隨著旅遊業的發展，世界各地的星級酒店和賓館越來越多了。裝修奢華、房間寬敞的總統套房、豪華套房有時也難免讓人垂涎。可是，你知道嗎？在日本有一種旅館，它們的房間是像抽屜那樣陳列的，每個房間的大小也僅夠一位客人睡覺。這樣「憋屈」的旅館服務不知道會不會有人欣賞呢？
A capsule hotel is a type of hotel in Japan with a large number of extremely small "rooms" (capsules). The guest space is reduced in size to a modular plastic or fiberglass block roughly 2 m by 1 m by 1.25 m, providing room to sleep. Facilities range in entertainment offerings (most include a television, an electronic console, and wireless internet connection).
「膠囊旅館」是日本一種很常見的旅館，提供大量極小的「房間」。在那裡，客人的使用空間縮小為大約2米長、1米寬、1.25米高的塑料或纖維玻璃質地的標準隔間，這個空間用來睡覺是沒問題的。「房間」裡也提供娛樂設施(大多數房間都配有電視，電子控制臺以及無線網絡連接設備)。
These capsules are stacked side by side and two units top to bottom, with steps providing access to the second level rooms. Luggage is stored in a locker, usually somewhere outside of the hotel. Washrooms are communal and most hotels include restaurants (or at least vending machines), pools, and other entertainment facilities. The benefit of these hotels is convenience and price, usually around ￥2000-4000 a night ($21-42).
這些小隔間一般是分兩層挨個陳列的，二層的房間有樓梯可以直接上去。行李都會保存在旅館房間外的存儲櫃中。洗手間是公用的，而且通常大部分旅館都有餐廳(或至少有自動售貨機)、遊泳池，以及其他的娛樂設施。便捷和廉價是這類旅館的主要優勢，通常這類旅館一晚的費用為2000到4000日元(約合21到42美元)。
Many capsules are used primarily by men. Others (especially on weekdays) are often too inebriated to safely travel to their homes, or too embarrassed to face their spouses when they are unemployed or underemployed.
光顧「膠囊旅館」的大部分都是男性。有些時候(尤其是工作日期間)，有些喝醉了不能平安回家、或是因為失業或降職而不好意思回家面對另一半的人們也會光顧「膠囊旅館」。