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日本地少人多，在东京等大城市更是寸土寸金，于是一种被称为“胶囊”的旅馆因价格便宜应运而生，这种已有30多年历史的居住方式受金融危机影响变得很火，日本大城市不少失业或面临失业的人不得不住进这种只能爬进去的“蜗居”。不过，“胶囊”里面的生活设施还算齐备，甚至可以说很人性化，解决了不少“有家不回”或“无家可归”者的燃眉之急。

Capsule hotels popular in Japan

Japan's capsule hotels appeared in 1979 with the purpose of providing a bed for those who work too late to catch the last bus. In past two years, they have became more popular as the economy was hit hard by the global financial crisis. Many people who lost their job have to live in these hotels.

Capsule Hotels fully epitomize Japan's passion for saving space. Inside the hotel there are many small rooms which look like washing machines. Every room, 2 meters long, 1 meter wide and 1.25 meters high, is called a capsule. It is equipped with one bed, one table and one TV set.

To save costs, the whole capsule hotel is serviced by one front desk clerk. No one will come to collect room fees or send water. Instead it is equipped with vending machines, electronic terminals and cameras.

A capsule hotel room only costs about 3500 yen for one night. That is half the cost of a normal hotel and 1 fifth of a big hotel. A one month fee is about 70 thousand yen. That is rather cheap in Japan.

Capsule hotels are convenient, cheap, comfortable, safe and clean, and they have been widely promoted in many big cities in southeast Asia and Europe. Currently, some hotels of this kind are showing up in Beijing, Shanghai and Hangzhou. During this era of skyrocketing house prices, capsule hotels may become a temporary choice for some people.

词汇解释

1.capsule['kæpsju:l] n. 荚膜，胶囊，简缩，太空舱

The capsule is filled with small soluble cases.
胶囊里充满了可溶的小颗粒。

2.epitomize v. 摘要，概括，成为 ... 的缩影，作为典范

She epitomizes the loving mother.
她是典型的慈母。

3.vending n. 贩卖 动词vend的现在分词

4.skyrocketing 价格飞涨