I stayed in a Japanese capsule hotel for $26. My tiny sleeping pod was fine, but I wouldn't stay for more than a night.

• There is a capsule hotel in central Tokyo. I spent $26 on one night.

• The hotel looked like something out of a sci-fi movie because it was separated by genders.

• It was nice for one night, but I wouldn't stay anymore.

I paid $26 for a one-night stay at a capsule hotel when I was in Japan.

I'm a travel writer and a journalist living in Japan. I usually stay at a capsule hotel when I want to save money on my accommodations.

The buildings were designed in the late 1970s as rest stops for workers. Pod hotels are a popular choice for thrifty travelers.

My recent stay at a capsule hotel called Nine Hours Otemachi was cheap but I didn't have the comforts of a business hotel or a ryokan.

I stayed at a hotel in central Tokyo.

There are several Nine Hours branches in the capital's business district. Each hotel caters to the district where it is located.

Nine Hours Otemachi has a simple white facade and no frills.

Guests and non-guests are able to rent jogging gear at the hotel.

Guests and non-guests can rent jogging gear at the hotel, which is located on the north side of the Imperial Palace.

A set of pants and a t-shirt, which are included free of charge, are included in the rent at Nine Hours Otemachi.

Joggers use the roughly 3-mile area around the palace gardens as a route.

The reception area is on the ground floor.

If you're on a budget, you're more likely to stay in a capsule hotel. Nine Hours Otemachi's low rates and common area make it a good choice for this group.

Guests seemed to be clacking away on their laptops when I arrived.

The men's elevator went to my capsule.

The elevators are for men and the dorms are for women. Most of the capsule hotels where I have stayed have this practice.

The men's capsule is on the second floor through the fifth floor, while the women's capsule is on the sixth floor.

In the morning, the corridors floors feel spacious and full of light.

Guests milling around on the other L-shaped floors could be seen thanks to the glass walls. On the quiet Tuesday night when I was there, Nine Hours Otemachi felt more lively thanks to it.

The L shaped corridors have sleeping capsules in them.

Nine Hours Otemachi has a minimalist design style that is popular in Japan.

The décor can feel impersonal to some, but capsule hotels have been considered futuristic. That idea is fed by a sleek style.

Unlike hostels, capsule hotels do not invite the same amount of mingling.

Many guests at Nine Hours Otemachi kept their privacy by putting an opaque blind on their sleeping Pods.

The capsule was located at the end of the corridor.

I had to take my shoes off in the dorm. I kept my clothes and luggage in the lockers. I could use the code I received at check-in.

Travelers should always be cautious and aware of their surroundings, just in case, even though I have always felt safe in capsule hotels.

The sleeping Pod I had looked like it was from a science-fiction movie, but it had all the basics.

I thought my capsule looked like a sleep chamber.

In spite of its small dimensions and cocooned interior, it had all the basic hotel amenities, including a dial to control the light and two small shelves to hold my phone and other valuables.

The capsule was very comfortable and I think this is my opinion. It was fairly easy for me to fit into the capsule.

You might have to bend your knees to prevent your feet from hanging over the edge if you are taller.

Since apartments in major Japanese cities are very small, the lack of space in capsule hotels wasn't a surprise. I wouldn't recommend a hotel for people with claustrophobia.

When I pulled the blind down, I realized how tight my body was.

The corridor can still get loud at night even though the capsule are separate.

Even though walls separate the capsule, sounds drift through the corridors at night. When I've stayed in a capsule hotel, I've heard snorers on the floor.

Guests at Nine Hours Otemachi can stay in the 9H sleep docks, which have hatch-shaped doors that make thepods more soundproof.

Nine Hours Otemachi's new hotel concept has a sleep-scan analysis service that can be requested upon request.

There is a shared bathroom on each floor.

There are shower stalls, sinks, and water closets in the bathroom. Guests at the hotel are provided with towels and pajamas.

There weren't many people in the bathroom area on Tuesday night. It gets more crowded in the shower area when there is a full house.

I slept for eight hours after ablutions and a few beers.

I tossed and turned in frustration because of the loud snorer in the hallway.

The experience of staying in a capsule hotel is dependent on a number of factors, including your ability to sleep in tight environments and your fellow guests' behavior.

I've stayed in several before and would have no problem doing so again, but I'm not sure if I would like the idea of sleeping in a Pod several nights in a row.

You have to sacrifice privacy in order to get a sense of community in a hostel full of backpackers.

capsule hotels are worth a try if you don't want to spend a lot of time in your accommodations.

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