Capsule Hotel and Shibuya Karaoke

Last night we spent the night in a capsule hotel and went back to Shibuya crossing for karaoke. We enjoyed some conveyor belt sushi again and then sang at the top of our lungs to our favorite songs. The kids said it was the best night yet!

Tiny Room, Big Experience, Little Sleep

Capsule hotels are unique to Japan, and not something I had heard of prior to planning our trip here. The first capsule hotel opened in 1979 and they were originally built for salarymen who missed the last train home. They are still used for this purpose, but now also cater to solo travelers and tourists looking for a unique experience. The hotels offer a small compact self contained sleeping pod, but all other facilities are shared. It was interesting and fun – but a terrible night of sleep!

The floors are separated by gender, so Alexis and I slept on the 3rd floor while Dave and Braxton slept of the 4th. Upon check-in you get a key card with a QR code that opens your locker. Your locker number corresponds with your pod number. The lockers are in a separate area from the sleeping pods and the showers are on a different floor entirely. It feels a bit like staying in a very tiny dorm room. When you open your locker there is a bag waiting for you that includes pajamas, slippers (no shoes allowed inside the capsule room), a toothbrush/toothpaste, and towels. Alexis and I were excited about wearing the pajamas!

There is a shared coed lounge on the 10th floor and this is the only place that food/drink is allowed. It is also, the only place where you are not required to be quiet. However, as with most things in Japan it was extremely quiet while we were up there. They have a nice outside patio that we enjoyed before taking the train to Shibuya. We had a great view of the Tokyo Tower and spent time out there prior to going to Shibuya and again when we got back.

Shibuya at Night

After we got our belongings tucked safely away in our lockers, we took the train to Shibuya crossing. It was fun to experience this place again and this time at night. There’s always a different vibe at night time. Our sushi dinner was delicious and we enjoyed walking around and did the Shibuya crossing in every direction.

Karaoke – Being Loud in Tokyo

Karaoke is a big part of Japanese nightlife. Like most things in Japan, karaoke here is more of a private experience, rather than singing in front of everyone on a stage. You get a private, soundproof booth for your group, with food and drinks delivered right to you. We had the best time singing at the top of our lungs and being carefree without the intimidation that can come with a crowd. It felt really great to be loud!

As we were walking back into our condo after our night away Dave said, “this feels like home, time to move on.” Our time in Tokyo is down to less than a week. The memories we’ve made here are unforgettable, but we are feeling that quiet pull toward whatever comes next.