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5 Great Youth Hostels in Japan
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Youth hostels. They’re a great stay option when traveling on the cheap, but they don’t always have the best image when it comes to cleanliness, comfort, and security. Until now, that is. Youth hostels in Japan have come a long way. For our quality-conscious, budget-savvy travelers, here’s a list of 5 awesome hostels to try on your next trip to Japan.
The location of this hostel makes it a perfect base camp for a stay in Tokyo. It’s only a twenty minute walk from the hostel to both Senso-ji Temple and Akihabara, Japan’s “holy land” of manga and anime. Furthermore, there is direct rail access from both Haneda and Narita International Airports to Asakusabashi Station, the closest station to the hostel. There are also a ton of dining options including restaurants, ramen-ya, izakaya, and cafes all within walking distance of the hostel. Just tell the super-friendly staff what you’re craving and they’ll give you some suggestions. This place is really popular in July and August, so make your reservations early!
2-21-4 Yanagibashi, Taito-ku, Tokyo
Website
http://sumidagawayh.net/page019.html
Details
- Private rooms sleep 2~4 guests
- Single-sex dormitory-style rooms sleep 6~8 guests
- In-room AC
- Free use of laptop computers
- Free Wi-Fi
- Lockers with keys
- Kitchen w/ stove and fridge
- Combo shower-bath
- Hair dryers
- Bath towel rental
- Coin washers and dryers
- Free coffee, tea, and hot water
- Snacks, beverages, and souvenirs for sale in lobby
- Fully renovated in 2015
- Reservations accepted up to 3 months in advance
You’d never guess from the pictures that Kyoto Utano Youth Hostel is, in fact, a hostel. Maybe that’s one of the reasons it won the Most Comfortable Hostel award from Hostelling International. In addition to being gorgeous, one of the highlights of this hostel are the large public baths (one for men, one for women) available to guests in addition to shower rooms. They also offer a variety of in-house cultural experiences such as zen meditation, kyo-yuzen dyeing, and samurai and maiko transformation experiences.
29 Uzumasanakayama, Ukyo-ku, Kyoto
Website
http://www.yh-kyoto.or.jp/utano/index.html
Details
- Rooms sleep 2~6 guests
- Japanese-style rooms available for 5+ guests
- Luggage lockers available in rooms that sleep 4 or 6 guests
- Breakfast and dinner service available (price not included in stay)
- Japanese-style baths
- Self-service kitchen
- Coin washers and dryers
- Rental bicycles
- Free Wi-Fi
- Tennis court
- Free parking (cars, motorbikes, bicycles)
- Towel rentals
- Yukata rentals
Two words: night view. With guest rooms located on the 18th and 19th floors of this centrally located building, every guest room offers an incredible view of Tokyo. While great during the day, there’s something about seeing the city at dusk or sparkling with light at night that really makes you feel like you’ve arrived in Tokyo. Facilities here include a spacious lounge area equipped with a big screen TV. They also occasionally offer cultural experience classes like origami or tea ceremony.
Central Plaza 18F, 1-1 Kaguragashi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo
Website
http://www.jyh.gr.jp/tcyh/e/top.html
Details
- Dormitory rooms sleep max 10 people. Parties of 3 or more may use a dormitory room as a private room.
- Japanese-style rooms sleep max 6 guests
- Can accommodate groups of 10 and up
- Breakfast service available (price not included in stay)
- Lunch and dinner available for groups of 20 or more (price not included in stay)
- Shower rooms with communal bath available (one for men, one for women)
- Public computer (fees apply)
- Free Wi-Fi available throughout facility
Yufuin Country Road Hostel is a ryokan turned hostel, meaning you’ll get to enjoy traditional Japanese accommodations at a fraction of the usual price. What’s even better is that this hostel is in Yufuin, that famous spot for amazing natural onsen. YCR boasts its own iwashiburo-- an onsen surrounded by rocks-- where you can soak to your heart’s content. This is without a doubt the cheapest accommodation you’ll find with an onsen in the area. YCR offers guided tours of the area in addition to a rotation of original events, so be sure to check their homepage.
441-29 Kawakami, Yufuin-cho, Yufu-shi, Oita-ken
Website
http://countryroadyh.com/english.html
Details
- Single sex dormitory-style double rooms (bunk beds)
- Luggage lockers w/ key
- Japanese style private rooms sleep 1~4+ (co-ed OK; in-room TV)
- Dining area available
- Breakfast and dinner service available (price not included in stay)
- Nightly tours and other activities available (free)
If you’re the outdoorsy type, then plan a visit to Gunma Prefecture. Particularly popular outdoor activities include rafting and canyoning in the summer and skiing and snowboarding in the winter. Also, the natural scenery makes it a gorgeous place for a hike. It only takes about 45 min via Shinkansen to get from Tokyo to the city of Takasaki in Gunma (or just under 2 hours using local lines), so it’s a good destination for a weekend adventure if you’re planning an extended stay in the city. For accommodation, we recommend Tanigawadake Raspberry Youth Hostel. Here you can try the unique tastes of local cuisine as well as delicious sake (the proprietor of the hostel is something of a connoisseur). The hostel also offers free shuttle service to a nearby onsen, something for which Gunma is famous. (Note: the top page of Tanigawadake Raspberry Youth Hostel’s website doesn’t have anything written in English; however, you will find English information if you click on the category tabs at the top.)
75-5 Tanigawa, Minakami-machi, Tone-gun, Gunma-ken
Website
http://kaze3.net/razu/
Details
- Max number of guests: 20
- Single-sex dormitory-style rooms sleep up to 5 guests
- Guests under the age of 10 not permitted to stay in dormitory rooms
- Private rooms sleep 1~5 guests (co-ed OK)
- Family room w/ private bathroom sleeps 2~5 guests
- No TVs (go enjoy the outdoors!)
- Free Wi-Fi available throughout the facility
- Reservations accepted up to 3 months in advance
- Breakfast and Dinner service available (price not included in stay)
- Coffee, tea, and mineral water available free of charge
- Microwave and toaster oven available
- Nearest coin laundry facility is a 10 min walk from hostel
Do you have any hostels you’d like to recommend? Let us know in the comments. Happy travels!
Important: details of the facilities and services offered are accurate as of May 2016. For the most up-to-date information, please check the website of the hostel in question.
Tokyo Sumidagawa Youth Hostel
The location of this hostel makes it a perfect base camp for a stay in Tokyo. It’s only a twenty minute walk from the hostel to both Senso-ji Temple and Akihabara, Japan’s “holy land” of manga and anime. Furthermore, there is direct rail access from both Haneda and Narita International Airports to Asakusabashi Station, the closest station to the hostel. There are also a ton of dining options including restaurants, ramen-ya, izakaya, and cafes all within walking distance of the hostel. Just tell the super-friendly staff what you’re craving and they’ll give you some suggestions. This place is really popular in July and August, so make your reservations early!
Information
Address2-21-4 Yanagibashi, Taito-ku, Tokyo
Website
http://sumidagawayh.net/page019.html
Details
- Private rooms sleep 2~4 guests
- Single-sex dormitory-style rooms sleep 6~8 guests
- In-room AC
- Free use of laptop computers
- Free Wi-Fi
- Lockers with keys
- Kitchen w/ stove and fridge
- Combo shower-bath
- Hair dryers
- Bath towel rental
- Coin washers and dryers
- Free coffee, tea, and hot water
- Snacks, beverages, and souvenirs for sale in lobby
- Fully renovated in 2015
- Reservations accepted up to 3 months in advance
Kyoto Utano Youth Hostel
You’d never guess from the pictures that Kyoto Utano Youth Hostel is, in fact, a hostel. Maybe that’s one of the reasons it won the Most Comfortable Hostel award from Hostelling International. In addition to being gorgeous, one of the highlights of this hostel are the large public baths (one for men, one for women) available to guests in addition to shower rooms. They also offer a variety of in-house cultural experiences such as zen meditation, kyo-yuzen dyeing, and samurai and maiko transformation experiences.
Information
Address29 Uzumasanakayama, Ukyo-ku, Kyoto
Website
http://www.yh-kyoto.or.jp/utano/index.html
Details
- Rooms sleep 2~6 guests
- Japanese-style rooms available for 5+ guests
- Luggage lockers available in rooms that sleep 4 or 6 guests
- Breakfast and dinner service available (price not included in stay)
- Japanese-style baths
- Self-service kitchen
- Coin washers and dryers
- Rental bicycles
- Free Wi-Fi
- Tennis court
- Free parking (cars, motorbikes, bicycles)
- Towel rentals
- Yukata rentals
Tokyo Central Youth Hostel
Two words: night view. With guest rooms located on the 18th and 19th floors of this centrally located building, every guest room offers an incredible view of Tokyo. While great during the day, there’s something about seeing the city at dusk or sparkling with light at night that really makes you feel like you’ve arrived in Tokyo. Facilities here include a spacious lounge area equipped with a big screen TV. They also occasionally offer cultural experience classes like origami or tea ceremony.
Information
AddressCentral Plaza 18F, 1-1 Kaguragashi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo
Website
http://www.jyh.gr.jp/tcyh/e/top.html
Details
- Dormitory rooms sleep max 10 people. Parties of 3 or more may use a dormitory room as a private room.
- Japanese-style rooms sleep max 6 guests
- Can accommodate groups of 10 and up
- Breakfast service available (price not included in stay)
- Lunch and dinner available for groups of 20 or more (price not included in stay)
- Shower rooms with communal bath available (one for men, one for women)
- Public computer (fees apply)
- Free Wi-Fi available throughout facility
Yufuin Country Road Hostel
Yufuin Country Road Hostel is a ryokan turned hostel, meaning you’ll get to enjoy traditional Japanese accommodations at a fraction of the usual price. What’s even better is that this hostel is in Yufuin, that famous spot for amazing natural onsen. YCR boasts its own iwashiburo-- an onsen surrounded by rocks-- where you can soak to your heart’s content. This is without a doubt the cheapest accommodation you’ll find with an onsen in the area. YCR offers guided tours of the area in addition to a rotation of original events, so be sure to check their homepage.
Information
Address441-29 Kawakami, Yufuin-cho, Yufu-shi, Oita-ken
Website
http://countryroadyh.com/english.html
Details
- Single sex dormitory-style double rooms (bunk beds)
- Luggage lockers w/ key
- Japanese style private rooms sleep 1~4+ (co-ed OK; in-room TV)
- Dining area available
- Breakfast and dinner service available (price not included in stay)
- Nightly tours and other activities available (free)
Tanigawadake Raspberry Youth Hostel
If you’re the outdoorsy type, then plan a visit to Gunma Prefecture. Particularly popular outdoor activities include rafting and canyoning in the summer and skiing and snowboarding in the winter. Also, the natural scenery makes it a gorgeous place for a hike. It only takes about 45 min via Shinkansen to get from Tokyo to the city of Takasaki in Gunma (or just under 2 hours using local lines), so it’s a good destination for a weekend adventure if you’re planning an extended stay in the city. For accommodation, we recommend Tanigawadake Raspberry Youth Hostel. Here you can try the unique tastes of local cuisine as well as delicious sake (the proprietor of the hostel is something of a connoisseur). The hostel also offers free shuttle service to a nearby onsen, something for which Gunma is famous. (Note: the top page of Tanigawadake Raspberry Youth Hostel’s website doesn’t have anything written in English; however, you will find English information if you click on the category tabs at the top.)
Information
Address75-5 Tanigawa, Minakami-machi, Tone-gun, Gunma-ken
Website
http://kaze3.net/razu/
Details
- Max number of guests: 20
- Single-sex dormitory-style rooms sleep up to 5 guests
- Guests under the age of 10 not permitted to stay in dormitory rooms
- Private rooms sleep 1~5 guests (co-ed OK)
- Family room w/ private bathroom sleeps 2~5 guests
- No TVs (go enjoy the outdoors!)
- Free Wi-Fi available throughout the facility
- Reservations accepted up to 3 months in advance
- Breakfast and Dinner service available (price not included in stay)
- Coffee, tea, and mineral water available free of charge
- Microwave and toaster oven available
- Nearest coin laundry facility is a 10 min walk from hostel
Do you have any hostels you’d like to recommend? Let us know in the comments. Happy travels!
Important: details of the facilities and services offered are accurate as of May 2016. For the most up-to-date information, please check the website of the hostel in question.
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THIS ARTICLE IS BASED ON INFORMATION FROM 06 10,2016 Author：Rachael Ragalye
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