The area around JR Ueno Station is rich in history and culture, home to numerous museums and art galleries such as the National Museum of Western Art, a registered World Heritage Site. To the south is “Ameyoko (Ameya-Yokocho),” a lively shopping street packed with unique stores, while to the north you’ll find destinations like Yanesen, famous for its nostalgic downtown charm.

Capsule hotels are an excellent way to maximize your Ueno experience. With their affordable rates, compact yet functional spaces, and well-equipped facilities—including authentic saunas—they’re an ideal base for sightseeing, particularly for first-time solo travelers.

For this article, I’ve carefully selected capsule hotels by comparing three key factors: affordability, station access, and service quality. For women-focused facilities, I emphasized style, safety, and cleanliness. For men-only capsule hotels, I looked closely at the quality of spa and sauna amenities.

With secure facilities, a spacious bath, sauna, and full amenities, this stay is perfect for women traveling solo

Smart Stay Shizuki Ueno Ekimae is just a 1-minute walk from Keisei Ueno Station (direct to Narita Airport via the Keisei Skyliner) and a 3-minute walk from JR and subway Ueno Station. With Ueno Shinobazu Pond, Ueno Park, and the Ameya-Yokocho shopping street all nearby, the location is outstanding for both sightseeing and transport access.

The standout feature of this capsule hotel is its women-friendly environment. With separate floors for men and women, IC-secured entrances, women-only changing rooms and lounges, and free rental of amenities and beauty appliances, it provides a thoughtful setup where female travelers can stay with complete peace of mind.

Large public baths and saunas are also separated by gender. The sauna is especially popular among sauna fans, featuring an auto löyly (self-steaming system). Guests can enjoy the trendy Japanese practice of alternating between sauna, cold bath, and rest.

In the shared lounge, you can relax in comfortable chairs with free Wi-Fi, bring your own food and drinks, or browse the unlimited collection of manga and magazines (in Japanese). The in-house restaurant serves staple Japanese comfort dishes like curry and oyakodon, along with a range of alcoholic beverages at reasonable prices.

The entire facility operates cashlessly, using wristbands instead of room keys to manage services and payments, all settled smoothly at checkout. A luggage storage service at the front desk allows you to enjoy sightseeing before check-in or after checkout without carrying heavy bags.

With all-day curry, a legit löyly sauna, and safe capsule rooms for women, this stay packs value and comfort in one

Gran Customa Ueno is just a 4-minute walk from Keisei Ueno Station (ideal for airport access), JR/Subway Ueno Station, and JR Okachimachi Station. With Ameya-Yokocho only 2 minutes away on foot, and Shinobazu Pond plus the museums of Ueno Park within 10 minutes, the location is hard to beat.

This unique facility combines an internet café, capsule hotel, and spa. Guests can choose between capsule rooms or private rooms with workspaces. Floors, large baths, and saunas are separated by gender for safety and peace of mind, while women’s capsule rooms are priced around 600 yen lower than men’s—a welcome detail.

The large baths host monthly “Bath Day” events featuring seasonal favorites like yuzu baths, iris baths, and cherry blossom baths. The sauna space offers an authentic experience with aromatic löyly steam sessions and a cold bath (cold bath available in the men’s area).

One highlight I particularly recommend is the free, all-you-can-eat original curry—available 24 hours a day thanks to the internet café facilities. Guests can also enjoy unlimited access to popular Japanese manga.

An added convenience is direct access to a 24-hour convenience store on the first floor, making it easy to pick up snacks or essentials anytime during your stay.

With gender-separated floors and spacious personal lockers, everything’s designed for a smooth, secure stay

This capsule hotel features separate floors for men and women, creating a secure environment that women can use with confidence.

It’s located about a 5-minute walk from Iriya Station (just one stop from Ueno) and 15 minutes from JR Uguisudani Station. While slightly removed from central Ueno, the biggest attraction is its unbeatable value—just 1,980 yen per night (excluding tax)—together with a clean, well-maintained environment.

What makes this hotel especially noteworthy is that every capsule comes with a personal lockable large locker (60×60×200 cm). Spacious enough to store three or more large suitcases, the lockers include a hanging rod for clothes and electrical outlets. They function like mini closets, which is incredibly convenient for travelers carrying multiple bags or souvenirs.

Shower rooms are also separated by gender, while bathrooms with bathtubs are available for a fee. The rooftop terrace offers panoramic views of Tokyo’s cityscape, serving as a relaxing shared space.

The front desk is staffed 24 hours, and guests are free to go out after check-in. With nearby restaurants and a mini supermarket open until 11 PM, there’s no shortage of dining options. Free amenities, face towels, and bath towels are also provided exclusively for women—another thoughtful service that adds to the sense of comfort.

Experience authentic sauna at a Japanese culture-themed modern Japanese capsule hotel!

Ueno Station Hostel Oriental 1 is one of Japan’s largest men-only capsule hotels, boasting 379 cabins. With Japanese-themed décor and modern design, it creates an atmosphere where guests can experience Japanese culture while staying at the hotel.

The location is excellent—just a 4-minute walk from Keisei Ueno Station and 2 minutes from JR and subway Ueno Station. Ameya-Yokocho is right nearby, and all Ueno Park attractions are within a 10-minute walk, making it a perfect sightseeing base.

The highlight is the large bath and sauna facilities. Guests can enjoy bubble baths, vibra baths, and medicinal baths using artificial radium springs said to promote metabolism. The authentic high-temperature smoke sauna with löyly is especially popular with international travelers. Free in-house clothing, towels, shaving cream, body milk, and other amenities are provided, ensuring a comfortable sauna experience.

Each capsule room comes equipped with a TV, and you can choose from three cabin sizes: 90 cm, 100 cm, and 120 cm.

For relaxation, the hotel features a lounge with TV-equipped reclining chairs, massage chairs, and a well-stocked manga corner. With Ameya-Yokocho just steps away, there’s no shortage of dining and shopping options to enjoy during your stay.

Just minutes from the station and Ameya-Yokocho, with a radium hot bath and sauna to melt away travel fatigue

Ueno Station Hostel Oriental 2 is a capsule hotel located just behind its sister property, Oriental 1. It offers excellent access—only 5 minutes on foot from JR and subway Ueno Station, and 3 minutes from JR Okachimachi Station. With Ameya-Yokocho nearby and the hotel positioned in the heart of the entertainment district, guests enjoy easy access to dining, shopping, and sightseeing.

Although the facility is more compact and older compared to Oriental 1, it is highly praised for its outstanding large bath and authentic sauna. The retro Showa-style public bath features ceiling paintings and multiple tubs using artificial radium springs, believed to help relieve stiff shoulders, back pain, neuralgia, and travel fatigue. The smoke sauna provides an authentic experience, combining high temperature and humidity with löyly, and includes a cold bath. Staff-led aufguss sessions (steam fanned with towels) are a signature attraction, while irregular events with professional löyly performers are especially popular. (Note: Guests with tattoos are not permitted to use the bath facilities.)

The capsule rooms are simple, clean, and equipped with TVs. After bathing, the relaxation room invites you to rest in TV-equipped reclining chairs or browse through the manga library, which houses more than 2,000 volumes.

Close to the station but tucked away in a calm area, with twin baths and a mist sauna to ease the day’s fatigue

This men-only capsule hotel is popular for its reasonable pricing and compact yet clean facilities. Located a 5-minute walk from JR and subway Ueno Station and about 10 minutes from Keisei Ueno Station, it sits close to Ueno Park and the lively Ameya-Yokocho district, while still maintaining a quiet and relaxed atmosphere.

The pride of the hotel is its large bath, open 24 hours a day (except during cleaning from 10 AM–12 PM). Guests can choose between a shallow bath where you can stretch out your legs and relax, or a deep bath where you can soak up to your shoulders—both equipped with vibra functions to ease fatigue. On days ending in “8,” the hotel holds special bath events with seasonal bath salts. The sauna is a low-temperature mist type, gentle on the body yet effective for a thorough sweat. A free drinks station at the bath entrance is also well-received.

Free amenities include in-house clothing, towels, shaving wash, and men’s lotion, with paid lockers available for oversized luggage (200 yen).

Please note that the hotel has regular closure days, so checking the official website in advance is recommended. On-site payment is cash only.

With 24-hour baths, sauna access, and unlimited coffee, this stay is made for late-night travelers

This men-only capsule hotel is recommended as a base for both Tokyo sightseeing and shopping. While it’s about a 10-minute walk from JR Ueno Station and the Ueno entertainment district, its location right in front of Yushima Subway Station makes it easy to explore downtown areas and reach Akihabara—the hub of anime, gaming, and electronics culture.

Although the design is somewhat retro and compact, the 24-hour large bath and sauna are standout features. Guests can enjoy unlimited use of bath and face towels, in-house clothing, and basic amenities. A particularly unique perk is the unlimited free coffee service provided by “Doutor Coffee,” a major Japanese coffee chain.

The capsule rooms, each equipped with a TV and charging outlets, are well-regarded for cleanliness and comfort. Large luggage that won’t fit into the free lockers can be stored at the luggage area near the first-floor front desk.

With multiple convenience stores nearby and the popular discount shop Don Quijote Ueno just a 5-minute walk away, shopping is easy. Yushima Tenjin, a historic shrine dedicated to the god of learning, is only 3 minutes away on foot—an opportunity to combine your stay with a touch of culture and nature.

Don't worry if our top-rated capsule hotels in Ueno are fully booked. Ueno still has many other fantastic hotels with excellent reviews. Plus, there are plenty of other great hotels for solo travelers throughout Tokyo. Let's find the perfect hotel to match your travel style.

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