Osaka capsule hotel

It was late in the day by the time I planned my weekend. I hadn't been to Osaka yet (which is really close, but I've been busy elsewhere), and to add an experience and get an early start, I decided to spend the night there. Specifically, in one of the notorious Japanese capsule hotels.

I packed a small bag and boarded the JR train into Osaka. Missed the express, so I had to take a local that stopped at every stop, then transfer onto the JR Circle line, which is just like it sounds, a big circle around the city. My first destination for the evening was SpaWorld which is a 24-hour onsen in the heart of Osaka. The pool and gym did not appear to be open, and that really disappointed me, but I had a good time exploring the different baths and saunas on the European floor. There is also an Asian-themed floor, but the two areas are switched each month between men and women. I left a little sooner than I would have liked to avoid paying the additional after-hours fee.

From the southern area I was in, I walked north towards the Minami night-time district. I was reminded of NYC with the tall buildings around me, especially walking through Den-Den Town, the electronics district (though everything was closed by then). And the homeless, unlike Kyoto, I saw a lot of them here. At first the streets were empty, but as I got closer to Dōtombori Arcade it was more lively. Tall, brightly lit signs, electrical wires everywhere, bikes, hawkers, the nighttime crowd was everywhere. I wandered around a bit, along the Dōtombori-gawa (canal), criss-crossing different streets, went into a music store and listened to demo cds for awhile. I must look like a mark, because I was offered a 'massage' at three different corners (Osaka is infamous for it's sex industry, for instance No-pan kissa and various other affairs). It was getting late, then just by chance, I passed Sauna and Capsule AMZA, one of the hotels I looked up and had planned to find if I was nearby!

The hotel itself was on the top floors of the the building, so I rode an elevator up to the 7th (open glass elevators are very popular here, and this was one). Immediately upon entering the lobby you remove your shoes and place them in a locker. The key for your shoes is with your bill, you're not really expected to go in and out of a capsule hotel, just check-in, then check-out. I paid for my stay, and was given a locker key on a band that went around my wrist. Going to my locker, I removed my contacts and put away all my clothes and belongings, changing into the cotton robe and crisp blue boxers made available to me. From there, I went downstairs to the sauna and bath, also used the barcode on my key to purchase some milk from a vending machine. The sentō was really very nice, with powered massage jets and an open air area. There were some female attendants (yes, all the men were naked), offering salt scrubs and massages, so I spree'd and had one (very affordable, $35 for 30-minutes). The woman went at me with scrub-gloves and salt, then oils and lotion, she was very thorough, my skin has never been so soft! She told me at the end to go into the sauna for 3-minutes, then a quick rinse and bed. So thats what I did.

Upstairs there are sinks and toiletries, including shaving gear and a tooth brush, so you really don't need to bring anything. The capsules themselves, you climb in, there is a pillow and a blanket for you, also controls for a tv, radio, alarm, and adjustable light. There's no door, but a retractable bamboo shade you pull down for privacy. Flat on my back, I had maybe an inch of extra space between my head and headboard, but lots of room above and too the sides. I slept very comfortably.