Capsule hotels - why aren't they popular outside of Japan?

[Gator]

Looks like a brilliant business idea, especially in the cities where real estate is very expensive. Why are not they spreading outside of Japan?

[Tzarkov]

I tend to think it is a cultural thing, you know? Westerners have this huge egos that *doesn't quite fit* into the rooms of a capsule hotel. They are also incapable of rationalizing their desires enough to see the value in such offer. I think they are cool and all, maybe the culture will change and people will eventually "get" capsule hotels in the west soon.

[Gator]

Still there would be plenty of peiople who would use them. Even if only 10% of westerners liked the idea it would be plenty of clientelle for these hotels.. Plus there are many asian tourists/immigrants...
Another thing - many people use hostels where you sleep 10 or even 20 people in one single room... I would say capsule hotel would be one step above hostels, since you do not share your room with others. Meaning if there are many clients for hostels there would be clients for capsule hotels..

To be honest I am 99.9% sure that this would be successful business in any mega city.

[nickhumph]

There is actually a "capsule hotel" that I stayed in when I was at a London airport called Yotel! But it was bloody overpriced

The Japanese culture is to have everything small and compact. Western culture is quite contrary to that.

I definently want to see if the japanese morgue style capsules work or not. Someone surely must of tested the idea already? Could be a excellent money marker if franchised, low start up costs too.

[Gator]

double post

[Gator]

Yotel is not really a capsule hotel, its called pod hotel. Its closer to normal hotel than to capsule hotel because it still has rooms (where you can stand and walk).
Ps: overpriced because its in the airport itself