The location is excellent - very easy to access from the main station. The hostel was very bright and had a nice rustic design to it. Everything was spotless. The staff was very kind and always happy to help. There’s tons of maps and guide books available to help you find the best spots! Loved it!

The second floor was quite cold. Note though that my room came with its own heating which worked super well so the cold comment only applies to the shared areas (bathroom). They do however provide heaters even in the bathroom to deal with the cold so I didn’t feel it was a major issue.

Staff!! Interior design!! Graphic design!! The GOAT!! If you come empty handed and with no plans, the stiiiinking cute hand drawn map has the CUTEST recommendations for everything from restaurants, local jazz bars and onsens complete with details such as if you need to bring soap and tattoo friendliness for each one!! Everything was so well thought out and everything was personable and homely. I recommend half a day to just explore all the fun things inside the hostel itself - there are unique instruments and interior design details that will make your time worthwhile. The beds themselves were also very big, I could almost half stand up in them. Take-san was so so kind and sweet 🫰🫶🥹 He has the most chill vibes which set the welcoming culture across the whole establishment. Mayu was also so sweet 🫶🫰🥹 Would come back to Matsumoto just to stay here tbh, I wished I had booked for more nights 😌 You can also leave your bag there for a bit after checking out while you go explore, which was very handy!!

The staff was so friendly! They were two young people who spoke English well and were giving you advice about the area and easy to hang around with. The common room was filled with all kinds of instruments you could play and it was amazing! Good place to hang around and meet new people! The building is old and the traditional vibe really helps giving you this cozy Japanese atmosphere. It's also located closely towards the castle!

It was a bit warm and since it's an old building there is no AC. To me that wasn't too much of a problem, but I am a light sleeper, so the fan that was in our 4 person room was a bit noisy. Otherwise amazing place considering the price!

I had an absolutely wonderful stay here! I felt so relaxed and comfortable that I extended my stay by two nights. The owner provides excellent recommendations for activities and public transport, making it easy to explore the area. The atmosphere is very sociable, and the team does a fantastic job of engaging everyone. One night, we all enjoyed a takoyaki dinner together, where we split the cost of ingredients, making it a very affordable and delicious experience. The beds in the dorm were incredibly comfy, and there was plenty of space to store luggage. Overall, it was a fantastic experience, and I highly recommend staying here!

Walking from the train station to the hostel was beautiful. First you walk through a small town area, then through a temple area and then down a couple more small town street to the hostel. Upon check in you slip off your shoes and into some slippers. The check in process was seamless and the information provided and tour were handy. We would definitely book there again!

Laundry drying services end at 8pm, which made it hard for us to get our things cleaned because we were out exploring all day. That being said, we enjoyed the quiet evening atmosphere and ability to hang our clothes to dry overnight.

This is such a great hostel, we would definitely stay here anytime again. The host staff is so friendly, helpful and lovely. The kitchen and living area is very well designed, it feels comfy and cool at the same time. We easily met other travellers and had great conversations. The rooms are nice and simple, as advertised (traditional room). Also, everything in Matsumoto downtown is easily accessible by foot within a few minutes, and the hosts have prepared very nice maps with their recommendations of what to do and where to go. 10/10, one of the best hostels we've stayed in in all of Japan!

I booked a shared room which was perfect since I was solo traveling and didn't need much space. Staff was very friendly and gave a quick tour of the hostel. I would say I was pretty cautious about not making too much noise being in a shared room and sound proofing is not too great overall since this is an older building but didn't bother me too much. I think it's a perfect little stay for the 2 nights that I was there. There's also a kitchen that would have been great if I needed to cook but I didn't end up using it. They have a spacious area to just sit and relax outside of the rooms as well. Overall, definitely enjoyed my stay and will book here again if I come back to Matsumoto!

Could be a little noisy because of the poor soundproofing but generally, people have been pretty cautious about not making too much noise at night.

The hostel was easy to reach and located in a very convenient place. The kitchen was nice and spacious. The staff was also very helpful if you had questions!

It gets cold, especially in the unheated rooms. Upstairs, the toilet and washbasins were freezing which made it a bit uncomfortable to use. The futons were a bit thinner than we had in other places and we were practically sleeping on the floor, instead of on the futon. The cycles were a nice addition, but thinking back on it, weren’t that safe for the road. One of the four cycles swerves while another one’s breaks don’t seem to work.

Take, the owner of the hostel, is a very welcoming, friendly nice guy. He apparently runs the hostel all by himself with help from friends sometimes. He lives there as well. The hostel is well maintained, very clean and spacious. There are two mixed dormitories downstairs, two single beds and two three-bed rooms upstairs. Two toilets and a shower downstairs, and one toilet and shower upstairs. The place feels very homely. I met quite a few other solo travellers that night during my stay and we all had a lovely chat. It was a great atmosphere. Take even goes out of his way to recommend me dinner options and next day itinerary recommendations. Guy has a drawn map for evening and morning food options, as well as biking and walking route for sightseeing. For the nearby onsen, take prepares a shower kit for guests to bring for use over there. Honestly I felt well taken care of, in a safe and comfortable location. The living room and kitchen is free to use for guests. Matsumoto felt like a safe town too and everywhere was easily accessible on foot or on bike. It is a hostel I will visit again for sure.

The owner made many descriptive labeled diagrams in english for things to eat/do nearby, which were super handy. Free bike rentals and free use of the laundry machine (not dryer). I loved biking around Matsumoto— it was unplanned but became one of the highlights of my trip. Everything is extremely clean and the futons were very comfortable. The location is ideal for Matsumoto Castle or Nawate Street.

A little chilly during the winter!