Hostel Hirosaki

The lounge has a TV and even a foot massager, and you can get free tea or water there. Other drinks, including bottled water, apple juice, and beer, are available from the fridge for payment into a piggy bank. The basics here are better than at any hostel I’ve stayed in, even if it isn’t fancy. My sleeping space was bigger than usual, with room for two backpacks, 37L and 45L, plus a foldable desk. There are plenty of clean toilets and showers, and they give you a fresh towel each day. Laundry and drying each cost 100 yen, paid into the piggy bank, and detergent costs 50 yen the same way. It’s a 3-5 minute walk from Hirosaki station and the bus terminal.

The beds were comfortable, with space for bags beside them, plus a bedside table and a foldout desk. It was a very clean hostel with everything I needed. One thing to know: the elderly man who runs it waits around for you, so your estimated check-in time actually matters here, unlike at other hostels.

It’s the cheapest place around Hirosaki station, and quite acceptable if you’re travelling on a tight budget. The location is perfect, with a convenience store, pharmacy, supermarket, shopping centre, Starbucks, and more nearby. Parking costs 500 yen. The place is very clean but quite small, with storage safes, free coffee and tea, showers, and breakfast if requested. Rooms come as single or double capsule-style rooms. The mattresses are much too soft.

I found it very expensive for what it offers. The rooms smelled bad and felt damp, even though the humidifier and ventilation seemed to run constantly. I visited after heavy rain, so maybe the weather played a part, but they may need stronger ventilation. Also, this is more of a capsule hostel than a regular one: the capsules are in large rooms, with no windows or natural light, and just a screen to pull across the entrance. The bathroom and washing area were good. There are only three shower stalls, female, male, and unisex, plus three toilets, but I never had to wait. The sink area is lovely, with lots of large sinks. It’s close to the station, with a few restaurants nearby and parking at 500 yen a day.