9h nine hours Narita Airport : Easy and Quick Stay

I had a one night stay at the 9h nine hours Narita Airport this December 2023 as part of my trip to Hokkiado. It was something I planned as I need to catch the first flight out of Narita to Sapporo the next day. The stay was very fun and really enjoyable.

It was still a unique stay for me (although I did stay in Capsules hotels before, for example The Pod Singapore Capsules Hotel) as it is my first time staying in a capsule hotel in Japan (granted it is at the airport). It was MUCH better than the Singapore one 🙂

What Is 9h nine hours chain in Japan

The “9h nine hours” hotel chain in Japan is known for its unique approach to accommodation, emphasizing efficiency, minimalist design, and a futuristic experience. Here are some key aspects of the chain:

1. Capsule Hotel Concept: 9h nine hours hotels are part of the capsule hotel trend in Japan. They provide small, pod-like sleeping spaces which are compact and designed for short-term stays. This concept is particularly popular among business travelers and tourists looking for affordable and convenient accommodation.
2. Design and Aesthetics: The design of 9h nine hours hotels is minimalist and modern. The interior typically features a sleek, clean, and futuristic look. The use of white and other neutral colors is predominant, creating a sense of space and tranquility within the compact environment.
3. Facilities and Services: These hotels usually offer basic facilities tailored to short stays. The capsules are typically equipped with comfortable bedding, Wi-Fi, and charging ports. Common areas often include shared bathrooms, lockers for personal belongings, and sometimes lounge areas. The focus is on providing essential services in a streamlined and efficient manner.
4. Name Significance: The name “9h nine hours” is derived from the concept of spending 1 hour to shower, 7 hours to sleep, and 1 hour to rest, totaling 9 hours – representing a full cycle of stay designed to rejuvenate guests.
5. Locations: 9h nine hours hotels can be found in various locations across Japan, including major cities like Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka. They are often strategically located near transportation hubs, making them convenient for travelers.
6. Target Audience: The primary audience for these hotels includes solo travelers, business people, and anyone seeking a unique and efficient place to stay for a short period. The affordability and practicality of these hotels make them attractive to a wide range of guests.
7. Cultural Impact: The 9h nine hours chain, and capsule hotels in general, reflect certain aspects of Japanese culture, such as the efficient use of space, a focus on functionality, and a preference for simplicity and minimalism in design.

The 9h nine hours hotel chain offers a distinctly modern and uniquely Japanese lodging experience, combining practicality with a touch of futurism.

Why did I choose to stay at 9h nine hours Narita Airport

For this trip, I took SQ12 from Singapore to Tokyo. I leave Singapore at 9:20am and arrive at Tokyo 5pm. The next day, I am taking a Peach Aviation Airline (peach, anyone) from Narita to Sapporo at 7:45am.

So I can….. either….

(1) take transport from Narita Airport to downtown Tokyo, stay one night and then rush back to the Narita or Haneda airports to take flights to Sapporo. Of course, I will not buy the 7:45am flight in this case but then I will arrive at Sapporo much later. I do want a whole day at Sapporo before going on to another place (read my blog ! subscribe to my blog !)

This problem will go away in Dec 2024 when SQ flies to Sapporo direct again ! 🙂

Depending on where you stay, you can take the Keisei Skyline or the Narita Express. Or Limo Bus. Either way, you spend time all the way to town and back again.

(2) Stay at a hotel nearby Narita (eg. ANA Crowne Plaza Narita) but this will require some early morning transport from the hotel to the airport such as a taxi. Not a bad choice as I do have elite status with IHG group. I did stay at ANA Crowne Plaza Sapporo and ANA Holiday Inn Sapporo Susukino in my trip in Hokkaido.

(3) Stay at a hotel INSIDE the Airport and enjoy the airport (or Narita Town, which I did and had a wonderful dinner. Read my blog post on it soon).

Hotels In and Around Narita Airport

In fact, Narita Airport runs a list of hotels in and around the Narita Airport and you can see that nine hours Narita Airport is probably the closest for me.

And yes lah.. the hero picture of the 9h nine hours look quite cool too…..

And okay lah.. I am keen to try out a Capsule Hotel in Japan with my son. The nice thing is that 9h nine hours Narita Airport allow for Kids to Stay ! I remembered it was not so in the past but now I am seeing more and more capsule hotels allowing that to take place.

So that’s how I decided

• Land at Narita at 5pm Tokyo Time after enjoying 7-8 hours in SQ. The A380 Business Class 2013 version is still very good…
• Get my family from Terminal 1 to Terminal 2 somehow
• Check into 9h nine hours Narita Airport at Terminal 2
• Get my JR Passes activated and my train tickets for the trip done in Terminal 2 JR East Travel Service Centre
• Visit Narita town for dinner (read my next blog post !)
• Sleep at Capsule Hotel
• Wake up at 6am and go from Terminal 2 to Terminal 1 to catch the domestic flight from Narita to Sapporo !

My planning good ? Ha.. I hope it goes to plan ! 🙂

How to get to Terminal 2 from Terminal 1 of Narita Airport

9h nine hours Narita Airport is at Terminal 2. SQ lands in Narita Airport Terminal 1. Unlike Singapore, you don’t have a terminal train between these terminals. Instead, you will take the free terminal shuttle bus.

Specifically at Terminal 1, you will go to Bus Stop 6 and take the RED bus from Terminal 1 to Terminal 2. That’s 10 mins.

By the way, there are two JR EAST Travel Service Centers that are conveniently located in Narita Airport to assist non-Japanese tourists with all their travel needs. The English-speaking staff provides information about tickets and accommodations for travelers during their stay in Japan.

So you can go to the one at Terminal 2 to get your JR pass activated and train tickets booked too. Convenient !

How to get to 9h nine hours Narita Airport from Terminal 2

We arrived at the 9h nine hours Narita Airport easily from Terminal 2 bus stop. The hotel is located in the general area (landside) of Narita International Airport Terminal 2. That means you need to clear immigration and customs and officially enter Japan if you wish to stay at the hotel (even if you just doing a layover between international flights).

The hotel is located at the 1st floor basement of Multi-Storey Car Park P-2. It is quite a find for me. You need to cross the connecting corridor from the 2nd Floor to Parking Area P2 of the Multi-story and proceed to the B1 Floor.

Actually it is pretty easy. Once you arrive at Terminal 2, you walk down one level to the Narita Subway station. From there, you can see the JR service centre for Terminal 2. I suggest you get your Japan Rail Pass (or train bookings) done at this centre.

(No, you are not in Korea.. I just happen to take the photo at the time when the screen changes to Korean).

From this area, you can also take the Keisei subway train to Narita City to have a meal. I recommend Sushi Edokko at Narita City !

Turn right at this service centre and you can see this…. there is a mini mart to your left too…

Walk straight.. and you will hit a wall.. 🙂

And go up the escalator and you will see the 9h nine hours Narita Airport

Checking in at 9h nine hours Narita Airport

A very simple check in counter awaits you.

You can already see the difference between a 9h nine hour capsule hotel and normal hotels. Guys and Girls do NOT stay together. Too bad. You cannot hug your girlfriend to bed tonight….

Guys on the left

Girls on the right

You will check in, pay your hotel bill and then collect the locker keys as well as a bag each.

A bag full of goodies 🙂

In this bag, you will have everything you need for a good night stay.

You will receive a bag with slippers, towels, toothbrushes and sleeping gowns. Yes, sleeping gowns. It is quite a sight to see all the men wearing that 🙂

You will also receive a friendly instruction note.

The key is really to be as silent as possible. Be fair to your “friends”. They are there to sleep. You should NOT make too much noise, even if you are as excited as me.

Staying at 9h nine hours Narita Airport

Staying at 9h nine hours Narita Airport is like having a ritual, okay.

Here’s the steps 🙂

Step 1 : Check-In (DONE)

As above 🙂

Step 2 : Visit your locker

The locker room is damn cool. Reminds you of school days.

The key given to you at check in is for both the locker as well as the location of your capsule bed.

As you can see, it is reasonably large. Large enough for my luggage and then the rest of my backpack and stuff at the top.

Step 3 : Shower and use the Toilets

The shower and the toilets are the next sections in the capsule hotel layout.

To be exact, the new section are the wash basins and the toilets.

And of course, clean toilets with bidets 🙂

And then finally the showers

The 9h nine hours Narita Airport Shower Rooms come with Shampoo, Conditioner, and Body Wash. So you don’t need to use those

Step 4 : Go to your Sleep Pods

The Sleep Pods are so futuristic looking 🙂 The dark floors and the comfortably set air con made you want to sleep.

Locate your pods. Don’t make mistakes. Sometimes it is easy to mix up the right pod. I don’t think it is good as you “dirtied” the pod if you used the wrong one 🙂

This is my sleep pod. With a clean bed sheet and a clean blanket.

There is a switch panel right at the top of your head of the sleep pod.

One Japan two pin plug. Which I assumed you will use to charge your phone.

One switch to control the Room Light. More accurately your Sleep Pod light.

Like this..

And I am 1.8m tall and I have no problem sleeping in the Sleep Pod.

It does get a little noisier at around dawn (e.g. 5am onwards) so be aware of that.

Step 5 : Wake up and Check Out

After you brush your teeth. Throw the slippers away at the provided dust bins. Put the towels into the provided bins. Then return the cute bag with the sleeping gowns to the check out counter.

And catch your flight.

How to get from 9h nine hours Narita Airport back to Terminal 1 in the morning

To get from the 9h nine hours Narita Airport back to Terminal 1 (assuming you are taking the Peach Airline to Hokkaido), then you need to go to bus stop 8 or bus stop 18 at Terminal 2.

The first bus from Terminal 2 to Terminal 1 and Terminal 3 starts at 5am so we were in good time to catch that first Peach Airline flight to Sapporo.

Additional Tip : Priority Pass Holders Can Use 9h nine hours Narita Airport FREE

If you have credit cards that give you Priority Pass membership, do you know you can get access to 9h nine hours Narita Airport. So you can take a rest, take a shower or even sleep before your flight back from Tokyo. Or even after you land at Tokyo ?

For example the American Express Platinum Card gives you complimentary lounge access to over 1,400 airport lounges across 650 cities in 140 countries for you, your Supplementary Card Member and one guest each.

Participating lounges include:

• The Centurion^® Lounge (e.g Seattle, Hong Kong)
• International American Express Lounges
• Delta SkyCLub^® Lounges
• Plaza Premium Airport Lounges
• Priority Pass™ Lounges

Sign Up for AMEX Platinum Card

So, instead of just using the lounges, you can actually use 5 hours of stay at the 9h nine hours Narita Airport ! Cardholders (walk-ins only) can use their lounge visit entitlement to take advantage of a maximum 5 hour stay in a Capsule between 09:00 – 18:00 daily.

Conclusion of Staying at 9h nine hours Narita Airport

I was extremely pleased to be able to stay at 9h nine hours Narita Airport. It might not be the best sleep ever but the convenience of able to just sleep at the Airport and then catch a flight the next morning to Sapporo was very good.

I enjoyed my stay.

For the convenience

And the novelty.