Taro's Hostel Minami Koshigaya

Getting in is straightforward if you can reach the manager, but the combination lock means you can’t enter without contacting them. The location is close to Golden Gai and only a few minutes from the station, so that part is fine. The space feels like a studio apartment split up with partitions. Privacy is about like a capsule hotel, though the high ceiling makes it easier to breathe. You get only one tatami mat per person, so it’ll feel cramped if you need room to do more than lie down. Sound carries throughout, and your stay can depend on the other guests, as with guesthouses generally. Check-in at 6am is inconvenient. When I arrived at 4pm, the room still hadn’t been cleaned. The building feels cheaply made and could be uncomfortable depending on the weather. There is air conditioning, but I’d still be cautious. I’ve stayed in guesthouses around the world and didn’t find it especially inconvenient. Still, people used to comfortable Japanese accommodations may find it hard to choose this place just because it’s cheap.

A smoker kept using the balcony outside my room, and the smell came inside each time. It made the stay unpleasant. The price was low, but the conditions matched it, and I don’t think I’ll stay here again. When I arrived, the door to my assigned room was open. The futon was scattered around, the trash hadn’t been taken out, and the room was dirty. It seemed the previous guest had left everything behind.

I picked it because it was cheap, and as long as the price stays low, I’m fine with it. I only needed somewhere to sleep, so room E worked, though anyone wanting more space should try one of the higher rooms. The apartment-like room is divided into sections labeled A through E. Finding the place took me about five minutes of wandering. Google Maps marks a ramen shop as the hotel, but that’s wrong: it’s one room in the apartment building behind it. An old staircase nearby is a landmark. Look for post 201 and call; an old man answers and gives you the number. I was surprised when I went inside.

I couldn’t get through the entrance because the keypad didn’t respond. The manager didn’t answer my call, and nobody replied to my cancellation email, so I was left with no choice but to accept it. I’ll never use a site like Agoda again if it lists businesses like this.