The Stay Wakkanai

The facilities were really clean and had everything I needed: a washing machine, shower room, bathroom, lounge, and a shared kitchen you can use for free. The staff were lovely, always smiling, and gave me helpful information and advice about Wakkanai. I came in with no expectations since it was my first time staying in a share house, but I was surprised by how great it was. I had a really good experience and will definitely come back to Wakkanai. I'd like to check out their branches in other towns too. 5/5, perfection!

The common area is spacious, with lots of seating and air conditioning. I liked the free drip coffee and miso soup, especially the clam miso soup. Check-in was easy, and the kitchen was clean, fully stocked, and had fridge space for food. There are several food options nearby, including a Sapporo drugstore, grocery store, the local Seicomart, restaurants, and a large mall complex with a very good onsen. The hostel is conveniently right by the JR station and bus terminals, about a 30-second walk from the JR station. It is farther from the city centre, so the area is quiet at night. There are several clean showers and bathrooms, though the second building has just one shower. It also has a bathtub, but you have to pay to use it. The two buildings are very close together. To reach the four-room unit, you go through the main building, then up steep stairs in the second building. Thankfully, you only have to carry your luggage up and down once. There's a second exit for people staying in that building, so you don't have to pass through the main building to get to your room. The four-room option has a spacious room where I could stand and change, with a curtain for privacy. It was a good stay. Wakkanai makes you feel how far you are from the big cities, and how real the population drain from those cities is. It's a lovely city with a quiet charm, and it gave me a little time to reflect and slow down.

I liked the lounge, with its free coffee, tea, and miso soup, and the staff were nice and accommodating. The hostel is right across from the train station. I stayed in a dorm, though the design wasn't to my taste. The building packs in too many people, with only one shower for the entire second floor and too few toilets as well. It feels like the layout prioritized fitting people in and maximizing profit over providing enough bathroom space. There's barely any storage in the dorm. At least the mattress is comfortable. It's fine for a night, but this place could have so much more potential.

The family room was so tiny we could barely move around, let alone get to our luggage. Shared facilities also felt far too limited for the number of guests during peak season. When we were there in mid-July, the hotel was full, with only three showers, three toilets, and not enough tables for everyone. The place looks nice, is well located, and offers free coffee, but it doesn't do the basic job of a hotel: letting people sleep. The rooms line corridors leading to the shared bathroom and lounge. It's a wooden building, and people weren't quiet. There was noise until 11 p.m. and again from 4:30 a.m. If you're a light sleeper, don't stay here. Reception provides earplugs, but we could still hear everything through them.