Nara Deer Hostel

There’s a convivial, well-organized shared area downstairs. Rooms sleep two, either in bunk beds or a double bed for a couple or family. The only downside is how tiny the bathroom and toilet are.

I left my Kindle here, and a woman contacted me online to say she’d found it in the room and handed it in. A backpacker also confirmed it had been turned in and messaged me on Instagram, but I still haven’t heard from the hostel. Booking.com tried to reach them too, with no response. It’s been really hard to get in touch. There’s no reachable phone number, website, or email, and communication through Booking.com has been restricted. I don’t think they’ll ever return my property. After seeing other reviews mention bed bugs and bullying by the owner, I can understand why people might worry about getting their things back. I can’t help wondering whether their lack of response has something to do with the inn not being Japanese-owned, though I don’t know. Please contact me about my Kindle. Keep your money and don’t stay here.

The staff were okay, and the hotel itself wasn’t too dirty. The bathrooms were much worse: they smelled bad, had visible mold and a constant damp odor, and the ventilation wasn’t enough. They also didn’t seem to get a thorough cleaning.

The staff were pleasant and accommodating, and the hostel is close to most sightseeing spots. The lobby had books and tables beside the kitchen, and the floor people walked on was clean. But there was dust and chip crumbs under my bed, even though I never ate or drank in the room. The towels smelled bad, and the walls were so thin I could hear people walking and using the bathroom. At night a water bug, kind of like a roach, got onto my bed frame, then kept crawling into my clothes and under the sheets. I killed it, but another one showed up later.