SHIMBASHI KON HOTEL

For the last two days of my trip to Japan, I returned to Tokyo and booked a different capsule hotel this time. The Shinbashi KON Hotel is conveniently located about a 10-minute walk from JR Shinbashi Station. Check-in is done via a self-service machine, which provides you with a password. It's available 24/7 and very introvert-friendly! The hotel has a total of 3 floors. B1 houses the lounge, laundry room, and showers, while floors 1 and 2 are dedicated to capsule rooms, which are co-ed. Starting with B1, the lounge has reading lights at every seat, plus a fridge, microwave, and sink for simple food preparation. The shower room has over 10 cubicles and 7-8 vanity areas, each equipped with a hairdryer. There's also an abundance of towels available at the entrance. Overall, it's very convenient and offers a good experience. Now, regarding the capsule rooms: each floor's restroom has 4 cubicles, one of which is for men only and contains only urinals. This design seems to maximize efficiency. The hotel's attention to detail is commendable. For instance, the co-ed restrooms are stocked with feminine hygiene products for emergencies, and earplugs are provided in every capsule. These are the strong points of this capsule hotel. However, compared to the other one I stayed at, its drawbacks are also quite noticeable. Firstly, there's no elevator, so climbing stairs repeatedly can be a pain, especially if you have a large suitcase. Secondly, the capsule facilities are quite basic, with just one light and one power outlet. The capsule height is a bit low; my long winter coat, which could hang freely in the other capsule hotel, couldn't here. Finally, each person only gets a very small locker, roughly big enough for a shoulder bag. Neither a backpack nor a suitcase will fit, so everyone's luggage ends up piled in the hallway.

This dormitory is conveniently located near Shimbashi Station and offers individual sleeping pods, unlike typical bunk beds. Each pod has a curtain for privacy, so turning on your light won't disturb others. There's a lockable storage space under the bed for personal belongings. The lobby and showers are separate, ensuring a quiet night. You're required to change into indoor slippers upon entering, and the showers and restrooms are all spotlessly clean and well-maintained. Towels are freely available, and every spot has its own hairdryer. If you don't have too much luggage, this is an excellent value-for-money accommodation for a short stay of a day or two. As a side note, the famous Ebipotata, recommended by Sung Si-kyung, is right nearby.