Capsule Hotel Asahi plaza Shinsaibasi

When planning my trip to Japan, I just knew we had to stay in a capsule hotel. My husband and I booked a night here after extensive research. The reviews were positive and the website was really informative, as was the video of dos and don'ts.|| ||When I got there, I became a little apprehensive. The check in procedure seemed confusing and I was given a map to find my capsule (this blew my mind, as I'm completely directionless). My husband and I were split up to stay in our separate, gender defined sections on separate floors so I headed down as he headed up. The female section is locked so you need a key to get in.||||I unlocked the door and headed to the locker to store all my possessions. You won't need anything when you go to your capsule, apart from maybe your phone charger as everything is provided! My medium sized suitcase only just fit in the locker, so just be aware that if you take a big suitcase, you might have to leave it behind the counter at reception and there is a small charge for this. ||||After stashing my stuff and grabbing my Pjs and wash items, I was faced with labyrinthine corridors to find my capsule! The first thing I noticed was how insanely hot it was due to the onsen being on the same floor. The capsule however, had its own air con and was surprisingly comfortable and spacious. One complaint I had is that I was told to stay in a capsule with no TV even though I had paid for TV access. When this was raised with reception staff, they refunded me the difference, but I'm not sure why I wasn't given the option to move to a different capsule. We stayed on a Monday, so there were barely any other guests...I saw four other people while I was there so there were tons of free capsules. Ultimately it didn't matter though, because I was so tired after spending the night exploring in Osaka, followed by a relaxing bath and sauna, that I fell asleep almost instantly. I slept so well and felt very safe during my stay. ||||The bathing and grooming facilities were excellent. As mentioned, the sauna and hot tub were so relaxing but be aware that if you want to go in there, it is communal and you have to be naked! If you prefer a private shower, there is a lockable booth but you have to get the key from reception to access it. There are massive rooms with mirrors for doing your hair and make up and they provide hairdryers and sterilised hairbrushes. ||||In the morning, my husband and I met in the hotel restaurant for breakfast and ordered pancakes, toast and eggs using the vending machine. The food was ok, nothing special but reasonably priced.||||Overall, I would definitely recommend a stay here. It is an altogether unique and strange experience that is a must if you are travelling in Japan. If I go back, I would stay again, maybe for a few nights, as it's dirt cheap compared to most hotels and just as comfortable.

It's exactly what you pay for, we'll probably more that you pay for if you use all the facilities. The beds are quite hard and I got really warm during the night, though I tend to anyway. Toilet and wash area was clean. The 'Comfy Area' was pleasant and the sauna and bath facilities looked decent, though I didn't use them. For one or 2 nights for a solo traveler it's pretty good, shouldn't adise for more than that. No major problems though, everything functioned as expected

I didn't like this place. Staff are friendly enough and wifi and location are both good. Capsules themselves are a decent size but that's about it, pillows are poor. The sauna/shower area is on the basement floor and are closed for cleaning between 11-3 so you can't enter between those times?? Ridiculous. The lounging area is comfy and has entertainment stuff but it's dark, dingy and stinks of cigarette smoke!! The whole place is quite outdated and doesn't have proper signs written in English so you can get easily confused with its maze-like corridors. You can't put your bags in your room so you have to leave it on the ground floor in the lockers (which aren't big enough to fit a backpack or a suitcase so you have to leave it in the luggage room) So if you forget anything then you have to keep going to and from the lockers all the time. And when you come back to the hostel, you leave your shoes in a locker then hand over the shoe locker key to reception and get your main luggage locker key back. It's all a very long, unnecessary and awkward process. One night stay is ok if you have to but I wouldn't recommend any more than that.

Good location. Beds were very hard and the rooms were a bit warm. Most inconvenient thing was that the locker storage is on a different floor from your capsule, so you have to go back and forth as there's no storage room in the capsules themselves. The onsen is great though, and the sauna is huge!

I was looking forward to this hotel for so long and it really didn't disappoint. Granted you have to go through what is like a crystal maze of floors to a) leave your belongings, b) shower and c) actually sleep, but that was fine. ||||They had so many facilities on site, from the completely free spa, sauna and steam room, where all toiletries are supplied free, so lounge areas and foot massage machines, they really have thought of everything. ||||Add to this the fabulous location and all in all it was an inspired choice by our tour operator and I wouldn't hesitate to return.

This is a clean, well-run establishment in a fantastic location close to restaurants & shopping. Both male & female facilities had great amenities and were quiet. The front desk spoke English during our evening check-in and our morning check-out. The capsules were on the older side, there was an AM radio :) But they served their purpose well. There were only 4 showers in the women’s area, but we were up early enough there wasn’t a line.|

Place is dirty and smells musty in many places, the lounge just outside the capsule area permits smoking. The toilet mat is grimy. The shower area doesn't look or feel too clean, just acceptable. Sleeping area is relatively clean, only special thing is the comic room filled with lots of Japanese manga if you read them. Don't go unless you really want a substandard capsule experience. There are better capsule places.

This place is small and local that comes with a price tag that is cheap and cheerful. As you enter you are told to take off your shoes and place them in a locker. Then you get your locker and capsule key. The place can be seen as dirty, but I believe that it is old and it hasnt seem to be renovated in a while. It smells a little musty, but this is because people are still allowed to smoke indoors in some areas in Japan. The showers are communal (all capsule hotels are like this). Hygiene is well kept but if you're not used to seeing naked people walking around freely, then this is not the place for you. The capsule is centrally located and easy to get to all the main spots.