Nozaru Hostel

I needed a cheap bed at short notice after my plans changed, and chose a solo room for privacy since I could afford it. It turned out to be a hidden gem. The host speaks fluent English, and the place was spotlessly clean, comfortable, and quiet. Take a walk through the streets and alleys to find the hidden shrines on the mountainsides. There's also a little sushi restaurant about a ten-minute stroll down the main road. I couldn't be happier with this classic Japan experience. Sure, it's an old place, but that's part of its charm. The cheapest rooms use shared facilities, and towels cost extra, but not much. I don't understand people complaining about those things.

It's very affordable, and you can cook in the small kitchen, which has a water boiler and microwave. After a long day walking, I really enjoyed relaxing in the indoor or outdoor onsen. The outdoor bath at night in the snow has a peaceful feel that's hard to match. The place is about as close as you can get to the snow monkey hiking trail. I'd stay here again for the value.

The rooms are good, and the hostel is fine overall. It was cold, though we had an oven and a kotatsu, which helped. The men's onsen was fine, and the outdoor bath is pretty. The women's onsen wasn't very good. You can see monkeys in town, and the monkey park is about an hour's walk away. It costs 800 yen. There's a small shop like a konbini that closes at 19:00, plus some restaurants and bars. Demand is high, so you may get turned away, and be ready to walk a lot. One thing to know: staying here doesn't give you access to the other onsens around town. You can use Onsen #9 for 800 yen, or non-public places such as Waku Waku Onsen for 500 yen. Onsen #1 to #8 are off limits.

The location is amazing for the price. There was a small space heater in the room, but the whole building was very cold.