Himeji 588 Guest House

Kyoko was so welcoming, and the house had a homey feel. The beds were nice, and water, tea, cutlery, a fridge, and a microwave were all freely available. Some of the rules are strict, which I understand since Kyoko handles a lot of the work herself or with another staff member. Knowing them ahead of time makes that fine. I’d gladly come back and recommend the place.

It’s a clean hostel in a central spot, but I found the rules extremely strict. Once you’ve checked out, you can’t come back inside, even to use the toilet or eat. I thought being refused access to the bathroom was outrageous. You can collect your luggage only until 2 pm. I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone who values basic hospitality or flexibility.

The guest house is right on the main shopping mall of Miyuki-dori, in Hon-Machi, inside Himeji Castle’s inner city wall. From the rear second-floor balcony, you can see the top of the castle wall. Matsuoka-san is wonderful with guests and connects them with Himeji locals and businesses. I’ve stayed here five times with school groups, and every time Matsuoka-san delighted the students with evening cooking lessons.

The owner made me feel really comfortable, and even took the time to show me how to use the washing machine. We also had a nice chat about Detective Conan ☺️. It’s a great base for exploring around Himeji castle, which is literally five minutes away. I had an amazing stay and will definitely come back.