# Japanese "Hotels"? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 11, 2003, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/japanese-hotels/160548 "2003-03-11T14:26:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Jinx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2003, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/japanese-hotels/160548/1 "2003-03-11T14:26:51Z")
Does Japan really have “hotels” (for lack of the proper term) built like shelving (with vertical ladders) divided into compartments with just enough space for human sleeping quarters? What’s the scoop? - Jinx ---
**Author:** ![Jinx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2003, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/japanese-hotels/160548/2 "2003-03-11T14:29:00Z")
Oh yeah…and, how do you pay for these? Whom do you pay? Are they coin-operated? From a picture I saw, it looks more like public lockers fit for human habitation! - Jinx ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2003, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/japanese-hotels/160548/3 "2003-03-11T14:48:55Z")
I don’t know if they still have them, but I saw a news report on them on a major network many years ago. I don’t believe it was a put-on, but you never know. ---
**Author:** ![Flying\_Monk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/48db29/32.png) [@Flying\_Monk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flying_Monk)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2003, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/japanese-hotels/160548/4 "2003-03-11T14:50:45Z")
I’ve seen these on TV, and it’s a very efficient idea. I don’t think too many americans would use them, however, except for drug use & other illicit purposes. It’s too bad, you could make money charging people $10 a night. The units have a/c, TV & the basic necessities, and it’s a great way to maximize space. I’ve no idea how they’re paid for. ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2003, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/japanese-hotels/160548/5 "2003-03-11T14:53:52Z")
Not many Japanese use them either. I’ve never been in one. Anyway the term is “capsule hotel” - do a Google search and you should get plenty of info. ---
**Author:** ![Papermache\_Prince](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f05b48/32.png) [@Papermache\_Prince](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Papermache_Prince)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2003, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/japanese-hotels/160548/6 "2003-03-11T15:02:11Z")
They’re called [“capsule hotels”](http://www.sonic.net/~anomaly/japan/hotel.htm) and apparently still exist. Several pages of listings for capsule hotels begin here at the [Japan for Visitors](http://gojapan.about.com/library/hotel/bltokyo_cap1.htm) site on [about.com](http://about.com). Perhaps Dopers in Japan can supply more information. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2003, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/japanese-hotels/160548/7 "2003-03-11T17:01:08Z")
I’ve used capsule hotels before. They’re very convenient and cost much less than the regular hotels. When you pay your bill (always in advance), you pay to a real live human being at the front desk. It’s the love hotels where you don’t see the human clerk face-to-face. ---
**Author:** ![DreadCthulhu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/db5fbb/32.png) [@DreadCthulhu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DreadCthulhu)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2003, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/japanese-hotels/160548/8 "2003-03-11T17:16:17Z")
Aren’t they typically near train stations, so if someone misses the last train home they can get a place to sleep. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2003, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/japanese-hotels/160548/9 "2003-03-11T17:33:03Z")
Right next to the place or perhaps a block down the road is where I usually found them. If you can read Japanese, check out [http://www.mapion.co.jp](http://www.mapion.co.jp) and check out the maps. I think some of them have the capsule hotels listed, but won’t swear to it. ---
**Author:** ![BobT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e8cbc/32.png) [@BobT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobT)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2003, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/japanese-hotels/160548/10 "2003-03-11T18:20:46Z")
As a disproportionately tall visitor to Japan (6’5"), I don’t think I could handle a capsule hotel. But the Japanese-style rooms are great for tall guys. It’s a lot easier to stretch out on a futon on tatami rather than squeezing into a bed designed for someone much smaller.