Asahi Guest House

The rooms are cozy, and I liked the old traditional style of the building and the simple furniture. Still, maintenance is clearly lacking, and there’s a lot that could be improved. Compared with other hostels in the same price range, the comfort is quite low. It’s very close to Kokusai Dori, which is handy for young people looking to enjoy Naha nightlife and see the city. I’d recommend it for travelers who only need a place to sleep.

The female owner is kind and sociable, but the place is quite run-down. The ceiling in the men’s dorm is falling apart, and the old coin-operated air conditioner doesn’t cool well. There’s one unit-style toilet and shower room for men and one for women. The water heater seems faulty, too: the men’s shower can suddenly go very hot or cold, so be careful. It’s in a bar district, and older male guests often snore or talk loudly, making it hard to sleep. There was also a man who seemed to be in his 50s or 60s and perhaps a long-term resident. He sat on his bed in the dark room, expressionless, snacking for about 30 minutes. It was pretty creepy. I stayed last summer.

The shared living room is spacious and nice, and the private rooms with tatami mats are comfortable. Coin-operated air conditioning costs 100 yen for three hours. It’s conveniently located near Kokusai Street, and apparently there are quite a few long-term guests.

The living room is roomy, with a TV, and worked well for sitting alone, eating food I’d brought, or having a drink. When I stopped by around 8 PM, though, it was empty and I didn’t hear guests socializing. There’s no sign outside, which made the hostel hard to find, and the amount of luggage in the dorm made me wonder if it’s mostly used by long-term guests. There was just one outlet by the dorm beds, so bring a multi-plug if you need to charge several things. The bathroom and shower share one room, and there was only one on the second floor, so you can’t use the toilet while someone’s showering. The old floors creak loudly at night. The manager isn’t around overnight, and the entrance and rooms are left unlocked, so security is minimal. If that matters to you, this place may not be a good fit.