Dormitory Silsil

Cheap and nasty, a last resort if you can't find anywhere else to stay. The owner says he traveled around South America, but he's a dirty old junky and can't speak English at all, so don't expect any kind of hospitality. The bath was completely broken, and there was no willingness to fix it.

The place was nice, with an open room layout.

Good.

Dormitory Shirushiru is in a residential part of Hakodate, about a 10-minute walk from Goryokaku Park, and rates start around 2,000 yen a night. It's a good budget base for exploring the area. The place has a friendly, welcoming feel, and the owner is a seasoned traveler who's easy to talk to. Guests can mingle and share travel tips. It's a renovated house, with clean bunk beds in both Western-style and Japanese-style dorm rooms upstairs. There's also a women-only room, which can feel safe and comfortable for women traveling alone. Lounges are on both floors, with the second-floor one especially comfortable and well organized. A kitchen, shower room, and washroom are available too. Some guests have found the first-floor lounge and kitchen a bit cluttered, so that may matter if you're particular about cleanliness. Simple and warm, it offers good value as a place to stay while sightseeing, especially near Goryokaku Park.