You have most certainly heard of capsule hotels and especially if you have ever planned on visiting Japan. The country which is known for all sorts of ‘futuristic’ innovations, offers this kind of accommodation to its visitors and citizens alike. You may find some of the Japanese eccentric innovations unexplainable, but Capsule Hotels, certainly, are.
Well, let’s start with the fact that Japan is a quite populous country, no. 11 in the world ranking. On the other hand, it is not exactly the largest. The Far East country is by all means densely populated, and what does that affect? Well, pretty much everything but housing comes on top of the issues. Around the 60s, Japanese architects sensed the possibility of a future housing crisis, because of the rising population, and started developing the most extraordinary ideas to face the problem.
One popular tendency that created during the time was ‘Metabolism.' Are you aware the Nagakin Tablet Tower in Tokyo? Well, that is kcalorie burning in a nutshell. The system was made by the founder of the movement himself, Kisho Kurokawa, in 1972. It is really a mixed-use residential and office system, comprised of two cement towers and, of course, the capsules. The prefabricated tablets caused it to be easy for the residential apartments and the entire creating to develop incrementally, based on requirements, with a minor footprint.
The flashback episode is over, and now you know how the whole ‘Capsule’ thing started. So, ready to know more about those unconventional hotels that look like something out of a Sci-Fi movie? Let’s get started.
1. The very first Tablet Lodge exposed in Osaka in 1979, and it was made by non-other than Kisho Kurokawa. The Osaka Tablet Inn continues to be productive and is, actually, regarded one of the best capsule lodges in Japan.
2. Rather than areas on both sides of the corridor, bed-sized tablets are loaded together with one another, side by side, in Tablet Hotels.
3. The capsule's measurements are generally 1.2m large, 2m extended, and 1m high. So, they are nearly suitable for standing or squatting.
4. The Tablet may have, form sleep, a hanging TV, acceptable to watch in asleep position, Wi-Fi, mirrors, small drawers, and alarm clocks.
5. Capsules, mostly, don't have any lockers attached. Specific lockers for guests to help keep their material are generally placed in a different zone, and they are not too roomy.
Do capsule hotels have showers?
6. You have probably observed this coming. Yes, you can find no personal bathrooms, just the public shower room. There are several Tablet Lodges which give sauna, as well.
7. Visitors have to leave their sneakers in the given lockers and move around in the lodge slippers. Needless to say, you are acquainted with the Western custom of removing your sneakers at the door. They get it done at schools too.
8. They are much cheaper than lodges, with an evening remain ranging between 2000 to 4000 yen ($17-$35). So, they can be quite an excellent option to hostels, provided you are not claustrophobic.
9. Some are offering now a bit more spacious tablets, just like the First Cabin in Nanba, Osaka. The extra place comes from the elimination of top of the strip of tablets, giving each capsule double the conventional height. They, also, have inside-lockers, so the breadth is somewhat increased. Nevertheless, the benefits come at an extra price.
10. Tablet lodges, actually, targeted out-of-town businessmen that are in need of a one-night remain or who have missed the final train for the day. Nevertheless, some lodges, now, are offering accommodation for women also, on split surfaces assigned for them.
11. They are not, exactly, the very best when it comes to privacy. The side-by-side putting makes sounds coming from encompassing tablets really audible, which is often really noisy. The within of the capsule is closed from the view of outsiders with a layer behind the clear glass door.
12. Capsule Lodges are not just in Japan. Japan may have presented Tablet lodges and, possibly, has the most capsule lodges, but recently, those practical and place efficient lodges have now been scattering all over the globe, in Hong Kong, London, Moscow, Amsterdam, and several others. They could move beneath the name ‘Pod Lodges,' and they could be somewhat distinctive from the Western standards.
More info: arch2o.com
