Hibari House

The toilets were nice, and most of my stay was fine. But the shower drain was clogged even after it had been cleaned, and other reviews make me wonder if it hasn't been properly cleaned in a long time. I left my bag in the small shared area and charged my phone because a sign said luggage could be kept there after checkout. One staff member was rude about it, which felt really unwelcoming and disrespectful. The hostel is unmanned from 9pm to 4am, too. For the owners' information, hostels in Japan and elsewhere often let guests keep using common areas and bathrooms after checkout.

Avoid this place. The owner was verbally abusive, and check-in was a nightmare. They charged an extra fee for arriving late, something I’ve never encountered before. The rooms were tiny, dirty, and noisy, with no common space. Extremely rude service and hidden fees. Terrible experience.

I spent three nights here while visiting Okayama, takamatsu, and a few smaller villages nearby. The location worked well and the facilities were decent. I liked the bed layout, it’s beautifully designed and cozy. The space around it is pretty cramped, though, with almost no storage beyond the area beside your bed.

The staff were super friendly and accommodating, and the rooms were very clean. There’s a kitchen and showers, too. The rooms were a little dusty, which set off my allergies, but otherwise it was 10/10. A great base for spending a few days exploring Okayama!