Welcome to newest & also the first Hostel of the Day feature for 2019! Today, I’ll be taking you to Nagano, Japan. Last month, I went on a 9-day trip around Japan & visited Nagano for 3 days & 2 nights. Nagano is a small city & is the center of the Nagano Prefecture in Chubu Region. The city only has few accommodation options at the moment & even has lesser budget hostels available.
I stayed in a hostel named Dot Hostel Nagano. It is a budget-friendly hostel that opened a few years ago. The place used to be a traditional wooden house, was renovated & then converted into a hostel or shared tourist accommodation. I was lucky enough to score a bed in this hostel as most of the places to stay are booked out. Allow me to share with you some details about the hostel & how my stay went.
Location & Access
Dot Hostel Nagano is located less than 5 minutes walk from Nagano’s most important & famous temple – Zenkoji Temple. It’s about 5 to 10 minutes walk from Zenkoji Station of the Nagaden Railway. There are also multiple bus stops near the hostel. Nagano Station, the city’s main station is 1.8 kilometers away but still can be accessed by foot. The nearest convenience store is 5 to 10 minutes away by foot while the nearest supermarket is by the shopping street about 15 minutes walk from the hostel doors.
There isn’t much to do & to go to in Nagano so having an accommodation near the city’s main temple is just perfect. The hostel’s location was also perfect for early morning & late night walks around the temple grounds.
Room Configuration & Rates
Dot Hostel Nagano is a small hostel; they can only accommodate up to 15 guests. The hostel has 1 x 6-bed mixed dormitory room (¥2,600 a bed per night), 1 x 6-bed female dormitory room (¥2,600 a bed per night), a double tatami room (¥6,000 per night) & a single room (¥3,800 per night). All guests have access to the hostel’s common facilities.
I got myself a bed in the 6-bed mixed dormitory room. I paid a little over ¥4,300 for 2 nights from the initial rate of ¥4,800 (¥2,400 per night). Thanks to Traveloka‘s weekly promotion! The dormitory beds feature Japanese style bedding (with duvet covers), privacy curtains, a universal plug & personal reading lights. All rooms have air conditioning & fans. They were of no use during my stay because it was winter. The rooms do not have lockers but are spacious enough to put in your stuff. Just make sure to secure your bags them with padlocks.
Guest Perks
Dot Hostel Nagano may not be a large-scale hostel yet it still provides the usual facilities & amenities. Check out these perks every guest can enjoy.
Free WiFi
All hostel guests have access to free WiFi. Username & password are given to the guests upon check in. The hostel WiFi was fast just like any other internet connection in Japan.
Free Breakfast
The hostel offers free breakfast of toast & jam to all its guests. The food is available as early as 6:30 am until 9:30 am. Coffee & tea are also available & offered for free. These drinks are available 24/7.
Common Toilet & Shower
All guests have access to a communal but separate toilet & shower on the ground floor. Both small areas are clean & well-maintained.
Communal Kitchen & Food Storage Area
Just like any other hostel in Japan, Dot Hostel Nagano also has a communal kitchen open for all. The kitchen has microwave ovens & an oven toaster which can be used to reheat cooked food. Guests can also cook their own meals in the kitchen provided with complete cooking materials. There is also a big fridge where guests’ food can be stored.
Common Dining & Lounge Area
The hostel has a small dining & lounge area right in front of the hostel reception. It is where the guests kill time, eat & interact with other guests. I had 2 great nights in this common area; I met people from all over the world & even shared interesting stories & experiences. The vibe is very social even if it’s only a small hostel.
Free Luggage Storage
The hostel offers free luggage storage to all its guests on the day of check in & check out. Reception opens at 8:30 in the morning & closes around 10:00 in the evening. The luggage storage area is the small space just by the reception.
Exceptional Guest Services
The staff provides exceptional services. They are nice & helpful. They even give out recommendations on where to go, what to do & where to eat. They also speak very good English.
Sake Bar
The hostel reception is also a sake bar. Dot Hostel Nagano offers some local sake variants & other alcoholic drinks. If I remember it right, the price of one order of sake is ¥400. I didn’t have the chance to try it though, maybe when I come back in the future.
Bicycle Rental
Guests can rent bicycles from the hostel. Feel free to check with reception for rates; don’t forget to ask if they have an ongoing promotion on rental fees.
Laundry Services
Guests who need to wash their clothes can take advantage of the laundry machine near the shower room. I forgot if the laundry charge is per use or if the guest pay for the soap. You can always check with the staff if you plan to avail this service.
Verdict
Overall, I had a great stay in Dot Hostel Nagano. I didn’t expect to have this kind of hostel in such a small & relatively unpopular city of Nagano. The hostel may be small in size & capacity but its facilities & amenities are at par with the large hostels I’ve stayed with in Tokyo, Kyoto & Osaka. Location is very central, pretty much close to everywhere. The facility is well-maintained; the staff are super nice & accommodating. You may not have a lot of choices of hotels or hostels to stay in Nagano but make sure to put this on top of your list. Book early. They tend to get booked out in most days.
Do you want to have any questions about the hostel? Do you want to book an upcoming stay in Dot Hostel Nagano? Feel free to contact them on the details below.
Dot Hostel Nagano
Address: 379 Higashinomon, Nagano, 380-0852, Japan
Phone Number: +81 26 219 6769
Email Address: dothostel.nagano@gmail.com
Website: www.dothostel-nagano.com
Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/dothostel.nagano
Instagram: www.instagram.com/dot_hostel_nagano
Have you been to Nagano before? Where did you stay? Watch out for my post about my 3-day stay in the city. Believe it or not, I saw some snow monkeys! For the meantime, feel free to post your questions, comments & thoughts in the visitor section below. You can also send me an email to contact@thewkndtravel.com if you’re shy enough to comment. Make sure to follow me & please also help me in promoting my social media channels – Facebook, Instagram or Twitter. Ciao!
PS. Photos were taken using my HTC U11.