Capsule Hotels

A short walk from Toranomon and Shimbashi, this branch serves an office district more than a tourist one. Weeknights fill with business travellers who want a quiet, clean room for one night.

Cabins come in two sizes. The larger first-class type holds a semi-double bed and a television. The smaller business-class type is closer to a classic capsule. Baths, showers and toilets are shared and separated by gender. A lounge on the reception floor gives guests somewhere to sit outside the cabin.

This branch is inside the airport complex itself, on the Aeroplaza side of Kansai International. It suits a dawn departure or a late arrival when the trains into Osaka have stopped.

The cabins are taller than most capsules, so they feel more like small rooms. Guests share a hot bath, which helps after a long-haul flight. Luggage storage is part of the routine here, since most guests arrive straight from check-in or baggage claim.

Fukuoka's branch opened in 2014 and connects directly to Nakasu-Kawabata subway station. That puts it between the river food stalls of Nakasu and the shopping streets around Canal City.

The layout follows the chain's usual pattern of cabins, shared baths and a lounge. The location is the main point of difference. It gives a capsule stay a base in one of Japan's best-known food cities, with the airport only a few subway stops away.