Eight Extraordinary Tiny Hotel Rooms: Capsule Hotels Redefined for the Modern Traveler
The concept of capsule hotels has evolved dramatically since its humble beginnings in 1979 in Osaka, Japan. Initially designed as compact sleeping solutions for overworked businessmen, the capsule hotel format has now captured the imagination of travelers from around the world. Today, these efficient yet innovative stays have been reimagined with increasingly unique designs, offering both luxury and adventure.
From Colombia's colorful sewer pipe rooms to spheres suspended in the Canadian sky, these tiny hotels provide travelers with not only a place to sleep but a remarkable experience that often becomes the highlight of the trip. Below are eight of the most extraordinary tiny hotel rooms that are redefining the world of capsule hotels.
1. Nine Hours: A Sleep Laboratory in Japan
Nine Hours, a chain of capsule hotels across Japan, offers more than just a place to sleep—it doubles as a sleep laboratory. Guests can take part in the “9h sleep fitscan” service, which tracks heart rate, monitors snoring, and even analyzes sleep apnea through advanced sensors. The minimalist design and sleek sleeping pods provide a futuristic, sci-fi vibe. With a focus on comfort, Nine Hours ensures that every moment counts, offering hourly rates and reducing room rentals to just the essential nine hours—seven for sleep and an hour on either side for washing and dressing.
2. Natura Vive: Sleeping Pods on a Cliff Face Above Peru’s Sacred Valley
For adrenaline seekers, Natura Vive’s Skylodge Adventure Suites offer the ultimate thrill. Transparent sleeping pods cling to the cliffs high above Peru’s Sacred Valley, offering 300-degree views of the surrounding mountains. While a 400-meter near-vertical climb is required to reach the pods, guests are rewarded with a unique stay, complete with a private bathroom and a deck where you can sip tea while watching the soaring condors. For added luxury, the nearby Starlodge offers hillside hot tubs, making the experience even more extraordinary.
3. Tubo Hotel La Tatacoa: A Desert Oasis in Colombia
Tubo Hotel, located near Colombia's Tatacoa Desert, brings a splash of color to the arid landscape with its tiny, concrete sewer pipe rooms. Painted in vibrant hues, these capsules offer a cozy, air-conditioned retreat after exploring the desert’s giant cacti and stony formations. Guests can enjoy a shared swimming pool, shaded gardens, and a bar and restaurant nearby. Despite their modest size, the rooms provide everything you need to rest and relax in the heart of nature, with clear skies perfect for stargazing at night.
4. The 7th Floor Capsule Hotel: A Futuristic Capsule in Sydney
Located in downtown Sydney, Australia, The 7th Floor Capsule Hotel combines high-tech comfort with a space-age aesthetic. Each pod is equipped with a dashboard of ambient controls, allowing guests to adjust lighting, temperature, and sound for the perfect sleeping environment. Offering a minimalist yet luxurious approach to capsule hotels, The 7th Floor provides a stylish, futuristic stay for travelers seeking a chic, affordable option in the city.
5. Book and Bed Tokyo: A Capsule for Book Lovers
At Book and Bed Tokyo, capsule hotels meet bookshops in a dreamy fusion of reading and resting. Guests sleep among the shelves in compact, cozy pods, surrounded by books that they can borrow to read during their stay. With multiple locations across Japan, Book and Bed Tokyo appeals to literary enthusiasts who crave a quiet and unique environment to relax. The design is simple yet inviting, with each capsule offering just enough space for a bed, a
reading light, and plenty of shelves for books.
6. The Crib: A Capsule Hotel in Singapore
The Crib in Singapore is a stylish capsule hotel that takes the minimalist concept to the next level. Offering luxury and comfort in tiny spaces, the pods come equipped with all the amenities you need, including a 24-inch television, an iPod docking station, and mood lighting. The Crib targets young professionals and solo travelers, combining sleek design with practicality and affordability. Guests can enjoy high-tech features like individual climate control and a personal sound system, making it a perfect blend of comfort and modernity.
7. Spherics: Floating Spheres in Canada
For those looking to stay in a pod that’s literally out of this world, Canada’s Spherics hotel offers spherical capsules suspended high in the sky. Guests sleep in futuristic, transparent orbs that offer panoramic views of the surrounding landscape. Suspended on cables and equipped with cozy interiors, these pods provide an unforgettable stay in an ultra-modern setting. Whether you’re looking to gaze at the stars or take in breathtaking sunrise views, Spherics promises a truly unique experience.
8. Kokoro: The Japanese Capsule Hotel with Zen Gardens
Kokoro in Kyoto, Japan, takes capsule hotels to a serene, meditative level. The pods are designed to evoke tranquility, with calming Zen-inspired decor and small, private spaces that encourage relaxation. Guests can enjoy a peaceful night’s sleep in minimalist pods, some of which feature tiny private Zen gardens. Kokoro offers a retreat for travelers who want to escape the hustle and bustle of city life while experiencing Japan’s culture of peace and mindfulness.