The Evergreen Hostel

The hostel had a relaxed, homey feel, with friendly staff who were easy to approach. There’s a shared living room for relaxing, eating, or chatting, plus a kitchen and washing machines as well as the beds. I arrived at midday and was able to check in already. It’s just a few minutes’ walk from the atomic dome, and a clean, affordable choice near the main attraction.

The location is wonderful, and the staff were very nice. They even helped carry my suitcase up and down the entrance steps, which were a real hassle with luggage. Sleeping was rough. The bed was extremely uncomfortable, especially on the lower level, where movement from the person above made the bed and mattress creak loudly. Earplugs didn’t help. I was surprised that clean bed linen and towels cost extra. There was also nowhere to put my belongings, since the corridor was cluttered with backpacks and suitcases.

The hostel was welcoming and supportive, with good facilities and a clear focus on hygiene. We only realized after arriving how close it was to the main Hiroshima sights. It’s also a short walk to the main tram line, No.6 and No.2, and there are a few local restaurants nearby.

The location was good, about 20 minutes by streetcar from the station and 10 minutes from the Peace Museum. It was quiet and felt safe. The stay itself was frustrating. Staff didn’t acknowledge us when we went between our room and the kitchen, and the atmosphere felt tense. There was just one table and couch in the common area, and staff usually had their laptops there, leaving us nowhere to sit. We even ate one meal standing in the kitchen/bathroom. The room was stuffy because the AC didn’t work well, and there was barely room for bags, so people left them in the hallway. The mattress was incredibly thin, and the pillow felt like a rock-hard sack of beans. The toilet is in the kitchen, about a meter from where someone might be cooking; people brushed their teeth there too. There are only two toilets for the whole hostel. Cleanliness disappointed me, with pink mould visible throughout. It also wasn’t clear whether there was a hot water tap for washing dishes.