The otaku haven’s first women-only capsule hotel will celebrate its opening with an anime collaboration.
For a long time Japan’s capsule hotels have predominantly been for men only, but with the success of places like Shibuya’s Nadeshiko Hotel, it looks like this is now changing.
It’s not just men who need a place to crash after missing the last train, and capsule hotels are also a novelty experience for tourists, so it only makes sense to cater to both sexes. That being said, it’s a surprise to hear that a new women-only capsule hotel is set to open on May 26 in Akihabara of all places! Tokyo’s otaku capital is often seen as predominantly a destination for men to go and lose themselves in a world of 2D waifu, and this will be the first women’s capsule hotel in the area.
Capsule units in the Akihabara Bay Hotel are two square meters each and are stacked two high, like bunk beds but with more privacy. The cost will vary depending on the day you’re staying, but it will generally set you back between 3,300 yen (US$30) and 6,500 yen ($60).
Your personal space for the night comes with a bed, charging station which also accepts USBs, Wi-Fi, and an alarm clock. The hotel also has microwaves, kettles, and coin-operated washers and dryers, as well as showers with free shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, towels, hair brushes and hair dryers, meaning there’s everything you need even for an extended or impromptu stay.
Reception and showers (seen below) are on the ground floor, there’s a lounge in the basement, and the capsules can be found on floors 2-5.
To celebrate the opening the hotel is teaming up with Ensemble Stars, a multimedia project based around a card-collecting game for mobile platforms which features a tonne of cute anime guys. Sixty-five of the 130 capsules at the hotel will be part of the promotion and, according to the Bay Hotel Group’s official Twitter account, if you stay during the promotional period you can get your hands on Ensemble Stars goodies such as pens, key chains, folders, and sweets, while the capsules will be decorated with special wall stickers. Nine units will even feature life-sized panels! Unfortunately, slots for the special promotional rooms have already been snapped up, but you can still make a reservation for a regular capsule.
【あんさんぶるスターズ！×BAYHOTEL】
【専用スペース】には等身大パネル以外にも「何か」があります！
※エントリーは明日9日（月）23:59迄→ https://t.co/hqpWPKHPFt#あんスタ#あんスタ１周年 pic.twitter.com/MQMQnlNA3S— 【公式】BAY HOTEL Group (@BAYHOTEL_Group) May 8, 2016
Akihabara Bay Hotel Information
Address: 44-4 Kanda-Neribeichō, Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo
東京都千代田区神田練塀町44-4
Telephone: 03-5256-0015
Checkin: 17：00-24：00, Checkout: 10：00-11:300
Website
Source & images: 1up