I am no stranger to the capsule hotels of Tokyo, having stayed in my fair share of them during previous trips to Japan. When you consider the cost of travelling to and within the country, capsule hotels offer a budget-conscious alternative to a traditional hotel.

As we’ve documented before, capsule hotels have come a long way since their early days. At their core, they are still targeted toward people who just need a place to sleep & freshen up, but a lot more thought is being put into the design of these spaces — from the capsules themselves to the social areas and amenities — to make them more comfortable and to achieve a certain aesthetic and vibe.

One such example is Hotel Zen Tokyo, a luxury capsule hotel located in the Ningyocho neighborhood of Tokyo. It offers all the essentials of a standard capsule hotel, but with distinctive, minimalist design features and a bar/lounge on site.

Hotel Zen Tokyo invited us to stay at their hotel. Here’s what you need to know:

Accessible & Historic Location

This wasn’t my first time to Tokyo, and as someone who generally prefers to stay in the modern & tourist-heavy Shibuya & Shinjuku areas, I was a bit apprehensive about Hotel Zen Tokyo, located in the Ningyocho neighborhood of Nihonbashi.

As it turns out, Ningyocho is home to a great mix of dining options, from international chains to long-standing restaurants & bars, shops, and temples, many of which have been preserved from the Edo era. Strolling through the neighbourhood, you’ll find some of Tokyo’s oldest shops, restaurants, and architecture.

The hotel is located just minutes away from Ningyocho & Suitenguame Stations, connecting you to the Tokyo Metro trains and the larger network of Tokyo trains. Ningyocho Station is directly connected to both Narita and Haneda airports via the Asakusa line.

For upscale luxury shopping, you’ve got the Ginza district to the south, and for electronics, anime, maid cafes & more, you’ve got the eclectic tech-heavy Akihabara district to the north, both just under 15 minutes away by train.

Functional & Secure Layout

Hotel Zen Tokyo is tucked away rather inconspicuously on a side street. Housed in what was formerly a restaurant, they’ve managed to transform the space into a multi-floor hotel.

Upon entering, to your right, you’ll find stairs that lead down to Taian, the on-site bar/lounge, and in front, a compact lobby. Any further areas of the hotel require a keycard for entry, so only hotel guests can access them.

Each floor has a locker associated with each capsule. The lockers are big enough to fit a standard-sized checked luggage. You can also store your shoes here, as disposable slippers are available and should be worn throughout the other areas of the hotel.

Inspired Design

If you’re a fan of MUJI and the workings of Marie Kondo, you’ll appreciate the Japanese minimalist aesthetic of this hotel. Earthy tones and very clean and modern design can be found throughout every space.

According to architect & CEO Taro Kagami, the capsules themselves are actually inspired by the traditional taian teahouses of Japan, designed by Sen no Riku. You’ll find common features such as:

• nijiriguchi - a small entrance that encourages visitors to bow before entering the capsule

• tatami - a type of carpet available in some pods for additional space

• noren - a type of curtain to allow privacy between the capsule and common area

• kumiko - a decorative lattice that serves as an ornament above the entrance to each capsule

No Top bunks

The capsules at Hotel Zen Tokyo aren’t stacked, meaning that each capsule has a height of over 2m, just tall enough for most people to stand in.

This makes a huge difference in the overall sense of space. If you’ve ever been in a traditional capsule hotel, or even a bunk bed, you know that a tight space can evoke a feeling of claustrophobia — not zen at all!

Boys & Girls (and everyone) allowed

Capsule hotels in Tokyo are typically segregated by gender, usually by floor, but in some cases you’ll even find entire capsule hotels solely for men or women.

Hotel Zen Tokyo offers co-ed floors and while they do not allow more than one person per capsule, this is good news if you’re travelling with someone who identifies as the opposite gender and you want to sleep on the same floor.

Note that shower facilities are still separated by gender.

Everything you need & nothing you don’t

On the second basement level, you’ll find the shower & laundry facilities, and some lounge seating.

The showers come equipped with everything you’d need for an overnight stay: dental, shaving & grooming products, as well as shampoo, conditioner, body wash & face wash. You could literally show up with nothing but the clothes on your back, and have access to all the products you’d need to freshen up. This is often the case with locals who stay out late and require last-minute overnight accommodations rather than making the trek home.

Consider an upgrade

Hotel Zen Tokyo offers 5 different pod & room (yes, room!) sizes depending on how much space you prefer. The largest room, a corner suite, offers a modest level of privacy and some additional space to sprawl out your belongings.

Should you book it?

This has been a brief overview of what to expect at Hotel Zen Tokyo. When it comes down to it:

PROS

• affordable (compared to traditional hotels)

• clean, modern & minimalist design

• all the amenities you need: wifi, toiletries, luggage storage

• no top capsules & a relatively large and comfortable mattress

• multiple capsule types (depending on your budget & need for comfort)

• decent continental breakfast

• quieter location with lots of dining options

• close to trains and major points of interests, airports

CONS

• no onsen (a feature of some other capsule hotels)

• shared accommodations: you forego some privacy and you might have noisy neighbours (the hotel provides ear plugs)

• Tokyo is vast: there may be options closer to the areas you want to explore

The bottom line

If you are looking for affordable accommodations and a zen aesthetic, this is your spot.

Can’t get enough of Japan’s capsule hotels? Check out our review of some other popular brands