Hostel Hideaway

The private nook was one of my favorite parts. There’s room to yourself, and you can put up a divider for extra privacy. The floor mattresses can be rolled up to open more space behind the curtain. Bathrooms and the nearby areas were clean, and check-in was easy. The shower worked, though the water didn’t get very warm. I only had one towel and couldn’t figure out where to get another. Bring earplugs for sure. It’s a hostel, so don’t expect anything luxurious. The train station is just a 5-10 minute walk away, and I’d stay again.

The sleeping spaces aren’t private rooms. They’re divided by curtains, and the sinks and hair dryers are less than a meter from where you sleep, so noise carries right into the sleeping area. I was woken around 11:45 PM when someone started using a dryer. When I asked them to stop, a man who seemed to work at the hostel came up from downstairs and told me quiet hours began at midnight, so the dryer was allowed before then. I later saw a notice saying quiet hours were 12 to 6 AM. I get up at 6 every morning, so I asked the owner if that meant I could use a dryer then and wake everyone else. The management seemed to lack common sense. Instead of asking inconsiderate guests to keep the noise down, they blamed the people being disturbed.

I picked this hostel because it was cheap, and for the price it’s actually worth it. Minowa station makes it easy to get around, and there are plenty of shops nearby. It’s a hostel, after all.

The so-called private rooms are dorm spaces with curtains between the futons. Bright lights stayed on all night, and I had the worst night’s sleep I’ve had in a long time.