Compared hostels vs capsule hotels in Tokyo for 10 days and one was way better

I spent 10 days in Tokyo last month and tried both hostels and capsule hotels to save money. Stayed at a hostel in Shinjuku for 4 nights at $25 a night and a capsule hotel in Akihabara for 6 nights at $30 a night. The hostel had a common room where I could cook my own ramen and meet people, which saved me about $15 a day on food. The capsule hotel was quiet and had a nice private space but no kitchen and no social area at all. I ended up eating out every meal there and spent way more than I planned. The hostel was clearly the better deal for my style since I could meal prep and chat with other travelers. Has anyone else tried both and found the same difference?

2 comments

2 Comments

morgan3169d ago

Wait wait wait... $30 a night for a capsule hotel? That's insane. Capsules in Akihabara usually run way higher than that. Where did you find that deal?

the_elizabeth9d ago

Same here, I had almost the exact same experience in Osaka last year. The hostel's kitchen saved me a ton on food and I met some great people, while the capsule felt like I was just sleeping in a fancy box with no real connection to the city. It really depends on what you want out of a trip, but the social and money side of hostels is hard to beat.