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The reason why
Indian cities like
Delhi and Bombay
feel so crowded
could have much to do with
our atrocious system of
managing infrastructure. All
our residential and public
buildings are plagued by
wastage and misdistribution
of living space, as well as of
utilities like electricity, water,
etc. It is scandalous that even after spending so much on
upkeep of basic infrastructure our citizens and tourists can’t
live with any semblance of comfort and hygiene.
The fact is that even small spaces and minor resources,
if properly utilized, can make you revel in comfort. The
Japanese have perfected that art. In Tokyo, it is possible for
you to stay in capsule hotels,
which maximize space with
innovative foldaway features.
In addition to looking good,
they also conjure a feeling of
simplistic living and neatness.
Guest spaces are made out
of really small cubes carved
from innovative materials
like modular plastic or
fiberglass.
The fad of capsule hotels is
now expanding beyond the shores of Japan, with many cities in
Europe and US offering different variants of the concept. Even
Hollywood is not untouched by this nifty idea. In the sci-fi flick,
The Fifth Element, the living and sleeping area of the main
character, played by Bruce Willis, is inspired by the capsule
concept.
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| Capsule Inn Akihabara |
The famous Capsule Inn Akihabara,
located in the digi-center of Tokyo,
provides a comfortable place to stay for
many travelers to Japan’s capital city.
This hotel has 169 rooms, out of these,
140 rooms are men’s only and 29 rooms
are reserved for women. But the surprise
factor lies in the fact that each room unit
size is only 1m x 1m x 2m. Don’t worry
you will be able to fit into the room quite
easily, unless you are built like Godzilla,
which isn’t likely.
At the Capsule Inn Akihabara, each
guest is provided with a separate capsule
unit. No, male guests can’t share their
room with their female friend, one room
is meant for one person only. For female
guests the Capsule Inn Akihabara has a
system of rooms that can be shared. In
these rooms up to four capsules open
into a larger room where there are
tables and chairs provided for lounging
or meetings.
For complete privacy, each room comes
with blinds that can be drawn. Plus there
are amenities galore - TV, radio, alarm
clock and adjustable lighting. You can
tinker with these devices even while you
are sleeping, almost as if you were in an
aircraft, or a submarine. All the guests
enjoy access to a common lounge where
there is excellent sitting facility and
wireless internet connectivity.
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| Main Attractions of Capsule Inn |
The main attraction has to be the novel experience. If you have never stayed
in a capsule hotel before, then you have to experience this unique way of
living in a minimalist environment that promises comfort and convenience.
But it is also a fact that you save a lot of money. The tariffs offered by Capsule
Inn Akihabara is about half that of conventional hotels.
The hotel is open day and night, so you can walk in and out whenever you feel
like. Plus it offers an excellent storage facility to put your luggage while you
are sightseeing Tokyo or attending a business meeting. |
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Capsule Inn Mannerisms
Since the Capsule Inn Akihabara is
not quite like a conventional hotel,
slightly different sorts of mannerisms
are expected from its guests. The first
point of difference lies in the key to
your room and to your locker. After
you have finished registering yourself
at the registration desk you are given a
wristband to wear. The number of your
room and the floor on which it is located
is indicated on the wristband. If the
number is 615, it means your capsule is
15 on the 6th floor.
Before you go to your room, you have
to visit your locker, where you will find
the items that will make your stay in the
hotel comfortable. You locker number is
same as your room number and when
you open it, you will find 2 towels, a
Yukata-like robe and 2 toothbrushes.
You can also place your small luggage
in the locker, but if your luggage is too
large to fit in there, then you can request
for a luggage storage service at the front
desk.
When you need to take a bath, you
can avail of the facilities at the men’s
washing area located on 2nd floor. And
what do you do with the time that you
spend in your capsule home. Well, there
is nothing much to do, expect what you
are really here for – to relax and have a
good sleep. Each capsule is scientifically
designed to make their guests sleep well
and wake up feeling rejuvenated. But,
you can also watch TV or listen to the
radio, if you are looking forward to pass
some time before you take a nap.
For the women guests, the mannerisms
are about the same as that for men. But
the difference lies in the fact that the
female rooms are located on the 8th,
9th and 10th floors. The 10th floor also
has a shower area and a lounge that is
exclusively reserved for women.
For more pictures and information go
to www.capsuleinn.com
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