Osaka, Oct. 15. A limited budget (three weeks in Japan for the price of two) is my primary excuse for seeking out the capsule hotel; in reality, I was curious about this bizarre Japanese tradition, and wanted to try it out for myself. These strange little (and I mean little) places started up in order to accommodate workers or partiers who missed the last train home and needed a quick place to crash, a toothbrush, a towel, and not much else. Very few capsule hotels accept women, but I was lucky to find the equal-access, well-located “Capsule Inn Namba” for about $22 per night.
When I first checked in I was handed two keys: one for the shoe locker at the ground level, and a second for the clothes locker in a room adjacent to the capsule space on the third floor. Unfortunately, the clothes locker was not sized for a traveler’s backpack that included things like bulky camera and computer equipment, but I finally created a system of storing my belongings mostly in the locker and partially in the capsule that suited my needs, but not before a lot of heaving and rearranging. With the stuff problem settled, I bunked down for the night in a space that’s about 3’ high, 3’ wide and 6’ deep, with a small TV eating up a piece of that real estate near the ceiling.
It’s definitely not for everyone, but I rather enjoyed having my own little space. In many ways it’s like a dorm style hostel, except that you have complete visual privacy, and they give you these fun little robes that you’re expected to wear around. The only challenge was that I tended to move the wrong way from time to time, slamming an unsuspecting elbow or leg into the plastic shell that encases the capsule. The complete disconnect with the outside world – the only window I saw in the whole building was in the entry door – was also a little disconcerting, but I wasn’t there to take in greenery. I adjusted to the overwhelming beigeness and the size of the quarters after a night or two, and it has become my pleasant little Osaka home.
Transportation count: zzzzzzzzzzzz...
When I first checked in I was handed two keys: one for the shoe locker at the ground level, and a second for the clothes locker in a room adjacent to the capsule space on the third floor. Unfortunately, the clothes locker was not sized for a traveler’s backpack that included things like bulky camera and computer equipment, but I finally created a system of storing my belongings mostly in the locker and partially in the capsule that suited my needs, but not before a lot of heaving and rearranging. With the stuff problem settled, I bunked down for the night in a space that’s about 3’ high, 3’ wide and 6’ deep, with a small TV eating up a piece of that real estate near the ceiling.
It’s definitely not for everyone, but I rather enjoyed having my own little space. In many ways it’s like a dorm style hostel, except that you have complete visual privacy, and they give you these fun little robes that you’re expected to wear around. The only challenge was that I tended to move the wrong way from time to time, slamming an unsuspecting elbow or leg into the plastic shell that encases the capsule. The complete disconnect with the outside world – the only window I saw in the whole building was in the entry door – was also a little disconcerting, but I wasn’t there to take in greenery. I adjusted to the overwhelming beigeness and the size of the quarters after a night or two, and it has become my pleasant little Osaka home.
Transportation count: zzzzzzzzzzzz...
1 comment:
Mara!
Your trip so far sounds fantastic! i asked Sayo about the autographs and she laughed and said she still has no idea what that was about...
I can't wait to see your pictures, and i am appreciating the daily updates. See you soon!
Rachel
Post a Comment