BENCH - Hostel

It was clean and modern, and also really noisy. There was a jar of earplugs right at reception, which gave me an idea what to expect. Even though Japanese guests were considerate, lots of foreigners came and went overnight. People showered at 1 AM and used hairdryers in the hallway. We had the first room on the left, before reception, H room. Its glass wall faced the street and let in light all night, so the room never really got dark. Every hotel in Lamakura was booked, and this was the only one left at a reasonable price, so I can’t complain too much.

My most unpleasant experience in Japan. The first impression was good, but trying to sleep was another story. Everything seemed set up to make noise: doors had no holders, and the hairdryers and sinks were right by the sleeping area instead of in the shower rooms. It felt like the noisy things had all been put where they’d bother people most. The staff at check-in were okay. The evening staff member was the most disappointing. She wasn’t Japanese and was talking loudly with guests after 11 am. People kept being very loud and slamming doors, and she didn’t stop them. I finally asked her to do something. She hadn’t explained that hostels have rules and people should keep quiet and respect others, as I’ve seen everywhere else I stayed. She just smiled and said it wasn’t her business, it was a place she worked. It sounded rude and pretty western. I thought respecting and looking after other people was normal in Japan. They hadn’t even turned off the light in the sleeping area until I asked. What a mood. The shower was clean and had hot water, and the sleeping area was pretty spacious. There was no luggage locker. They had a kettle, tea, coffee, microwave, towels, earplugs and a place to eat. There was a fan and two lights, but no hangers or hooks for clothes or towels, and nowhere for shoes. I can’t recommend the place because the organization was a failure, which is really sad. Keeping things quiet is a must in hostels!

Everything else was great, and the staff answered our questions warmly and enthusiastically. The bunk bed was the problem: I couldn’t sit up straight on the top bunk, and even a tiny turn made the whole frame sway like a pirate ship and creak nonstop.

I spent the night lying in bed, waiting for it to be over so I could leave. There wasn’t anywhere free to put my backpack, so I left it in the washroom with all the bedsheets. There was no comfortable spot to change or sort my things except on the bed, and the showers were exposed to the entrance door, which felt uncomfortable. The place was so unclean that even the tiny area where I could stand to change felt dirty. Probably the worst place I slept during my travels.