Tokyo - Solo Stays
In the month of October 2023, I traveled solo to Tokyo to meet family for a holiday. My trip was for 9 days. I know I’m not in my 20s anymore but couldn’t pass up the opportunity to test out these capsule hotels. In the end I moved around neighbourhoods every other day so you don’t have to. I tried out a range of accommodation all within a 10 minute walk from the nearest train/metro station and here are my honest reviews. They are listed in the order of stay, not how I rate them.
1| R&B Hotel Ueno Hirokoji Single Room | Per day USD 60 | Incl. Breakfast
2| UNPLAN Kagurazaka Bunk Bed in Dormitory | Per day USD 48 | Incl. Breakfast
3| Akihabara Bay Hotel Capsule (Female only) | Per day USD 48
4| Ito Ryokan Room in Guesthouse | Per day USD 38 | Traditional Japanese Breakfast at extra cost
5| Smart Stay Shizuku Ueno Ekimae Capsule | Per day USD 32
R&B Hotel Ueno hirokoji
A 2-star hotel located in Ueno Hirokoji, a walkable 10 minute distance from Ueno Station. Thank goodness my luggage had sturdy wheels.
Majority of the guests are: Japanese locals including families with children, people on business trip, and few foreigners.
Room: Not large but equipped with everything you need. Nice, clean, quiet and comfortable. Had the best night’s sleep in a long time. You get your own private bathroom.
Highlight: Complimentary travel size quality skincare from DHC, and yes you can take as many as you want! Love the range of pillows you can pick out at the lobby in case you have a particular need. Bath salts provided for the tub. Breakfast was enjoyable too.
My Rating: 9/10 (Wished I stayed longer)
Unplan Kagurazaka
A 1.5-star hotel 450m distance from Kagurazaka Station (Exit 1B). Be aware that not all station entry/exit points have a lift, so if you have a heavy luggage, you may want this option at Exit 1B. I loved Kagurazaka, it’s a little bit cool, a little bit hip, and definitely not crowded, you’ll be fascinated by the townhouses on your way to Unplan.
Majority of the guests are: Young people and backpackers from foreign countries.
Room: Top bunk by the window in a 14-bed female dorm with shared bathroom inside. Struggled to fit everyone’s else luggages next to the bunks and felt rather cluttered. The room temperature was too hot because another guest turned on the AC to their liking, so I left the window slightly opened. Unfortunately I did not have a good sleep.
Highlight: Wander up to their rooftop balcony and you’ll be amazed at the peace and quiet on offer. There was a basic bagel breakfast provided with various flavours. The sweet potato one was interesting. The cafe in-house makes great drinks, lunch and dinner available too for convenience.
My Rating: For location 9/10 ; For comfort 7/10
Akihabara bay hotel akihabara
Less than a 5 minute walk from Akihabara Station, this 2-star hotel is a safe haven for the ladies if you find solo travelling a bit daunting. Lots of pink. Its location is fantastic as there’s plenty to do in the area. Bic Camera, Electric Town and Owl Cafe for example.
Majority of the guests are: Local Japanese and foreigners, women of all ages. Solo and business travellers.
Room: Bottom capsule in a room with many other capsule beds. The room is dimly lit which created a sense of privacy and encouraged a quiet atmosphere. There is a designated locker area outside the room for luggages, except mine was too large to fit so it had to be kept at reception. Shower facilities on another floor.
Highlight: The bathroom is well supplied with great quality shampoo and skincare products. I liked the capsule for its simplistic design and mood lighting, bed was also comfortable.
My Rating: 8/10
Ito ryokan nihonbashi ningyocho
This Japanese guesthouse with a 70-year history is situated less than 5 minutes from Ningyocho Station by walking. A 2-star establishment that offers cultural experiences like calligraphy and tea ceremony.
Majority of the guests are: Local and foreign travellers.
Room: On the 2nd floor, I had a decent sized single room with tatami bed. Shared-toilet was just across the corridor. Everything was neat, clean and comfortable. However, shower facilities are downstairs on the ground floor.
Highlight: Soaking up the culture and history of Japanese houses where the “shoji” sliding door is made of wood and paper. Their exquisite traditional breakfast is a must-try at only 660 yen. The lady who prepared it for me is a retired air hostess who worked for Japan Airlines, which explains her incredibly friendly hospitality. I had a great night’s sleep here, feeling right at home.
My Rating: 9.5/10
smart stay Shizuku Ueno Ekimae
This was one of the closest accommodation I could find on booking.com within walking distance to Ueno station. I had a morning flight to catch so it was a convenient location to be catching the early train. This is a capsule hotel that offers a large shared lounge/library where you can chill and relax it.
Majority of the guests are: Local and foreign travellers, many appeared to be in the younger age group.
Room: Top bunk in a women-only room. Men and women floors are separate. My capsule felt a bit small and kind of awkward to climb up into, but there is a decent flat screen TV with headphones. There was a lot of movement in and out of the room, designed to cater for a large number of guests, it felt like I was in a conference hall. Toilets and wash basin inside the room, but shower facilities in the basement level.
Highlight: Everything feels modern and new. A lot more room to move around. There is a designated area for your luggage with locks beside the sleeping cabins. Great vending machine where you can buy drinks with the tap of your electronic wristband. You will get billed for it at check-out.
My Rating: 7/10
Final Verdict.
I am going to be bias here. I realised on this trip that capsule hotels/backpackers are not for me. I am probably too sensitive to noise, to temperature, and just the fact that I’m sharing a room with strangers had put my mind on surveillance mode. It wasn’t that I felt unsafe, not at all, but the constant awareness of someone else in the room. Sadly, I was not able to enjoy a good night’s sleep. Despite being fun for a little while being a new experience and all, I eventually found the cabins a bit too claustrophobic for my liking. What I do appreciate about the Japanese culture is that silence and quiet is well-enforced in the accommodation. I guess everyone in this city is looking for peace wherever and whenever possible. But please don’t let my opinion deter you, you won’t know until you’ve tried it for yourself.
On the other hand, top marks for Ito Ryokan and R&B Hotel. Because after a whole day of hustle and bustle through Tokyo, you just want to switch off at the end of the day. If you want to put your money to good use, spend it on comfortable accommodation where you will feel rejuvenated the next day.
Check out some of our recommended luggages for your future journeys.
