Weekly Sho Gifu Hashima Hostel

The low price is the main reason I've returned here several times while traveling for work in the Chukyo region every year or two. I like trains, so I spent the evening watching Shinkansen trains rush past the window instead of turning on the TV. Grab drinks at the supermarket a few minutes away by car, and having them in the room is great. Gifu-Hashima Station also has a decent selection of Gifu Prefecture souvenirs. It works well for anyone comfortable with youth hostel-style lodging. If you're used to full-service places, though, limited reception hours, amenities, and station noise could leave you disappointed. One thing to plan for: there's a shower but no women's bathroom, so a woman traveling with you may need some help.

For the price, I think it's a good place to stay, and the rooms seem clean. I come back around this time every year. The water was warmer this year, which was nice, though the shower can get pretty cold when several people are using it in the same room. With the Shinkansen and train stations right beside the hotel, noise sensitive people may have trouble sleeping before the last train.

The price was hard to beat, but I'm not coming back. I spent four days in a smoking room on the third floor, and the cigarette smell stuck to my cloth suitcase so badly that I could still smell it after I got home. There was also a fishy odor when I stepped out of the elevator. The guests seemed to be from a particular demographic.

I booked on Jalan and paid with PayPay at the hotel. The location near the station seemed convenient, but my room was level with the Shinkansen platform. Announcements for both the Shinkansen and local trains, plus the wind noise, kept me from sleeping through the last and first trains. The Gifu city system seemed almost the same. Maybe they just don't take credit cards? Room noise probably depends on the floor and which way it faces, but keep in mind you could end up with a bad one.