Published date: October 11, 2024
Recommended Capsule Hotel for Waiting for the First Train at a Low Cost in Shinjuku, Shin-Okubo
Room Type Stayed
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Experience of the stay
●Details (This is a capsule hotel)
Bath: Only shared shower
Yukata: Available at the front desk (I wasn't aware of this)
Room: Standard capsule
Amenities: Only small and large towels, slippers (toothbrush, yukata, etc. are said to be available at the front desk)
Work: There is a lounge usable at night, where you can charge your devices (there are about 30 seats)
Food: No meals served in the hotel (it's in a bustling area, so you won't have trouble finding food), but you might be able to eat in the lounge (bringing food might not be allowed)
Smoking: No smoking area
Parking: No parking available
*The hotel is named after the genius painter Rembrandt, known as the magician of light and shadow. It aims to provide the best heartwarming service to guests.
*It takes less than 5 minutes to reach the JR Shin-Okubo platform and about a 20-minute walk from Shinjuku, making it perfect for those who want to secure a cheap bed to wait for the first train after a night of drinking.
*Upon getting off at Shin-Okubo Station, head right; there will be a guard. Go under it, continue straight at the intersection, and enter from the first floor on the right. The reception is on the 8th floor, where you only need to write your name, age, address, and phone number.
*The café is also on the 8th floor, which might seem confusing at first, but the reception is located there. Guests can use the café for free, where self-service coffee and other drinks are available. The night view is beautiful.
*The showers and rooms are separate, with men's showers on the 7th floor. The elevator is separated by gender from the reception on the 8th floor. The capsules are clean and of standard minimum size, with outlets available, but there are no USB ports (you can't charge USB without an adapter) (they say rentals are available, though limited).
*Here's an overview of the facilities:
Direct elevator from the 1st floor to the 8th floor (mixed gender)
Male capsules are on the 3rd and 4th floors, while female capsules are on the 5th and 6th floors.
Coin laundry and showers are on the 7th floor (separate areas by gender and with different elevators)
*The bath only has shared showers, and shampoo and other products are available. There was a miraculous showerhead. It was hard to tell which was hot and cold water as there were no markers. Also, there is a foot mat at the elevator exit, but it's in a blind spot, and I didn't notice it. As expected, the shower exits had water all over each booth, which was unpleasant. While there are small shelves, there were no baskets, making it difficult to put my clothes down.
*What caught my attention was that the lockers open with a key. The red lamp that scans the QR code flashes, but the card's barcode didn't work, likely due to the previous facility's equipment.
*Also, to enter and exit the floor with capsules, you press a switch and then scan your card; however, there's no sound indicating it's working (it seems to be on silent). The red door mark lights up with a cross symbol, leading to confusion, making me think there was an error, and I tried multiple times to open it.
I wrote a lot, but the capsules and lounge are clean, so it's a convenient capsule hotel for those at risk of missing the last train in Shinjuku or wanting to save money while sightseeing in Shin-Okubo.
●Things to Know in Advance (I will list things from reviews online that are good to keep in mind)
- The lounge forces you out after checkout or around 10 AM. <It can be used for a fee (please check the photos for prices.)
- There are loaners for charging adapters (limited in number, of course) <But it's best to bring your own charger that can plug into an outlet!!!
- If you leave items hanging in the lockers, they may be indiscriminately removed without traces.
- You can choose your indoor outfit at the front desk. Only L and M sizes are available. There are no sizes for larger frames (it seems there aren't many options either).
- Although it is prohibited, you can enter the elevator regardless of gender, so it’s better to avoid changing right near the elevator.
- It's wonderful that Dyson hair dryers and hair straighteners can be borrowed.
- They can keep your luggage on the day of your stay, which is very helpful.
- There is only one coin laundry facility, along with a dryer, leading to long lines...
- Originally, the facility was “Capsule Hotel 9h,” which explains the QR code reading lockers (they are pretty misleading since if you open with a key, they should have powered it off...).
I hope this information is helpful!
Experiences during the trip
Shin-Okubo is a place where you can enjoy Asian and ethnic culture and cuisine with a little travel feeling. Korean cuisine, in particular, is delicious, reasonable, and many restaurants offer all-you-can-eat appetizers.
I think you can enjoy various delicious options here.
P.S. Those familiar with Tokyo might already know, but be careful in the Shinjuku area as there are many scams. If you believe a price per hour and follow someone, it could lead to trouble, so don't follow carelessly.