With its ancient Buddhist temples, traditional teahouses, and one of the world’s most unique forests, it’s no wonder that Kyoto is known as Japan’s spiritual heart. At the same time, the city is crazy ahead in its tech game, like the mixed-reality experience at Kenninji, Japan’s oldest Zen temple. So, it’s no wonder that the city also features one of Japan’s most singular inventions – capsule hotels. As the name suggests, capsule accommodations are where you rent and sleep in small ‘pods’ for the night. Capsule hotels in Kyoto make for affordable respites for everyone, whether hungover salesmen or party-goers looking to crash for the night.
This is not a new trend – capsule hotels have always been a part of modern Japanese culture. Trips cost a lot as it is, so this is a great way on saving on the living costs. Today, they have become increasingly popular with budget travelers as well as those who want an experience that is unique to Kyoto and Japan in general. So, what are the general norms followed by capsule hotels in the city? For one, your shoes will have to be placed in a locker and the hotel lends you slippers. Secondly, your luggage is locked away and you’re given the key. Gender-separated communal bathing areas, curfews, and no-noise are just some of the rules that these places follow.
Clearly, capsule hotels are a different and certainly exciting way of exploring the stunning sights and attractions of Kyoto. So, go ahead and book a room at these strikingly unique capsule hotels in Kyoto, Japan.
The Millennials
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We might be going out on a limb here, but there is virtually nothing unlikeable about the uber-cool Millennials. As the name suggests, this capsule hotel offers everything that millennials need at an unbelievable price. Also, it happens to be one of the most Instagrammable pod hotels in Kyoto!
The Millennials has everything you’d expect a modern pod hotel to have – minimalistic, timeless décor, a delicious, free breakfast, a stylish lounge room, and even an up-to-the-minute games room. So, what’s so different about the capsule hotel that has everyone harping about it?
For one, the hotel has thick, fluffy cloud-like mattresses atop versatile, remote-controlled beds. Yes, you read that right! When the bed is laid out flat, it occupies the entire pod. However, it can easily recline and become a sofa with the mere click of a button. So, that not only provides elbow room but also allows accessing spacious storage beneath the bed. Also, the pods are larger than usual, even compared to regular accommodations in Japan, and are perfect for taller ‘peeps.’ Also, what makes the Millennials stand out is their free beer-on-tap everyday between 5:30 pm and 6:30 pm at their in-house bar.
If pod hotels had their exclusive rating, the Millennials would score – and how! Also, the fact that it lies in the popular dining and entertainment area of Pontocho seals the deal.
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Centurion Cabin & Spa Kyoto (CU)
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Location, location, location – that’s the USP of the Centurion Cabin & Spa. Located in the heart of the Chijo Kawaramachi business district, the hotel is a hop, skip, and jump away from both Karasuma and Shijo Stations. Its location alone makes it one of the best capsule hotels in Kyoto.
If you think pod hotels were all about stark minimalism, then the Centurion Cabin not only challenges that notion but practically overturns it. It is one of the few capsule hotels to see artistic elements peppered throughout and radiates traditional Japanese beauty. The character extends to the pods as well – think capsule sliding doors with elaborate Japanese carvings to small bedside lanterns. Guests can choose from three sizes of cabins, Standard, Centurion (female-only), and Family Cabin.
Moreover, the hotel has a radium public hot spring bath, spa, and sauna which is the perfect place to relax after a day of exploring Kyoto. Apart from the staff speaking impeccable English, the hotel also has free Wi-Fi and rents out yukata (robes) to use.
Comicap Kyoto
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Are you an ardent manga fan? Then, the unconventional Comicap Kyoto is a place you must definitely stay at. For all otaku enthusiasts out there, young and old, the comics and capsule hotel is an absolute geek haven. What’s more, Comicap is located mere minutes from the Nishiki Market and Kawaramachi Station, which makes it well-located for exploring everything that Kyoto has to show.
Comicap Kyoto features a collection of whopping 30,000 manga lined up end-to-end on the walls of their comfy capsules. In fact, it’s more like a massive library with spaces for sleeping! Guests can choose between ordinary and the more spacious deluxe capsule units, each of which features privacy curtains and electric sockets, along with complimentary slippers and endless toiletries. What’s more, Comicap even features a huge open reading lounge, where you can comfortably curl up with manga without anyone disturbing you. So, unleash your inner nerd at Comicap and have a hell of a memorable manga-ful stay.
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Sauna & Capsule Hotel Rumor Plaza
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The Sauna and Capsule Hotel Rumor Plaza is one of the best men-only capsule hotels in Kyoto. Located in the heart of the Higashiyama Ward, the hotel is an excellent base for exploring Kyoto’s museums, castles, and older iconic areas. The fact that it is a stone’s throw from the Gion-Shijo Station also connects the hotel easily to other areas of Kyoto.
Every room at Rumor Plaza is extremely spacious, along with flatscreen TVs, free Wi-Fi, and well-fitted pillows for great sleep. Furthermore, the hotel is also equipped with a host of other amenities that make it an excellent place to stay. These include a superb open-air bath and sauna, reasonably-priced massage rooms, a movie theater, lounge, and even a reading room chock-full of manga. Finally, they even serve complimentary traditional Japanese-style buffet breakfasts as well!
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Caphotel Kyoto (CU)
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If you’re interested in exploring Kyoto’s ancient temples and beautiful Japanese gardens, you’d do well to consider staying in the Ukyo Ward at Caphotel Kyoto. With its location right outside the Saiin Station, all of Ukyo’s best attractions like the bamboo forest and Shinto shrines are a short ride away.
The devil is in the details, and the modern capsule hotel pays attention to every little aspect of hospitality. The hotel features beautiful traditional Japanese artistic elements like ukiyo-e paintings and calligraphy wall scrolls. Plus, it helps that there’s daily housekeeping and that someone is available at the front desk 24 hours. A small but well-equipped common lounge with a TV is a great place to relax and meet fellow travelers. However, one of the most exceptional aspects is that the lounge also offers drinks and snacks in the evening.
One can choose from single, female-only, and mixed capsule rooms. What’s more, the capsule beds are spaciously wide, helping you get comfortable and actually relax.
Capsule Resort Kyoto Square
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For a more luxurious capsule hotel in Kyoto, you cannot go wrong with the Capsule Resort Kyoto Square. Plus, the pod hotel lies right next to Nijo Castle, as well as the Nishiki Market and Kyoto Museum.
Offering a more exclusive approach to the capsule lifestyle, Capsule Resort offers a variety of comfy beds to suit all kinds of travelers for their kind of trips. The exquisite facilities include standard pods, longer beds for taller people, private cabins with sliding doors, VIP rooms for longer stays, and incredibly spacious private rooms that are almost the size of a small hotel room. The interiors are elegant to boot, with flatscreen TVs and muted furnishings in a wood-grain hue.
enjoying free soft drinks and coffee. Notwithstanding the fact that it is a ‘pod hotel,’ Capsule Resort features a bevy of high-value amenities that are quite uncommon at a capsule hotel. The top floor has a Sky Lounge with sweeping panoramas of Kyoto. However, the view that takes the cake is an unbeatable one that guests have of the spectacular Nijo Castle. The lounge area also serves free coffee and soft drinks, which is a great way to spend an evening. Ultimately, the pod hotel even features large Japanese-style bathing areas with free amenities for their guests.
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Book and Bed Tokyo-Kyoto (CU)
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Book and Bed is one of the most unique capsule hotels in Kyoto, Japan as it pays homage to the written word. Today, the female-only pod hotel has become a reputed and venerated haven of kinds for lovers of everything related to writing and reading. In fact, it doesn’t call itself a book pod hotel, but rather an ‘accommodation bookshop.’
The charming and quirky Book and Bed is a hostel, shop, and library everything rolled into one. The devotion to the theme is fantastic and worth a lot of praise. The place has been cleverly and tastefully styled and designed with wall after wall of bookshelves that are teeming with books. Somewhere between them, there are all sorts of capsule-like spaces to sleep while you dream of the books you’re surrounded by. It honestly feels like you’re sleeping in a library, and the experience is as strange as it is thrilling.
One can choose between two sizes of beds, compact and standard, as well as two sleeping types – behind the bookshelves or with a view of the Kamogawa river. Plus, each pod also comes with an electric outlet, Wi-Fi, curtain, and reading lights. What’s more, each dorm room has a couch to sit, a kettle, and a shared bathroom with slippers. At night, the rooms turn into tranquil reading retreats, with each reader lost in their own world. Apart from this all, Book and Bed also offers bikes for hire.
Furthermore, Book and Bed is a well-located place close to many of Kyoto’s attractions. Also, which avid book lover is going to pass up the opportunity to sleep in a comfortable library full of books?
Glansit Kyoto Kawaramachi
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Are you a fan of the dark mode on your smartphone? Then, perhaps you’ll like the chic and dark looking Glansit Kyoto Kawaramachi. It boasts a sleek dark theme that makes it look more like a grand futuristic manor more than anything else.
The dark look blends nicely with the overall wooden theme of the capsule hotel, making for a stylish yet comfy environment after a day’s exploration of Kyoto. The pods are equally thoughtfully designed, complete with comfy beds, a USB port, an electric outlet, and a flatscreen TV. What’s more, they’ve even provided complimentary slippers, sleepwear, and free toiletries in the super-neat bathroom. Heck, they’ve even provided females with cleansing oil to wipe off their make-up!
Apart from the sleeping facilities, the rest of the hotel is also well done up. Guests can make their own coffee concoctions with the flavored syrups provided in the in-house coffee machine. The lobby gives off a calm, Zen-like feeling and is a great place to relax. What’s more, the hotel is located nicely close to Kawaramachi Station, making it a great place to crash in Kyoto.
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Amenity Hotel Kyoto
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The Amenity Hotel in the heart of the Higashiyama Ward is one of the few capsule hotels in Kyoto that are only for men. The hotel is close to both the Kiyomizu-Gojo Station and the Kamo River, as well as the Kodai-Ji Temple and the Yasaka Shrine.
What’s different about the Amenity Hotel is that it offers capsule sleeping pods within what are regular hotel rooms. The pods are stacked on top of each other in the room, which also has space for moving around. There’s also a desk with a kettle, a flatscreen TV, and an ensuite bathroom with free toiletries. While the rooms are a bit small in size, it is certainly a better option for those who want to stretch out of their pod every once in a while. Apart from the pod, the hotel even offers individual Japanese-style hotel rooms.
The capsule hotel also has an in-house hotel restaurant that serves Chinese specialties. It also has conference rooms and a 24-hour reception as well.
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First Cabin Karasuma for Women
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How’d you like to live in an airplane-themed capsule hotel? Welcome to the First Cabin Karasuma, a pod hotel especially for women. What’s unbeatable about the First Cabin Karasuma is that the capsules here are more spacious than the usual pods! It also features a more friendly atmosphere compared to other alternatives, with a nice lounge serving alcohol and soft drinks in the evenings. The airplane theme present in the spaces adds a little bit of extra fun. Have a pleasant flight!
Capsules at the First Cabin Karasuma feature uber-comfy and downy beds along with a curtain door, LCD TV, free Wi-Fi, personal safe, and even sleepwear. Guests can choose from Premium Class, Premium Economy Class, Business, and First Class cabins, of which the First Class ones are the most spacious with space for even a desk. Apart from the sleeping arrangements, the uber-cool hotel even has a modern lounge that serves soft drinks and alcohol in the evenings. It also has vending machines that dispense beer and ramen noodles, which are very helpful for those staying here. What’s more, there’s also a spa bath onsen on the premises, which is a nice, luxurious touch for a capsule hotel.
First Cabin Kyoto lies right next to Shijo Subway Station, which places it in proximity to many of Kyoto’s attractions.
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Tsukimi Hotel
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The Tsukimi Hotel is one of the nicest capsule hotels in Kyoto that also boasts a fantastic location. The hotel lies within a stone’s throw from both the Kodai-Ji Temple and the Maruyama Park. What’s more, it isn’t far from Gion either, which is one of Kyoto’s most buzzing and busiest streets.
What makes the Tsukimi Hotel one of the best hotels in Kyoto is that the capsule beds were spacious, even by Japanese standards. There is plenty of space to stretch out while sleeping and even for stowing away your backpack. Additional perks include the presence of small safe boxes in each room and the lack of physical keys for operating them. Plus, the modern bathrooms are impeccably clean and are stocked with lovely toiletries every day.
Apart from pods, the hotel also offers guests an excellent cooked breakfast. The beautifully done up common areas are stocked with movies and Netflix, drinks, and games for everyone’s entertainment. Plus, water and coffee are available for free all the time.
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Recommended Restaurants / Bars / Food Tours in Kyoto:
- Kimono and Tea Ceremony: Experience an authentic Japanese tea ceremony where you’ll not only be shown how the host prepares tea but also try making it yourselves.
- Beer Komachi: Chug beers at this family-run craft beer bar in Kyoto, which is also one of its best.
- Kurakura: No visit to Japan is complete without eating at an izakaya, a traditional Japanese-style dining pub. Kurakura offers the same, complete with tatami-mat floors, wooden ceilings, traditional local fare, local beer, and even sake!
Recommended Activities In Kyoto:
- Kyoto UNESCO World Heritage Sites Tour: Did you know that Kyoto is home to 17 UNESCO World Heritage Sites? Explore them all on this wonderful full-day tour which also includes a lovely traditional Japanese lunch.
- Gion Night Walk: Gion is perhaps Kyoto’s busiest and most traditional district. Learn all about geishas, kimonos, and more on this enlightening and interesting night walk of the Gion district.
