[sowbug]

People in Japan reliably observe societal norms. If a capsule hotel floor is for sleeping and getting dressed, then the only noises you'll hear are people sleeping and getting dressed. Think of the door as a "quiet please" sign rather than a physical light/sound suppressor.

It's almost the opposite of the US, where people take pride in exercising their right to be assholes. Talking in movie theaters, taking speakerphone calls in public, watching videos on phone speakers in airport lounges, etc. are unimaginable in Japan but sadly commonplace here in the US.

In the hotels where I stayed, there were usually little airplane-style vents supplying cool air, so you could reach up to the top of the capsule and dial whatever level of ventilation you wanted. Barely audible.

[joenot443]

The US is a big place. There are certainly huge areas of the country in which social norms have deteriorated to the point you’re describing, but it’s not the case across the nation. There are still plenty of small towns in rural US (and Canada) where speaking in a movie theatre, playing music on a bus, or littering on the street are generally not tolerated and at worst might even invite a polite confrontation. In the area I grew up and now own a home in, it’s not uncommon to see unoccupied roadside produce stands (with incredibly food) which are entirely cash and self serve. It’s not hard to explain why stands like that don’t exist in urban America.

I’ve spent half my time in NYC and Seattle the past couple years. I think it really can’t be understated how different rural and urban America are in their social norms and behaviors.

[sowbug]

If capsule hotels spring up in rural US, I'll be happy to stay in one!