Nekokura Hostel

I loved the pillow, it’s the most comfortable one I’ve ever used. There’s a washing machine and dryer, plus plenty of towels, which felt like a thoughtful touch. The place is also handy for the subway, convenience stores, yakiniku restaurants, and sushi shops. We were excited about the cat area and understood that it belongs to the cat shelter, not the accommodation. We could see through the glass that the cats looked happy and healthy, and sometimes they seemed curious and looked back at us. The room might not be very soundproof, but we were lucky not to have noisy guests in the common area. I wouldn’t leave luggage before check-in, since it would be locked in front of the house door. A coin locker at a main station seems safer, then come back at the proper check-in time to protect your belongings.

The room is small, but has what you need and the bed is the comfiest. The cat shelter is behind curtains for now because of animal welfare rules, so people aren’t looking at the cats all day and stressing them out. There’s lots of cute cat art and photos of guests’ cats on the walls, though.

It’s a compact place, but the location makes things easy. A MaxValu grocery store is close by if you want to put together a quick meal, and there are several shrines and parks nearby. There’s also a great conveyor belt sushi restaurant just a short walk away.

It felt like a cosy home, and we loved our stay. The hostel is small, with just five private rooms and a shared kitchen area. It was quiet while we were there, but there’s only one shower and bathroom for each gender. The free laundry was a nice bonus, and it’s near both the metro and a supermarket. The cat shelter is a cute idea, though I wish we could have met the cats. Entry to the building and rooms is secured with codes. Check-in is self-service, so make sure to contact the hostel through your booking site. We sent passport photos and got our access code around 2:30 p.m.