Can I stay in a capsule hotel in Japan with kids?
Most of the time. No.
And even if you could? I want to hold your hand from parent to parent – trust me, you don’t want to do that with small kids.
This blog post contains some affiliate links. This means that I will receive a small commission if you book a hotel or make a purchase using one of my links – at no additional charge to you.
It sounds like a boring response but let me explain why I sound like I’m being a party pooper for a second….
Imagine sleeping on the top bunk in a kids bedroom… but the bunk space and the distance from mattress to roof is all you have in terms of space. Now that includes your space for luggage – luggage that you will need to keep in a locker or with the front desk while using the space.
THEN, imagine bunks all around you with others coming and going. And you will be coming and going too every time you need to use the bathroom. All while staying as quiet as you can manage.
If you are staying at one of the main chains of capsule hotels, staying for more than 1 night isn’t a thing so you will need to check out at 10 or 11am and then check back in again around 3pm.
Why are capsule hotels not so family-friendly?
Well, capsule hotels were designed with those (mostly men- up until a few years ago most capsule hotels were only for men and, even now, many capsule hotels only have a few women only floors) in mind who missed the last train home – so they just needed a little spot to rest until the trains start up again. They were never designed to be a place for families to rest.
Are there any exceptions to capsule hotels in Japan that are good for trying with kids?
Book and Bed Capsule Hotel, Shinsaibashi (Osaka) – Capsule meets Library Hotel – one of the few capsule hotels that allows children. Every family member gets their own pod to sleep in. A great way to experience this style of accommodation for a night or two (wouldn’t do much longer though.) It’s very affordable to stay here.
Book and Bed Shinjuku – Capsule meets Library- one of the few capsule hotels that allows children. As children are allowed – this place can be a noisy place to sleep though (babies crying etc) and the “door” to the capsule is just a curtain. Please note that the shower area is not separated by gender (although shower cubicles do have locks on the door.)
This blog post contains some affiliate links. This means that I will receive a small commission if you book a hotel or make a purchase using one of my links – at no additional charge to you.
See here if you also want to know about Love Hotels in Japan.
