Hiroshima Wabisabi Hostel

Getting around Hiroshima was easy from here, with good bus and tram access to the local sights. The location felt perfect, and I liked the traditional Japanese lounge. The beds were comfortable, and I had no complaints about the room. For this price, it was a steal. It’s self-service, but getting the keys was simple: they give you a code and you collect them. Booking.com replies to my questions were quick, and they tried to sort out my problems.

The rooms were nice enough, and while the toilet was loud, the place was decent overall. This is personal, but the photos don’t show how many stairs there are. That was a huge problem for me because of my disability. There are no elevators.

The common area was a real highlight, with plenty of space and seating on tatami mats. The place and surrounding area were quiet, even though bars, restaurants, and shops were only a short walk away. There’s an excellent oyster and wine restaurant underneath the accommodation, highly recommended. We got here easily by tram from the station, or it’s about a 20-minute walk. Check-in was effortless, and the staff were friendly. Luckily, our needs lined up with when staff were around, and they sorted things quickly. The room was a little tight, and the mattress was softer than I like. The bedroom door locks automatically, so it can be a headache if you leave the only keycard inside.

The room was cheap, so I suppose the cleaning was minimal. It was dusty, there was a short curly hair in the fridge, and the room wasn’t cleaned daily. The front desk is only open for a few hours during the day. For self check-in, they send instructions to use a tablet outside the door, which gives you a password for the locker with your room key. It’s quite a long walk from Hiroshima Station. If you want an inexpensive room with a private bathroom, this might work for you. Otherwise, I wouldn’t recommend it because of the distance and cleanliness.