A capsule that is a perfect fit for women

Tokyo: More and more capsule hotels are providing areas specially designed for female guests and a comprehensive range of amenities for them, breaking away from their traditional focus on men.

The low-cost option of capsule hotels is growing in appeal due to the rising hotel prices caused by such factors such as the increasing number of foreign visitors to Japan. However, an industry expert recommends checking out such hotels’ facilities and surrounding areas before deciding to stay there.

There were many female customers one afternoon in late May at First Cabin Inc.’s Akihabara branch in Tokyo.

“I found it on the internet,” said a 23-year-old university student who came from Osaka Prefecture to look for employment in Tokyo.

“The prices were low, but the hotel looked comfortable.”

The hotel opened in 2013 and offers 149 capsules. Fifty are reserved for women, 2.5 square metre capsules that form the core of its business. There are separate entrances for the men and women’s accommodation areas, and card keys are required to gain access.

Female guests have access to a bath and powder room with supplies of shampoo, conditioner and face lotion. Capsules are available for 5,000 to 6,000 Yen($40 to $50) per night — a low price for Tokyo.

“We have a high rate of female visitors travelling for business or leisure, with many repeat clients as well,” the hotel manager said.

First Cabin started operating in the central area of Osaka in 2009, and it currently has six branches in Tokyo, Fukuoka and other large cities. About one-third of its capsules are reserved for women. Some days it even increases the number of capsules allocated for women to meet customer demand.

The Nine Hours hotel, which has a branch in Kyoto and at Narita Airport in Chiba Prefecture, also has separate areas for men and women. They provide bedding and lighting especially designed for sleeping comfort and to help you wake up feeling rested.

Nine Hours at Narita Airport opened in 2014 and has increased its proportion of capsules for women compared to the Kyoto branch, which opened in 2009. According to the management company, the hotels operate almost at 100 per cent occupancy. Capsules in Kyoto are available from 2,900 Yen ($25) per night, and at Narita Airport from 4,900 Yen per night.

The main feature of Spa Safro in Sapporo is its bathing facilities: a natural hot spring bath, plus a salon designed for relaxation. Men and women are separated from the building entrance, so they do not encounter each other once they are inside. The majority of Spa Safro’s customers are in their 30s to 40s, and capsules are available from 4,450 Yen per night.

— Washington Post