Heiwadai Hotel Honkan

It’s about a 15-minute walk from Tenjin and close to the airport subway line, but I wouldn’t stay here again if I had another option. There are only two bathrooms, the entrance stairs are narrow and steep, and no toothbrush or toothpaste is provided. I bought ice cream but found no freezer, just a cooler rather than a proper refrigerator. The staff were very unfriendly and treated guests poorly. One person was told to leave a seat while doing their makeup because staff said they needed it for their phone. Check-in is at 7:00 PM, which feels unfair when checkout is by 10:00 AM and staying longer means a fine.

I’m from Europe, so I can’t say what hostels in Japan are usually like, but I don’t get the harsh reviews. The place feels cozy, the staff are friendly and helpful, and the instructions are clear and available in several languages, including English. My room was clean, though I can’t speak for the rest of them. They’ve also made an effort to keep shower noise from carrying into the dorms. You might well end up sharing with one or two people who snore, but that’s normal in a hostel.

The location is great and the place is functional, but my private room wasn’t ready smoothly. I never got the check-in details, and the owners took almost an hour to respond when I contacted them. The room was dusty, had dirty marks on the walls, and the bed was uncomfortable and falling apart.

The smell in the dorm was unbearable, like sweat mixed with the odor of drunk, dirty homeless people. There are long-term guests here who seem close to homeless. The place might be manageable apart from that, but the smell was so bad I left and booked another spot. Worst place I’ve stayed.