A New Era of Solo Travel in Hawaii
Japan has long been celebrated as a top destination for solo travelers, offering a blend of safety, ease of navigation, and unique dining experiences tailored for individuals. Now, this trend is making waves across the Pacific, with a hotel chain known for its innovative capsule-style accommodations expanding its reach to a new location in Hawaii. In April 2025, First Cabin International opened its first location outside Japan, setting up shop on Oahu’s Waikiki, often referred to as “Magic Island” for its seamless mix of natural beauty and urban charm.
This new hotel brings a concept that has been popular in Japan since 1979, when Capsule Inn Osaka first introduced the idea. The capsule-style rooms, originally designed for business travelers and solo adventurers, offer a perfect balance between privacy and affordability. These compact spaces, which resemble small pods, are just big enough for a bed, complete with walls on all sides and a personal screen door. They also include modern amenities such as a TV, interior lighting, shelving, and power ports, ensuring a comfortable stay at a fraction of the cost of a traditional hotel room.
First Cabin International Hawaii offers a luxurious twist on this concept, merging the Japanese approach to minimalism with the American preference for larger spaces. While the traditional stacked-bunk design remains available for $90 per night, guests can now upgrade to business or first-class cabins. Business class options provide twice the width and height of standard capsules, featuring high-rise ceilings, wider beds, and bigger TVs for $118. First-class cabins go even further, offering more space to stand next to the bed, along with a private work table, all for $133 — an impressive deal compared to typical Waikiki resort prices.
Branding itself as “a new style hotel … that is neither a capsule hotel nor a business hotel,” First Cabin began introducing its compact yet elevated stays in Japan in 2013. Inspired by the way first-class cabin service on airplanes transforms a small space into a premium one, First Cabin Hawaii makes the most of tight quarters, using high-end amenities and sleek design to create some of the most luxurious capsule hotels in the world.
The hotel features not only tranquil sleeping pods but also a spacious communal lounge, free Wi-Fi, laundry machines, roomy shower stalls, and private saunas in shared bathrooms. This combination of comfort and convenience sets it apart from other lodging options in the area.
First Cabin’s initial opening at Tokyo’s Haneda Airport was a hit among passengers with early morning flights, thanks to its convenient location in Terminal 1. Short-stay options of 2 to 3 hours offer a more private and relaxing alternative to the typical airport lounge experience. With 10 domestic locations now open, the decision to expand internationally aimed to attract Japanese travelers back to America and introduce the aesthetic of minimalism as luxury to an American audience.
Located in the Waikiki Business Plaza in downtown Honolulu, First Cabin is a 15-minute drive from Daniel K. Inouye International Airport and less than a 5-minute walk to the beachfront. This makes it an ideal choice for travelers looking for a great introductory stay during their first few nights in Hawaii, or for those who need a convenient place to rest for a short period.
Depending on the brand’s success on the island, more openings may follow in other high-cost U.S. destinations. Such a move would align with current domestic travel trends, particularly the demand for high-value, comfortable stays at a low price point.
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