Name: Nozaru Hostel
Address: 2034 Hirao,Yamanouchi,Shimotakai-gun, Yamanouchi, Yamanouchi, Yamanouchi, 381-0401, Japan
Rating: 7

24-hour reception

Smoking areas

Smoke-free property

Heating

General

Family room

Rooms

Accessibility features

Accessibility

Laundry

Luggage storage

Services and amenities

Common kitchen

Vending machine

Kitchen

Meals

Free Wi-Fi

Internet

English

Japanese

Languages Spoken

Free parking

Parking nearby

Parking

Table Tennis

Sports

Family/Kid Friendly

Kids

Ski storage

Skiing

Skiing Off-site

Winter sports

Pets Not Allowed

Pets

Temperature control for staff

Extra decontamination measures

Temperature control for guests

Additional measures against COVID-19

Health and Safety Measures

Location

At the hostel

Nozaru Hostel

Yamanouchi

child-bed

child-bed-fee

external-private-bathroom

private-bathroom

shared-bathroom

10-beds

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king-bed

queen-bed

limited-time

lounge

treatment

no-window

bay-view

bosphorus-view

canal-view

city-view

courtyard-view

garden-view

golf-view

harbour-view

inland-view

lake-view

land-view

mountain-view

ocean-front

ocean-view

oceanside

panoramic-view

park-view

partial-ocean-view

partial-sea-view

partial-view

pool-view

river-view

sea-front

sea-view

street-view

sunrise-view

sunset-view

water-view

with-view

annex

basement

main-building

1-bedroom

2-bedrooms

3-bedrooms

4-bedrooms

5-bedrooms

6-bedrooms

not-guaranteed

wired-internet-access

smoking

sauna

duplex

safe

mini-bar

breakfast-for-1

breakfast-for-2

pets-allowed

wi-fi

kitchen

Nozaru is called a ‘hostel’ but it seems to be an older ryokan style hotel that is just in need of some maintenance and upgrading so is operating under hostel prices. The only ‘youthful’ aspects were the young (but very kind) staff and the casual common area, but the rest was as luxurious as you’d expect anywhere else. 

For around 60aud we had a private tatami room with separate sitting area, toilet, tatami bedding and a kotatsu, with access to a downstairs bathroom and wonderful indoor + outdoor onsen (which we were worried about from some of the reviews, but it was pristine.)

I was looking at facilities like this in other onsen towns for hundreds of dollars so I was really delighted by this experience.

Delightfully Budget-Friendly Ryokan Experience

I cannot understand the bad reviews for this place. I came here with two friends in August and it was one of the best ryokan-style places I've ever stayed in (despite actually being a hostel). 

This place is fantastic value for money, located in the centre of Shibu Onsen on a gorgeous street full of traditional buildings. The rooms are traditional Japanese style, and are clean, comfortable and decorated beautifully. You should not stay in a place like Shibu Onsen in a Japanese-style room if you have a problem with slightly harder beds and sleeping on the floor.

The lady at the reception was lovely, and even sent our shoes back to us after we forgot them! Cannot recommend this place enough as an affordable option right next to the monkey park.

Great place in the centre of Shibu Onsen

For the price we paid this place was really good. The lady that works the front desk was incredibly helpful and gave us some awesome suggestions about what to do in Yamanouchi. The rooms were clean but a little old, the place was a bit dark but overall for the price of a private room it was good value for money & the onsite onsen is pretty cool.

Good Value

We booked Nozaru Hostel because it was the cheapest (around 40€) in the area AND one of the closest stays to the Snow Monkeys. Which doesn't mean next door. You still either need to walk 45 mins or take a bus and walk 25 mins to reach the entrance of the park.

The bus (no.1) ride from the station to Nozaru Hostel takes about 7 minutes and leaves once or twice an hour. You get off at Shibuwagobashi Station and walk 4 mins to the hostel. It is quite a big building with 4 or 5 floors. The overall impression is a bit worn down and with some more dedication you could create a really nice hostel. They have an onsen on the ground floor which is used for the shower as well though it was not very busy. Our room was in the 4th floor and we had a nice view. Unfortunately you couldn't open the windows - they were taped. What we really didn't enjoy so much was the cold temperatures inside the room - especially when you have to turn the heater on every 5 minutes. The Japanese style sleep on the futon was fine though - covered in duvets. And one very positive aspect: It was spacious! Enough space for luggage and chill out sessions on the matress. The receptionist lady who seemed to be the owner spoke very good English and was helpful with everything we needed. It is just a pity that they don't put more effort into this place as it is perfectly located in the onsen street. 

We are not picky but in this case it is hard to rate "very good" or "excellent".

CHEAPEST IN TOWN. NICE HOOD. BIG ROOMS. ONSEN INCLUDED. "CLOSE" TO THE MONKEYS.

What is wrong with this hostel?!
1) Run by travellers who are unhelpful and often rude
2) Sheets/blankets do not smell clean and have lots of old hairs stuck to them and through them
3) Bathroom/shower in our room (304) was not functioning and we were not told, leaving us unable to wash our hands and with only the public shower in the onsen (meaning you have to be publically naked) two floors down to wash in!
4) Bugs in our room
5) Very poor quality and under maintained onsen
6) Useless WiFi 
7) Generally underkempt building and facilities
8) Very noisy at night with guests and staff and late check in despite a sign on the entrance door stating silence after 10pm and check in only between 4pm and 10pm. Somebody tried to check in to our room (meaning they would have needed to make up their traditional futon style bed) at 12:30am!

What is right?! 
....It is the cheapest place in town

This place has the potential to be lovely but has missed the mark at pretty much every step of being a nice place to stay. This is a very expensive area and they are clearly happy to just target the budget market but this misses the standards of even budget accommodation in this price bracket. 
I did not enjoy my two night stay here, I would not stay again and I would not recommend it to other travellers. Sometimes saving the money is just not worth it and this is one of those times.

Terrible!

Definitely not what was advertised. 
The hotel is not clean and has a bad smell. Futons are old and stinky. 
Onsen was dirty and had white things (mold?)  floating. 
Check in service is rude. 
Hidden fees increase the price (parking/towel/yukata). You could stay at a nicer place for a comparable price. 
Good location. Only positive thing I can say about this place. 

Nozaru Hostel

Main amenities of the hostel

Available rooms