Briller Sakura - Hostel

The bed was really comfortable, and the layout felt homey enough that I could just be myself. I’m short, but still bumped my head on the ceiling a couple of times, so taller people might run into that too. There’s a friendly, open vibe in the evenings, especially with the volunteers around, though there’s also enough room to keep to yourself if you prefer. You can rent towels, and they provide WiFi, body soap, shampoo, conditioner, and hairdryers. There’s a guitar too. Storage is a little mixed: no full-size locked lockers, but there’s a small free passcode locker for valuables like your passport or money, plus a box by each bed for other things. It isn’t locked, just a barrier. The hostel isn’t responsible if luggage goes missing, but in my experience it’s much like other hostels, where lockers are usually too small for a suitcase anyway. I’d trust the other guests. I was a bit nervous at first, so I hope this helps anyone feeling the same. I loved the place and would come back.

The rooms were clean, quiet, and dark, and the showers had strong pressure with soap provided. There wasn’t much space, and luggage had to stay outside the room. The hostel itself was nice enough, though nothing fancy. Its bar was a pleasant extra, but opened late and cost more than other places. It wasn’t especially social, but I had a good time with the travelers I met. Check-in was confusing at first. I got a code but no bed assignment, and there was no obvious way to reach staff. Another guest had the same problem, and we found a phone number on Google Maps. After some waiting, we got our beds and the access code.

I paid 10,248 yen for two nights, which felt very expensive next to better nearby hotels. The room was cramped, with ten beds in a small space, and it was hard to sleep: an exhaust fan above my head kept bothering me, a wastewater pipe made noise, people used the sink beside the bed, and the bed creaked whenever anyone moved. There’s no reception or hotel service, so the place was confusing and inconvenient. Even to shower or wash your face you have to go up to the third floor, and entering the door means typing a password every time. This was the worst place I’ve ever stayed.

The volunteers hosting were lovely, and the place and people were great. The pillow was too flat for me, and I woke up when I think they switched off the AC at midnight. Might be worth asking about that if it matters to you.