Kimono Inn Utakata - Hostel

The house has lots of character and is a lovely example of an early 20th-century Japanese merchant home. The location was ideal for us, with the castle main gate five minutes away, the station eight minutes away, and a busy bus stop four minutes away. There’s a supermarket at the end of the street, and Johson Burgers is just around the corner for a hearty lunch. We had no complaints and will definitely come back in September, when we can get time off for a weekend without rain. It’s a wonderful guest house, perfect for our family of four. There are two rooms, so a family of six could stay without trouble. The owner, who also runs the kimono shop downstairs, is delightful and very friendly. She played with our 10-year-old and chatted at length with my wife and me. Her English is very good, and my wife speaks Japanese, so communication was easy.

The hostel is above a kimono shop in the shopping centre, between the station and castle. We paid about $70, which felt a bit expensive for a hostel-like place. The room heater kept our bunk bed area cozy, and the shower was nice. There was no breakfast. We booked through the visitors’ centre on Friday because everything else in town was full. Our arrival was delayed since the room wasn’t ready, and we didn’t get there until 8 pm. The hostess made us a tiny snack, which we ate sitting in a tiny area. Larger rooms were occupied by musicians who smoked cigarettes until after 9 pm.

A great spot for families at a very decent price. It’s a cozy, pleasant place within walking distance of Himeji castle. The owner is amazingly nice and speaks basic English. Knowing a few words of Japanese is always better for engaging with people there.

It’s a cute, clean place in a safe area, with plenty of restaurants and shopping nearby. There are two rooms sharing a bathroom, and the door locks from the inside. The bunk bed was really comfortable. After waking with an achy back and neck at several other places, it was such a relief to sleep well here.