Capsule Apartments and the Internet

Here we go again, look how whacky those crazy Japanese are!  People actually live in 1.5 jou capsule apartments!!!

Where do I begin...


Yes, some nights in Japan made me wonder how screwed up Japan actually is but what you have to realize is that Japanese people are just that; people.  Human people.  Japan is a country that kicks America's ass at everything important, so how 'weird' can they really be??  (The answer is actually Pretty Weird, but not weirder than most.)

Before I continue, let me stress that this is the internet where anything can, and often is, published before validating anything.  We've seen this with LED mouth lights, bagel heads,
Egypt Necrophilia law,  Obama is a 'muslim', and on and on.  Unfortunately as a result of the never ending quest for page views, most 'news' has lost its credibility.

So how about this crazy city of Tokyo (pronounced Tou Kyou - 2 syllables)?  Tokyo, like the internet, is large enough for anything to exist.  Tokyo is quite literally the largest city in the world so it really doesn't surprise me that ANYTHING exists in Tokyo.  If you've ever spent time in Tokyo you'll know that transsexual host clubs are just the tip of the iceberg of Tokyo's weirdness.

All that aside, lets assume these apartments are popular and they are popping up all around Tokyo.  For the single recent college graduate with zero free time and a low salary, this type of living makes a lot of sense.  It is minimalist to the extreme, but I get it.  Would I ever rent one of these apartments?  Of course not.  I need the extra room to take back 3 women from the clubs.  But those young salary men and women have 10 hour days and live on $2K a month.  If all you do is sleep in your apartment, why would you bother paying for the extra space?  The question shouldn't be 'how can people live like that?'  It should be, 'why hasn't anyone else thought of this before?'


I would also like to add that unlike many Americans, most Japanese people are not  fat tubs of goo that require 1000 SF of closet space for their Doritos...so there's that.  Also, the 1.5 jou (Tatami sizes differ but I think this converts to 3ish square meters or about 30 something square feet) is just the sleeping area.  Since there is a communal kitchen/bathroom, you have a lot more space available to you.  So how about it?  Would you be willing to give these apartments the old college try?

Hotel Fine, I Just Can't Get Enough

Well, I added a few more points to my Hotel Fine members card a little bit ago. I'm well on my way to that Nintendo DS!

Thankfully, Hotel Fine had all the amenities I remember. They still had some free snacks and water in the fridge, free Tsubaki shampoo, and free breakfast. Did I forget to mention free alcohol? Because I got a pitcher of beer and some umeshu just for myself, and it was all included in the 9000 yen price. The normal price for this particular room was around 10,500, so it really pays to be a member (membership is free).

The breakfast was actually MUCH better than I remember too.

Even if you are a veteran to love hotels, Hotel Fine is a great place to spend the night. It's reasonably priced, but has spectacular service.  It was, however, a bit different from what I remember.  For one, I actually had to speak to a real live person, face to face, to get the key to my room...how am I supposed to remain anonymous when I have to talk to real people??  The last time I was at Hotel Fine, I walked in, saw which rooms were lit up (signaling that they were available) on the wall and picked one.  The room number is printed onto a receipt and lights guide you to your room which is already unlocked.  This past time, all of that happened, except when I pressed the button for my room, a lady came from around the corner to give me the key....weird.

Thankfully, not everything changed and they kept the vibrator and ridiculously complicated alarm clock next to the bed...I'm not sure where I was going with this.  I guess my point is that Hotel Fine is still a quality hotel, with a lot to offer.  I would rate Hotel Fine among the top things to check out in Osaka; right behind Hep 5 mall, but before Osaka Castle.  

ラブホテル、what a concept...

Greetings,
This past weekend, I stumbled upon another Japanese cultural/entertainment' adventure. Again, if you are looking for the kind of Japanese culture you see on television, I'm sorry. Walking around Namba, Shinsaibashi, and Umeda you can not help but notice the surplus of love hotels, ラブホテル. What an interesting concept - classy (no sarcasm, but don't quote me if you happen to visit one in Hirakatashi) hotels that you can pay for by the hour, located in high populated areas. Japan is truly the country of convenience.

These hotels are extremely popular in Japan; some filled to capacity by 10:15pm (true story) in the middle of the week. I don't necessarily view this as a sexual obsession in Japan, but rather an adaptation to the fact that many young adults live at home, and many Japanese homes are located outside of major cities. Even if the homes/apartments are located inside the city, they may not be big enough for two people to stay in comfortably. The sex industry in Japan likely also contributes to the high number of love hotels, but convenience is probably the driving force.

I am not saying that all Japanese are comfortable with the idea of going to a love hotel. Some Japanese, even young adults, still find the idea a little odd. Maybe I have become used to the idea, but I now compare love hotels to beer and cigarette vending machines. They are not sleazy in themselves, but I can understand those that are uncomfortable with the idea.

Here are some interesting links if you are interested/intrigued

http://www.hotel-fine.co.jp/ - This hotel is complete with point cards, prizes, 100+ inch projection television, etc.

http://www.love-hotels.jp/osaka/directory.html - just to give you an idea of the number of hotels in the Osaka area.

Take Care