Torii-Kuguru Hostel

The staff were helpful and had things organized, but the space is terrible. They’ve crammed as many people as possible into a tiny room, even in the roof, with nowhere to open luggage on the floor. There’s no room in the corridor either. The place feels old, and even the mirrors are old and ugly. The lower bunk was so cramped I couldn’t sit up without hitting my head. The bathroom isn’t Japanese style, and I wouldn’t come back.

The quilt cover had lots of holes, and I don’t think it’s suitable quality for future guests. The curtains, held up with just a few clips, left gaps where light came through, even when I tried to fix them. Soundproofing was poor too, with hairdryers often audible around 11 p.m. There’s no lift, so you have to haul your luggage up the stairs. They charge 500 yen per 30 minutes for late check-in from 9 p.m., and only told me after I’d booked, which made me anxious.

I really enjoyed the torii-kuguri concept and the kitchen and lounge you can use. It’s a really cool place, and I met some great people there. The station is a 10 minute walk away, though there are "no" buses on this side of the city. I already miss Okayama.

I stayed for four days and couldn’t find anything I disliked. The beds were comfortable, and there were enough toilets and showers for everyone, all very clean. The common areas have a cool style, and the staff take good care to make guests feel welcome. From the start, the staff and host were friendly and open, spoke fantastic English, and showed me around. I really liked how they’d decorated the place. No complaints from me.