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Video: Kyoto's 9h, a capsule hotel
Kyoto's nine-hour hotel isn't a new concept, but rather, a new take on a popular Japanese business. The 9h hotel is, at its heart, exactly what its name sounds like. The planned stay includes one hour to shower, seven hours to sleep and one hour to rest. The minimum stay is four hours, and the maximum is 17 at a rate of 300 to 400 yen per hour. Check-in is available at any hour of the day, 365 days per year.
Designed in an an impeccably clean, minimalist layout (the entire hotel has only four colors) the 9h has separate floors for sleeping, showering and changing, each designated by gender. Men and women even ride separate elevators. All amenities are provided, right down to alarm clocks.
Sleeping takes place in a small pod, stacked two high, which includes a light-based alarm clock system engineered by Panasonic that wakes the traveler at their pre-set time by raising the level of light within the pod. From the outside, the most someone can see is a faint orange glow.
The hotel has not yet made inroads into other cities - the brand's owner says he first wants to perfect the model in Japan. What do you think? Would you visit a capsule hotel?
Filed under: Asia, Japan, Hotels and Accommodations
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
gina Jul 28th 2011 2:41PM
not sure it's suitable for big americans, and you must be flexible enough to get in and out?
Finally makes me claustrophobic like an MRI machine.
I'm sure it's great for the young and heathy though.
rkt10 Jul 28th 2011 1:46PM
I think this would be wonderful at airports all over the world. That way you could arrive after a sleep-deprived night flight, crash for a while and then start your trip refreshed. Or, if you have a long layover, a nap could really hit the spot.
I hate arriving in Europe, for example, dying for a real rest, and not being able to check into my hotel until 7-9 hours later. It really takes time to recover.
Hoopa Jul 30th 2011 9:43AM
This is not a new capsule hotel. This idea has been around since the 1980's. A bed bug paradise.
George Jul 30th 2011 9:51AM
Ever been to a microtel here? Can't pass someone between one wall and the bed!
George Jul 30th 2011 2:01PM
I think this concept would do well in the US within certain markets, such as airports. Another application would be truck/auto plazas where travelers need to refresh for a few hours before resuming their journeys.
Degibu` Jul 30th 2011 11:54AM
For this we rebuilt Japan after WWII? Keep it. I'd rather sleep in a chair in an airport,
RM Aug 1st 2011 10:25PM
I think that the capsules would fit a obese person in there. not a sumo wrestler; But, at least a person of a waist of 45 inches.
John Jul 30th 2011 1:57PM
Double decker coffins don't do it for me. A postage stamp room I can live with, but not this.
Andrea Jul 30th 2011 1:57PM
This "capsule hotel" idea hasn't been a success in Japan the past 30 yrs so why would it catch on anywhere else? It seems it only caters to single business travelers with very little baggage - couples or those with children or babies def. wouldn't "fit". Business travelers also like to stay connected and would need their laptop and cellphone nearby if anything needed to be taken care of during those hours. Design wise these capsule hotels might be futuristic yet more reminiscent of "Soylent Green" or "THX1138" rather than "Star Wars." The narrow halls and lockers lend an eerie nightmare- like mausoleum quality; somehow, sleeping in Pods with no security is simply un-American. I wouldn't want to be stuck in that small a space during any earthquake, tornado or terrorist attack- not that they're frequent occurrences, but these capsule hotels def. look like fire traps. I'll pass.
Robert Jul 30th 2011 4:26PM
Yikes! Reminds me of the slabs of dead bodies at a morgue! I am claustophibic (sp?) so this will never work for me. One writer said it's like an MRI machine. I agree--I can't get in one of those either. I am a fairly small man, perhaps about the size of many Japanese males, but...no way, hose!!!!!
Bob
zoseph Aug 5th 2011 10:59PM
I see a lot of wasted space. You two should have shared a pod.
Jess Jul 30th 2011 6:10PM
I remember hearing about these hotels. They were originally designed for ppl in Japanese cities who simply couldn't make it home b/c of all the traffic (& piles of ppl ahead of them), so they'd spend the night in the capsule hotel & then go to their real home the nxt morning. It was originally men only, but Japanese women work in the city too. They used to have window-shade-like "doors" too, made from something woven, but now it's plastic.
It's not a bad idea, but as spoken in other reviews, if western societies wanted to use it, it would have to be adapted for those of us who are taller or larger, there would have to be lockable, slide-down doors for the capsules, and it could only really cater to single ppl w/out much in the way of luggage.
Families, parties larger than 1, & claustrophobic types would just have to use a regular hotel.
MARTY Jul 30th 2011 7:55PM
DOES IT HAVE MICRO FRIDGE INTERNET COFFEE A VERY SMALL HOOKER??????
KENT Aug 5th 2011 4:31PM
LIKE SLEEPING IN EARLY GENERATION CT OR MRI MACHINE.
Janet Butler Aug 1st 2011 8:15PM
I'm inclined to agree with the claustrophobic atmosphere. And the lack of room for any luggage. Not many people travel with only the clothes they have on. If that were the case, then this would be great; otherwise, not so great. I like Jess' comment and feel it is important. Maybe a great answer to Japan's overcrowding problem -- not yet needed in the US or other countries.