Nine Hours Ningyochō — Hotel in Tokyo

One of the best (countless) hostels I’ve stayed in. Everything is well thought through and convenient. It may not be perfect but if you have something to complain, I’d start wondering if a hostel is really for you (unless you are looking for a social hostel, which this definitely isn’t - the lobby is small and you are generally encouraged to enjoy some quiet).

Design 5/5 - It’s modern, minimalistic, “Apple-like”. If you enjoy that, you’ll love it; if not, ignore or choose another place.

Cleanliness 5/5 - I couldn’t find a fault. The restrooms may benefit from an oil to overshadow bad odors but other than that everything felt well maintained. You are encouraged to shower on check in and shoes stay in the locker outside of the rooms. Fresh PJs are provided daily.

Comfort 5/5 - This will always be subjective. The mattresses and pillows are on the harder side of the spectrum, which I personally enjoy. I’m also rather introverted and interaction and noise is kept at a minimum here. You self checkin, self checkout. I could imagine though that some people may find the capsules a bit stuffy - there’s no fan or A/C inside them, which was unexpected. Bathrooms are only available on one floor but it didn’t really pose an issue since the lift is fairly fast. The showers are absolutely awesome and the shower rooms offer plenty of space to leave your stuff throughout.

Location - There are certainly better locations to stay in but I felt it was easy to reach any I wanted to visit easily via public transport which is a short walk (“around the corner”) away.

Misc awesome things: The lockers were especially large and should fit your stuff easily. They open with your key (QR) card.

Possible improvements/issues: Fan or individual A/C inside the capsules. They got a bit stuffy. Some sound proofing. If you have inconsiderate/sick/snoring co-habitants, you can ask for earplugs but ideally the capsules should shield noise better, especially given the number of people in the room. I was out from morning to evening but during daily cleaning you won’t be able to access your locker or the room, which can become a minor (or major in some cases) inconvenience. The staff could be quite a bit friendlier and service oriented. I only had to reach out twice and I was always helped, but it felt like I was being a bother to them. One thing I consider a no go: the bathrooms are separated, yet they have CCTV installed in them....

I was staying overnight between an incoming flight and a Shinkansen trip. If you’re in a similar situation, keep in mind that the walk from Tokyo Station is at least 30 minutes when carrying luggage, unless you have a metro pass that covers the A train or the bus, in which case you can disembark close to the hotel. I only had a JR tourist pass and with my two suitcases and a shoulder bag, it took me closer to 45 minutes to walk. The typical patron of a cube hotel is also probably traveling a lot lighter than I am though.

When I arrived, the automated check-in kiosk refused to read my passport. Eventually, a human employee emerged and took care of everything quickly. I wish that the kiosk had a conspicuous “Get Help” button to summon someone more expediently, rather than letting you struggle until someone eventually notices you. To be clear, the human staff I worked with were excellent and I have no complaints about them whatsoever.

The cubicle was clean and well-appointed. I wish that the mattress was a little softer because I sleep on my side but for back or stomach sleepers, it would work just fine. There is a 100V outlet and a USB port for charging devices in the cubicle. The lights in the cubicle are also controlled at the head of the bed with a dimmer knob. A blackout blind at the foot of the bed darkens the cubicle for sleeping.

The showers, which are located on the first floor, were luxurious, with a rainfall head and a wand. Right outside of the showers are the sinks with power outlets and blow dryers. There’s a bin for used towels, but keep in mind that you get one towel per night of stay. Each floor has its own toilets.

The lockers are big enough to hold a suitcase and a handbag but if you need more room than that, you’ll need to consult with the front desk. I was able to fit my luggage but it took some careful maneuvering.

All in all, I was happy with my stay, and would...

Decent capsule pod hostel. I would have given the place 3/5 but the usb and USBC port in the pod did not work so I couldn't charge my phone or portable battery. The walls were very thin and I could hear people snoring 💤 and farting 💨 which is expected in a hostel environment, it was also very hot at night. There is no door to your capsule only a little curtain that anyone from the outside can open.

Towels, pajamas and a toothbrush are provided, showers are decent but are shared and thus you wake up sweaty and have to enter a hamam-like steamy shower that has already been running for a while.

They have a self checking machine at the entrance for minimal human contact? 🤣they give you a jeycard with a QR code which lets you access your personal locker and enter the lift to get to your room. There are two lifts one for females and one for male rooms. I loved the we jeycard system I think it should be implemented in more hotels/hostels

At 9:30 a message is broadcasted throughout the whole hostel letting you know you need to leave before 10.

If you stay multiple nights you still have to leave the room from 10am to 2pm, anyone who went out to enjoy the Tokyo nightlife the night before will feel the effects in full.

The vending machine on the first floor did not accept coins and had a very limited supply of items for a hefty price

Location is ok with metro A and H line connection 2min away. Loads of little 24/7 stores nearby are...