If you’re planning a trip to Japan, chances are high that you’ve heard of capsule hotels – the trendy and affordable accommodation option.
They offer compact sleeping pods with basic amenities for travelers on the go; however, many people wonder if they’re divided by gender.
Read on to find out if a man and wife can sleep together in a capsule hotel.
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Are Capsule Hotels Separated By Gender
As someone who has visited capsule hotels many times in Japan, I can confirm that most of them are separated by gender.
This means that men and women have different floors or even separate buildings to stay in.
But what about married couples? Can they sleep together in a capsule hotel?
Unfortunately, the answer is usually no. Most capsule hotels do not allow mixed-gender rooms or capsules for safety and privacy reasons. However, some newer or more upscale ones may offer private suites with double beds where couples can stay together.
If you’re looking for an affordable option to share with your significant other while traveling through Japan though – don’t worry!
There are plenty of budget-friendly options like Airbnb rentals which will provide both comforts as well as privacy during your time abroad instead!
How To Find a Mix-Gender Capsule Hotel
If you’re looking for a unique and affordable accommodation option in Japan, capsule hotels might be on your radar.
These tiny, pod-like rooms are great for solo travelers who just need somewhere to crash after long days exploring the city.
But what about if you’re traveling with someone of a different gender?
Most capsule hotels are separated by sex – male-only floors or female-only floors. However, there are some mix-gender options out there!
Here’s how to find them.
1. Do Your Research
Before booking any hotel, it’s important that we research so as not to get surprises upon arrival at our destination.
Booking.comIt is wise enough to check reviews online where people discuss their experiences staying in various Capsule Hotels including mixed-sex ones.
This will give us an idea of whether most guests feel comfortable sharing floor space with all genders or would rather stay only among members of the same one.
2. Check Online Booking Sites
While searching online make sure that keywords such as “mixed capsules” or “co-ed” appear because these terms typically describe accommodations where men and women can share facilities without fear of judgment from each other.
Here, you may also filter accommodations based on services offered since many sites include search filters that enable users to choose precisely what they want in their Capsule Hotels such as mixed-gender floors.
3. Contact Hotel Directly
At times, the information online is not updated hence to be certain one may contact an establishment directly.
Many of the hotels have English-speaking customer support thus aiding language barrier challenges that arise when communicating with local establishments in Japan.
The benefit of direct communication also means that they will give exact details on what we should expect, so there are no surprises upon arrival for example whether a floor has shared coed showers or if all facilities within them are private for instance bathrooms and sleeping pods
4. Check Specific Areas like Ueno & Akasaka
Mixed capsule options tend to be available mainly around shopping districts and tourist hot spots.
For example, areas like Ueno have ‘Nine Hours women only’ capsules while Roppongi’s Grids Akihabara allows females access to its Deluxe Mixed Dorm Concept called Grids Tokyo Hostel -Akasaka, where two levels (upstairs being exclusively female-only).
Why Most Capsule Hotels Are Gender-Separated
Firstly, it’s important to understand Japanese cultural norms which prioritize modesty and privacy, especially concerning issues related to gender.
It starts with common social practices such as choosing separate changing areas according to sex (e.g., schools).
Even public bathhouses /onsen often require patrons to wear towels/clothes covering their private parts.
Efforts towards personal safety like bodily protection & harassment avoidance; though sensibilities do vary among generations/geographical locations over extending authorities into new territory beyond already customary ones.
Gender-separated Capsule Hotels follow similar principles but also reflect past societal attitudes of historically predominantly males-oriented facilities used by businessmen traveling alone without female companionship.
They simply didn’t have reason to make their capsules female-friendly.
Secondly, it’s a safety issue. By gender-separating the hotels, they’re able to better protect their guests from unwanted advances and mitigate liability risks for potential assaults or scenarios of misunderstanding/awkwardness.
Finally, many people feel more comfortable and relaxed when staying in an all-male or all-female environment based on sociocultural norms.
So, opting for Capsule Hotels satisfies this need as well as creating differentiation thanks to separating schedules with additional facilities typically tailored toward specific quests preferences.
In Conclusion
Capsule hotels in Japan are typically separated by gender.
This means that men and women must stay in separate areas of the hotel, including sleeping quarters.
So, capsule hotels might not be the best option if you are traveling with your loved on.
