
Coffee Boss - Tokyo
Coffee Boss - Tokyo
Labels: coffee, japan, tokyo, vending-machine
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