Hostel Mallika

The place is a little old, though it was clean, and breakfast was a plus. Service is why I gave it only two stars: when nobody is checking in, reception is empty. I couldn't tell whether my fresh towel had been forgotten or taken, and I wanted to ask, but the desk was closed during check-in time.

The common living area, restrooms, and lockers were clean. It's under five minutes from the Hiroshima Memorial, and about a 15-minute walk from a ferry near the Memorial that goes to Miyajima Islannd. After checkout they can hold your bags for the rest of the day, using a bike lock to secure the luggage.

The staff were kind and the location was great, but the smell and heat made it a bad stay for me. There was a strong body-odour smell throughout, especially in the sleeping pods, and I didn't sleep well. The hostel was filthy, with guests' things left all over, dirty socks on top of the fridge and hair in the sinks. I wouldn't come back, or stay longer than one night if I had no other choice.

The location was good, and I could tell the staff were trying to make guests comfortable. But I moved elsewhere for my second night. The old building was clean enough, though the thin mattress left me feeling the wood underneath. Other guests were noisy at night, and the large open space had no real separation, which made that annoying. The common area and showers were on another floor, reached by going outside via cold stairs or the lift. That area only had tables and chairs, so it didn't feel like somewhere to relax.