Good food is what defines spirited Osaka on the island of Honshu in Japan. In fact, this foodie city has an unofficial motto ‘Eat till you drop.’ Apart from this lip-smacking cuisine, Osaka is also known for the 16th-century Osaka Castle and the Sumiyoshi-Taisha, one of Japan’s oldest shrines. However, Osaka is also known for another feature quite innate to Japan – which is being home to the world’s very first capsule hotel. Capsule hotels in Osaka, Japan aren’t anything new; in fact, they’ve been around for close to 40 years now. They’re not only lorded as one of the best ways to save money while traveling but are an experience in itself.
However, capsule hotels are more than just tiny sleep pods, and now have access to luxury facilities too. Also, they are some basic etiquettes which people need to follow for the close-quarter living situation, like leaving shoes in the lockers and wearing robes/gowns within. Additionally, guests are encouraged to be courteous and quiet since people are in close proximity.
Osaka is a huge city, and so it’s important to choose your neighborhood carefully too. Namba/Minimi, for instance, is the dining and entertainment heart of the city. Umeda/Kita is the city’s transportation hub, while the Shin-Osaka neighborhood is the bullet train area. The area around Osaka Castle is a lovely, serene one and perfect to stay during the cherry blossom season. Finally, Konahona with its lovely water views and Universal Studios is also popular for its abundant green spaces.
If you’re looking to delve into the culture of Japan, then capsule hotels are an experience you shouldn’t skip out on. Here are the 11 best capsule hotels in Osaka, Japan.
nine hours Shin Osaka Station
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Step into the future with nine hours Shin Osaka Station. The brand doesn’t need introducing, for it is one of the most popular capsule hotels in the country. The original thought behind nine hours comes from the three basic essentials one needs for staying overnight, and the time required for each of them. So, these include showering for an hour, sleeping for 7 hours, and one hour to get dressed the next day – totaling to nine hours!
This particular capsule hotel is merely minutes away from Osaka’s attractions as well as Shin-Osaka Station, which makes most of the city accessible. The hotel itself boasts an amazing rooftop with kickass views of the city! The multilingual staff puts you at ease and is always ready to answer any queries or book any tours for interested travelers. The white-themed interiors are peppered with wood accents and lush foliage to add to the vibe. Begin your day with a hearty breakfast at this pod hotel.
When it comes to the pods, the designer capsules are large and deep for ensuring an excellent night’s comfort and maximum comfort. Moreover, all pods come with immaculate communal bathrooms, exclusive brand clothing, and complimentary locker storage. They even have complimentary toiletries on the offer.
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Cabin & Capsule Hotel J-SHIP Osaka Namba
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The entire philosophy of the Cabin & Capsule Hotel J-SHIP Osaka is to ensure for its visitors a convenient, comfortable, and clean experience. Located a stone’s throw from JR Namba Station, the pod hotel couldn’t be better placed for travelers to explore the top things to see in Osaka. In spite of the buzzing location, the hotel is super quiet and guests will not have to suffer excess noise at all.
Perhaps the best part about this capsule hotel is that it has a common whirlpool bath or an onsen! The quiet and peaceful onsen experience is what most of the visitors love. The Japanese garden is perfect for spending a relaxing afternoon or taking a walk early in the morning. Moreover, a lounge area is a chilled-out place for striking conversations with fellow travelers. Additionally, the multilingual staff is ever-ready to help people with any queries or bookings.
When it comes to accommodations, J-Ship doesn’t disappoint. One can choose to live either in roomy sleeping pods or compact sleeping cabins complete with a desk. The gender-separate accommodation floors provide guests with everything from bathroom amenities to sleep clothes. What’s more, there’s even a women-only floor with a powder room, hair salon, and beauty accessories.
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First Cabin Hanshin Nishiumeda
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Osaka, and Japan in general, is famous for not only themed restaurants but even theme capsule hotels! The First Cabin Hanshin Nishiumeda features the ‘flight theme’ with every pod designed as a ‘first-class airplane cabin.’ Right from pods named after flight classes to staff members dressed as cabin crew, this capsule hotel is unique in every way possible. Moreover, the hotel’s exterior is modern Japanese design construction at its best. In fact, it happens to be one of the most upmarket capsule hotels in Osaka.
People staying here can choose from four different kinds of guest rooms – Premium, Premium Economy, Business, and First Class. All of them are designed as private rooms with locks, LCD TVs, and even locker storage. Plus, everything is immaculate and chic and certainly looks like aircraft life on earth in the best possible way.
Apart from pods, the capsule hotel has an entire range of facilities including a wonderful onsen and a lively bar which is perfect for meeting your fellow travelers. Furthermore, the women’s rooms even have face lotions, curling irons, hairdryers, and what-not.
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Capsule Hotel Astil Dotonbori
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If you’re looking for stylish digs smack dab in the heart of Osaka, then the Capsule Hotel Astil Dotonbori is perfect. It lies within walking distance of Osaka-Namba Station and is surrounded by dazzling dining, entertainment, and nightlife scene of the city. In fact, the dining action goes on till late in the night, so any nighttime food cravings that you have will be very well satiated.
Don’t be fooled by its run-of-the-mill exterior, for on the inside, the capsule hotel is as chic as it gets. Gender-separate floors house the hi-tech capsules, which feature fluffy beds, flatscreen TVs, and nifty alarm-clock-linked in-room lighting. What’s more, people also have access to complimentary toiletries, clothes racks, lockers, and spotless bathrooms. If that wasn’t enough, the women’s section has beauty station sections for hair, body, and facial care.
Apart from excellent living aspects, the capsule hotel has a gamut of complimentary services, including mineral water and a hearty breakfast. Also, on the day they’ve checked out, one can leave their luggage until the evening and explore the city sans any hassles. Furthermore, the multilingual staff is always armed with travel tips and ready to help in any way.
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Capsule Inn Osaka
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You’ll be a part of living history if you stay at Capsule Inn Osaka, which is not just the first of the capsule hotels in Osaka or Japan but the entire world. The male-only capsule hotel dates back to 1979 and continues to provide amazingly affordable sleeping comfort and exceptional service.
What’s so great about this capsule hotel is that it offers Regular pods as well as slightly larger Wide pods. So, men who’re slightly heftier needn’t have to worry about crouching or not having enough leg space. Furthermore, all pods have reading lights, alarms, power outlets, and flatscreen TVs.
That being said, the capsule hotel offers a wealth of services as well. It has tons of relaxation options in the form of massage treatments, a sauna, and a communal hot bath. The lounge with the TV is a great place to catch up with fellow travelers. What’s more, the in-house restaurant has more than 20 delectable options for breakfast options. Likewise, the hotel also enjoys a fabulous location within walking distance of Umeda Subway Station that makes most of Kyoto’s attractions accessible.
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Osaka Hokko Marina Resort Guesthouse
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One of the most scenic capsule hotels on this list is the Osaka Hokko Marina Resort Guesthouse, which sits on the marina and enjoys gorgeous views of Japan’s Osaka Bay. The female-only pod hotel is one hell of luxurious accommodation and is perfect for solo female travelers to the city. In fact, this guesthouse even allows moms with children up to 9 years old to stay with them for free!
Women can choose from pods in dorms, twin rooms, and economy rooms, with there even being an option for a deluxe cabin on a boat in Osaka Bay! The capsules in the dorms are comfy with plush mattresses with ensuite shared bathrooms, toiletries, bath products, linens, bed reading lights, and power sockets.
However, what the hostel is really known for its laundry list of amenities, of which some are luxurious. There are lovely green parks and tennis courts located within the compound of the guesthouse. Additionally, it even has a fabulous swimming pool with daybeds overlooking the marina and Osaka Bay. Plus, the location is perfect for those who’re planning to indulge in marina activities like mini boating, yachting, etc. Plus, it’s also close to the amazing Universal Studios Japan.
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Oyado HARU’s
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Oyado Haru’s is a charming capsule hotel located thick in the middle of all action in Umeda, which is the perfect base for sightseeing in Osaka. If you’re on a budget and looking to stay in a central area, then this capsule hotel lying in the transportaion hub of Umeda is perfect.
The gender-divided hotel has a separate female and male zones for the capsules, but with shared lounges with a smoking area and vending machines. What’s more, each separate gender zone has both shower areas as well as saunas ideal for relaxing after a long day of exploration. Moreover, the women’s area even has a mist sauna. Apart from that, the hotel also has luggage storage and a 24×7 reception.
When it comes to the sleeping facilities, all pods feature comfy mattresses, flatscreen TVs, reading lights, and alarm clocks.
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Hostel 64
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If you’re looking for a pocket-friendly capsule hotel close to the Namba area, the Hostel 64 Osaka is perfect. The stylish hotel lies in the Shinsaibashi area and lies in a retro building dated back to 1964, hence the name.
The entire hostel features lots of artistic design touches. This makes the place a very warm and welcoming one and beckons guests to strike up interesting conversations. A fabulous lobby lounge looks nothing less than a striking gallery, what with the books and artwork on display. To top it all, one can also dig into a delicious, hearty breakfast of orange juice, yogurt, jam, fruits, and homemade bread.
One gets to choose between pods in dorms and private rooms in Hostel 64. However, the dorms here are slightly different from the usual. Instead of having double-decker beds, the dorms have ‘rooms’ which are separated by curtains. So, even though one occupies a bed in a dorm, everyone gets their own private space o the ground. Also, each ‘room’ has a safe box, lights, and power outlets as well. The private rooms, on the other hand, feature art and designs which are a mix of Japanese culture and pop-culture. Additionally, modern furnishings and antique touches make for a unique ambiance.
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Sauna & Capsule AMZA (men only)
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Men looking for a good capsule experience along with a plethora of amenities will do well to choose the Sauna & Capsule AMZA. Rather than doing away with amenities and being stereotypically bland, this Osaka accommodation turns Japan’s capsule hotel experience into a brilliant one.
Males can choose from a bevy of spotlessly clean and roomy pods to sleep in. These pods are also longer than what Japanese hospitality usually offers, allowing taller men to recline and sleep comfortably. Apart from that, they also come with comfy bedding, privacy curtains, and a flatscreen TV.
As the name suggests, the best thing about this pod hotel is the spa experience. Moreover, the facilities even have massage chairs, a sauna, and a hot tub, allowing men to relax after a long day of working or exploring. Topping off the amazing capsule experience is the in-house restaurant that doles out Japanese, Western, and Chinese cuisines with equal aplomb.
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Hotel Morning Box Osaka Shinsaibashi
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The spanking-new Hotel Morning Box could easily be one of the most value-for-money capsule hotels in Osaka. While the building might look compact with its sci-fi exterior, it is actually quite an expansive space with not just pods but also a host of amenities.
The pod hotel offers travelers a variety of guestrooms which range from capsule-style individual spaces to bunk-bed dorms to even twin-bed rooms. Pods have plush bedding and reading lights, while the rooms are far luxurious for a pod hotel with lots of space, flatscreen TV, and more. That being said, all guests are offered complimentary toiletries and sleepwear.
The icing on the cake is its communal offerings. For instance, the spacious common lounging areas with plush seating looks so inviting that people might not want to retire to their beds. The reinvigorating public baths and the male-only sauna room is a nice R&R touch. Finally, it’s the full complimentary breakfast that seals the deal, making it one of the best hotels in Osaka as well.
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a-style Shinsaibashi (female only)
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Women travelers to Osaka will love the a-Style Shinsaibashi capsule hotel. Its location which is a hop, skip, and jump from Shinsaibashi Station, makes it a great base for exploring Osaka.
The women-only capsule hotel takes safety very seriously, with the entrance to every pod area locked with security cards. That being said, the capsule pods are excellent here, complete with soft beds and flatscreen TVs.
Apart from the wonderful sleeping areas, this hotel has tons of amenities for its visitors. Women can choose from and enjoy a wide range of complimentary comforts like irons, hairdryers, facial steamers, and a host of skincare products. Plus, there’s also a drink vending machine on every floor. A convenience store on the first floor is great for buying any quick-access, urgent, or last-minute travel stuff that one forgot.
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Recommended Restaurants / Bars / Food Tours in Osaka:
- Osaka – Eat Like a Local Food Tour: You cannot miss going on a food tour of Osaka’s delicious street food. Explore the delights of Osaka’s gastronomy on this lip-smacking tour.
- Balabushka: If you’re interested in partying on a Saturday night in Osaka, Balabushka is where you should be at.
Recommended Activities In Osaka:
- Osaka Night Photography Tour: Osaka at night is a different world, as you’ll explore and capture on this mesmerizing night tour of this beautiful Japanese city.
- Osaka – Private Discovery Tour with a Local: Explore Osaka’s main attractions and hidden and less-known gems with a local.
