The Namba Capsule Inn

The following shots I took on my 2nd and final night in Osaka. After walking all day around temples and castles I was eager for rest and to figure out how to stretch the last few 10 thousand yen in my pocket. (Which really doesnt count for much more than about 50 USD, pitifully little considering the cost of my second night's accomodation was not covered by the school I'm at, and given Japan is one of the most expensive countries on the planet) And so I arrived at the Namba Capsule hotel. Costing well within my budget, remarkably, as well as clean and friendly, this was amongst my greatest discoveries in Japan. The Japanese bathhouse on the 8th floor I could not photograph due to the rampant nudity, signage however made it clear that only men were allowed to enjoy the sit down showers, hot and cool tubs, and the sauna. Not for the timid North American traveller - I however am well accustomed to male nudity and managed to quite enjoy myself. The robe they supplied you with to strut around in may have been the best part.

Besides the (heat) lamp, radio and television set, the capsules remided my quite a bit of the refridgerator box forts of my childhood. Nothing kiddie about these suites, its all business here. You can even pay by the hour! For mid-day napping I assume. With a complementary egg and toast breakfast, the 8th floor baths, and a decent night's sleep, an excellent, excellent value. Just make sure to get into the top row of pillboxes, otherwise you'll be woken all night by drunk businessmen stepping over you.