Kyoto’s Best Capsule Hotels

Traveling to Kyoto anytime soon? Consider staying at a capsule hotel for the quintessential Japanese experience— compact, convenient, and peak coziness.

The first capsule hotels were created in Osaka in the 1970s. Originally, they were for the salarymen (white-collar employees) who worked late nights and drinking afterwards, only to do it all again the next day. The problem was they needed somewhere to sleep for those few hours in between. A capsule hotel provided the perfect solution as a budget-friendly (the same price as a train ride to their home in the suburbs!) crashpad.

Now, capsule hotels are used by far more than just salarymen. You’ll find a range of locals and out-of-towners alike who are drawn to the convenience, the price, or just the novelty. And with their rising popularity, many capsule hotels have evolved beyond the original barebones model to much more elevated styles.

So, next time you’re in Kyoto, check out these top three capsule hotels for an unforgettable stay.

The Millennials Kyoto is as far from the original minimalist capsule hotel as possible. The unmistakably sleek, hip, and ultra-contemporary design creates an ambiance that you might expect from a pricy boutique hotel— not a capsule hotel.

Technology is at the heart and core of The Millennials' experience. Every capsule — called a SmartPod — can be controlled by an app on the iPod Touch given to you when you check-in. With a few taps, you can turn on the lights, recline your bed to become a sofa, or set an alarm. And if you want an extra special experience, opt for one of their TheaterPods. Equipped with a personal projector, these pods allow you to cast your smartphone or PC to the partition wall— meaning personal movie nights on an 80-inch screen.

The Millennials is the perfect spot if you also need to work while you travel. There's a coworking space with plenty of seats, speedy internet, and even phone booths for meetings (and a bigger meeting room if you happen to have a team meeting). Get your work done, meet other guests from around the world, and hop upstairs for a nap whenever you need to recharge.

There's also a big emphasis on community at The Millennials. Communal areas are designed for socialization, with open designs encouraging guests to connect. Whether you're making tea in the kitchen or sharing a table in the lounge, there are plenty of opportunities to meet people. If that isn't enough, there's even a happy hour with free beer every evening!

When you eventually manage to leave the hotel, you'll be greeted by a lively street lined with plenty of restaurants, shops, and bars. Located close to the famous Kamo River, it's a vibrant area for a nighttime stroll.

For those looking for a women-only capsule hotel, Maja Hotel Kyoto is the perfect spot for you. Designed with a heavy Scandinavian influence, the entire interior — from the common lounge area to the capsules — is mostly made of exposed wood, giving the space a welcoming and peaceful ambiance. You’ll feel right at home here, which is exactly what Finnish industrial designer Harri Koskinen intended with his concept of creating a space that “evokes feelings of coziness and warmth at home”.

In Finnish, “Maja” translates to “hut”, which is how Maja Hotel Kyoto refers to their pods. The sixty huts are designed to look like miniature houses with an endearing triangular roof shape at the top. Depending on how purist you want to be with your capsule experience, you can choose from two different sizes of huts. For those looking to ease in, opt for a walk-in hut where you’ll have a little extra space to stand next to the bed. And if you’re looking for the absolute minimalist experience, go for the sleep-in hut, where your bed will line the entire floor of your pod (as is the traditional capsule hotel way).

Beyond the huts themselves, Maja Hotel Kyoto has plenty of amenities to offer for a comfortable stay. Downstairs, you’ll find a chic cafe space where you can enjoy a delicious Scandinavian-style breakfast. Or, grab yourself a tea in the communal lounge and meet some of your fellow guests. If you’ve been on the road for a while, you can even do your laundry with the coin-operated machines.

Maja Hotel Kyoto is conveniently located steps away from the famous 400-year-old Nishiki Market, full of delectable foods for you to sample. Or with a longer stroll, you can easily get to other top attractions, including Nijo Castle and the Kyoto Imperial Palace.

If you’re looking for a more retro, old-school Japanese hotel experience, check out Amenity Hotel. The oldest of the bunch, it was built in 1967 during the Showa era.

Located only a five-minute walk from Kyoto’s arguably most famous temple, Kiyomizu-dera, it’s great for those looking to immerse themselves in the truly historical area of Kyoto. Nearby, you’ll find plenty of traditional pottery stores, tea houses, and restaurants— not to mention it’s only a ten-minute walk from Gion, Kyoto’s historical geisha district, where you’ll walk along the distinctive cobblestone streets and see traditional buildings.

Amidst all of the famous sites surrounding it, the Amenity Hotel is a modest and unassuming building. It wasn’t built to be hip or trendy for the twenty-first century, but that’s part of its nostalgic Showa era charm. Actually, Amenity Hotel isn’t strictly only a capsule hotel. Some of the rooms are Japanese tatami-style, where you can sleep on traditional futons on the floor— while others contain a combination of futons and bunk beds, and others still contain capsule-style beds for up to three people. So, if you want to try sleeping in a capsule but don’t want to share a room with strangers, then this is the hotel for you.

The first floor of Amenity Hotel contains a Chinese restaurant that’s open for lunch and dinner hours. When you need a break from Japanese food or just want to opt for sheer convenience, try some gyozas made from local vegetables or “negi soba” ramen. And if you go up to the second floor, you’ll find a grand banquet hall— perfect to rent out if you happen to be in town for an extra-special event.