カプセルホテル
かぷせるほてる
noun
capsule hotel
1.
capsule hotel
A budget Japanese accommodation where guests sleep in small, individual pod-like compartments stacked side by side. Each capsule typically has a mattress, light, and small TV, with shared bathing and locker facilities.
終電を逃してカプセルホテルに泊まった。
I missed the last train and stayed at a capsule hotel.
カプセルホテルは安くて便利だ。
Capsule hotels are cheap and convenient.
出張の時は、駅近くのカプセルホテルを利用することが多い。
On business trips, I often use capsule hotels near the station.
Loanword from English 'capsule' + 'hotel.' The first capsule hotel opened in Osaka in 1979 and the format has since become a recognizable feature of Japanese cities, especially near major train stations.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- カプセルホテルに泊まる: to stay at a capsule hotel
- カプセルホテルを予約する: to book a capsule hotel
- 駅前のカプセルホテル: a capsule hotel near the station
CULTURAL CONTEXT:
Capsule hotels were originally designed for businessmen who missed the last train home; today many offer modern, design-conscious capsules and welcome tourists. Most are still single-sex (separate floors for men and women) and discourage long stays.
SIMILAR WORDS:
- ビジネスホテル: business hotel (standard budget hotel with private rooms)
- 民宿: family-run guesthouse