Setouchi Mangetsusou

It’s a quiet place, and not at all social. The location is convenient, though, just a short walk from anywhere in Takamatsu. The facilities were nice, everything was tidy and clean, and there are washing machines and dryers. My private room oddly had bunk beds. I’m not sure why. The main downside was the thin walls, since you could clearly hear the other guests getting up to whatever they were doing.

The hostel’s signage was unusually good. I’m used to limited or poor English signs, but these were clearly written and proofread by a native speaker. Check-in was through a tablet with no contact. It had a little trouble finding my name, then I realized it probably needed my full first and last name. I asked staff a couple of questions about our late arrival through Travelocity email, and they replied quickly. The instructions were clear, the door code came two days ahead, and after check-in the tablet showed the room code. It even reminded you to photograph the code before finishing. We had a Western-style room with bunk beds. The futon mattresses were very thin, but fine for two nights. There were down comforters and extra fleece blankets in the lobby. WiFi was strong, and the room had its own A/C, plus a fridge, kettle, small TV, two chairs, and a little table. The table was amusingly too low to use comfortably with the chairs. Around the hostel, there were extension cords, card games, and hairdryers. The bathroom and shower areas were separated by gender, and the toilets, showers, vanity sinks, and laundry were in separate rooms, which was nice. It’s in a pleasant neighborhood near a station, covered shopping and dining streets, restaurants, bars, and convenience stores. The design and theme inside were cute, too. My only real complaint was the thin walls. Families can stay in the tatami rooms, and we could hear kids yelling and running in the halls. I suppose that’s down to bad parenting. Still, it was a very nice hostel, one of the best I’ve stayed in.

No towels, water, parking, toilet, or service. Just money. Worst hotel in the world.

The futons were comfortable, the place was clean, and lots of necessities were provided.