Family Trip – Page 3 – The Wknd Travel

Flight Report: EVA AIR BR 277 – Taipei to Manila – Taiwan’s 5-Star Airline For An Affordable Fare

Last month, I ran a poll on my Facebook page & asked you, my readers, if you are interested in reading flight / trip reports in this platform. 101 out of the 107 respondents said they want to see this type of content here. A few weeks later, here I am, sharing with you the very first flight report on this website.

Coincidentally, this is also my website’s 100th post – YES!! I believe the best way to celebrate this milestone is to introduce this new section called Flight Report. This blog section will always include information about the fare & the flight. It will also tackle experiences about the check in & boarding procedures, seat quality, in-flight service & a lot more.

My family & I flew to Taipei, Taiwan (I know – wait for the newest Taipei posts in the coming weeks) about a month ago for a 4-day father’s day weekend trip. I’ve been to Taipei twice, one in 2015 with my high school friends & the other in 2017 with my colleagues / office friends. My mom insisted that we go to Taiwan (again for me) to have another family trip since our last was Singapore in 2015. Third time’s a charm & the trip happened. We flew with Evergreen Airways, commonly known as EVA Air, for both Manila to Taipei & Taipei to Manila legs.

EVA Air

EVA Air is a privately-owned & international full-service airline based in Taoyuan International Airport in Taiwan. It commenced operations in 1991 & since then has been flying to multiple destinations in Asia Pacific, North America & Europe. It is also Taiwan’s second largest airline, next to the flag carrier, China Airlines. The airline is Taiwan’s 5-star carrier certified by Skytrax, an international airline & airport review company.

Let me share with you my thoughts about our EVA Air BR 277 flight last month. EVA Air runs 3 daily flights between Manila & Taipei. The flight I am about to tell you was our Taipei to Manila afternoon flight. Apologies, I wasn’t able to get as much detail as I can during our Manila to Taipei flight because of its early morning departure. I was asleep most of the time on board that Airbus A321-200 flight to Taipei.

Airfare

My family & I booked our tickets about 4 months before our intended trip. Each economy return ticket cost USD 127.32 or about PHP 6,600+ in our currency. You might think this is expensive; but it’s not. My previous tickets to Taipei cost me PHP 2,700+ return, but only provided an airline seat & carry-on baggage. It didn’t include check in baggage, food or whatsoever; the schedules were inconvenient. Our ticket to & from Taipei included in-flight meals & entertainment, 30-kilograms check in baggage per way & free seat selection. If you try to add these services to my previous tickets, it’ll be pretty much the same cost.

Details of our Manila – Taipei – Manila ticket. Each passenger only paid **USD 127.32 round-trip**.

The fare we paid for was such a great deal for a return flight to Taipei on a 5-star airline. It was worth every single peso.

Flight

BR 277 from Taipei to Manila took 1 hour & 55 minutes in the air. The plane left Taoyuan Airport a little late but managed to arrive at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport on schedule. The flight used a 3.5-year old Airbus A330-300 delivered to EVA Air in 2015. The plane has 2 passenger classes – business class & economy class. Business class seats were at 2-2-2 configuration while the economy class followed a 2-4-2 seat configuration.

Check-In & Boarding

EVA Air’s Economy Class Check-in Counters at Taipei-Taoyuan International Airport Terminal 2.

Check-in & boarding was alright. We were travelling with a kid so we were always a priority during check-in & boarding. The ground staff assisted us to a special check-in counter while we boarded the plane first among the economy class passengers. I can’t say the experience was amazing or bad because I didn’t get to experience the usual process.

Seat, In-flight Meal & Entertainment

EVA Air offers a great range of in-flight services. First, seat selection is free of charge upon booking / online check-in. Take note that our fare is the lowest possible fare the airline can offer & with that, the seat selection feature is still free. The seat pitch of EVA Air’s Airbus 330-300 is 33 inches; pretty decent for me. The leg room was generous enough for it to be apt for a long haul flight. The seat was comfortable; it also featured an adjustable headrest. The seat pocket contained the necessary safety card, in-flight magazine & Duty Free brochure.

Such a generous leg room on EVA Air’s Airbus A300-300 aircraft.. Or maybe I’m not that tall? LOL

Second, in-flight meal was okay. It didn’t have the best taste, but it was decent enough to fill our stomach. And oh, they offered a full rice / pasta meal with salad & fruits on a 2-hour flight. Passengers can also choose the type of meal (low calorie, halal, vegetarian, etc.) they prefer up to 24 hours before the flight.

EVA Air provided a full rice meal with salad & dessert on a 2-hour flight from Taipei to Manila. 🙂

Third, each seat has a small touch screen monitor & an old-style remote. The in-flight entertainment had an acceptable range of movies & programs to watch. It also had a number of albums you can listen to. I wish they had more choices though. Every passenger is provided with a pair of earphones sealed in a plastic container. Each seat is also equipped with a USB port. The in-flight entertainment in my seat didn’t work for the most part of the flight. The flight attendant tried to reset it but it still didn’t function. It’s not a major issue since the flight didn’t last long.

Fourth, the cabin crew provided pillows & blankets to passengers who requested for it. Again, it is a short flight so add-ons like these are not expected, but props to EVA for having them on board (even if the supply is limited & it is only available upon request). EVA Air’s in-flight amenities on our BR 277 flight were excellent. I’m not going to complain. We got way more than what we paid for.

Lavatory

The flight only lasted for less than 2 hours. Unfortunately, I didn’t have the chance to go to the lavatory. Perhaps, I’ll check it out in my next EVA Air flight.

Cabin Crew

EVA Air’s cabin crew were alright. I only had a few encounters with them & with those times, not everyone was wearing a smile. There were one or two who were super nice & accommodating. I generally felt they’re like robots going around distributing food & getting food trays afterwards. I can’t blame them if they had to speed up their service but I think I’m just used to the hospitality of Southeast Asian airlines. It’s not the best & also not the worst, I’ve experienced worse in another airline.

Verdict

Overall, my experience with EVA Air on BR 277 from Taipei to Manila was great – extremely affordable fare for a full-service 5-star certified airline, with on-time flight departure & arrival, quick & special check-in & boarding process (thanks to my baby cousin), amazing in-flight amenities & so-so cabin crew service. I’m not going to judge the cabin crew on that flight & generalize that all EVA cabin crew are the same; perhaps that batch wasn’t having a great day.

Will I fly EVA Air again? YES, of course! They always offer extremely cheap fares to Australia, North America & Europe. I’d love to try their long haul product in the future, especially on their newest Boeing 787 Dreamliner. If you want to know more about our flight & the aircraft used, here are the complete details of it:

A glimpse of EVA Air’s new Boeing 787 Dreamliner. I’d love to fly this new aircraft in the future!! 🙂

Airline: EVA Air
Flight Date: 18 June 2019
Flight Number: BR 277
Route: Taipei Taoyuan – Manila
Duration: 1:55 hours
Aircraft: Airbus 330-300
Aircraft Registration: B-16336
Aircraft Serial Number: 1690
Age: 3.5 Years
Year Delivered: 2015
Engine: 2 x GE CF6-80E1A4

Have you flown with EVA Air in the past? Was it on a short haul or long haul route? How was your experience? Feel free to share your experiences in the comments section below. Do you have any questions about my experience or EVA in general? You can send it to me via e-mail to contact@thewkndtravel.com. I’ll respond as soon as I can. Don’t forget to follow me & please please please also help me in promoting my social media channels – Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.

One last look at the aircraft that flew us back to Manila last June ’19 – an EVA Air Airbus A330-300

Thank you very much for joining me in this very first flight report. I hope you are excited for the upcoming ones!

PS. Photos were taken using my HTC U11.

Japan Highlights 2019: MATSUMOTO & FUKUOKA Stopovers

Now, I’ve shared much detail about my recent Japan trip – from spending 36 hours in Tokyo, exploring Nagano in 48 hours to going around Kyoto for a day, riding thrill rides at Universal Studios Japan & playing with the sacred deer of Nara Deer Park. I’ve also talked about the hostels I’ve stayed with – Khaosan World Asakusa Ryokan & Hostel, Dot Hostel Nagano, New World Inn Osaka & Fukuoka Hana Hostel.

It was a beautiful, clear & sunny day in Fukuoka during my 22-hour stopover last February 2019.

There’s one more part I’d like to share with you to complete the details of this Japan 2019 trip. In between the places & hostels I mentioned above are 2 cities where I stopped for a few hours – Matsumoto & Fukuoka. Allow me to share with you the details of my stopovers in these cities.

Matsumoto

Matsumoto is a mountain city in central Japan; it is the second largest city in Nagano Prefecture. This very small & simple city is known for its beautiful castle & the view of the Japan Alps. I had about 3 hours of stopover in between trips from Nagano to Osaka.

I took about an hour trip from Nagano to Matsumoto via the local JR line. We passed by the snowy mountains & smaller towns of central Japan. Upon arrival at the station, I was welcomed by the beautiful view of the alps. I had a 3-hour stopover so I decided to walk around the city.

Matsumoto Castle

The city’s landmark is the country-famous Matsumoto Castle. Know locally as Matsumotojo, this is one of country’s original & most beautiful castles. It is a castle that is built on a flat ground rather than a hill or a mountain. This castle dates back to the ancient 1600’s & still has the majority of the original structure. Entrance to the castle grounds is free while a fee of ¥600 needs to be paid if guests want to go inside the castle buildings. I didn’t have enough time to inside the buildings; I explored the nearby streets instead.

One of the streets near the castle is Nakamachi Street. This street is full of ancient & preserved wooden houses that have been converted into commercial spaces & souvenir shops. There wasn’t much going on when I walked along the street.

Matsumoto Station

The city’s main hub is Matsumoto Station. Everyone that travels to the city by land drops by this station. This station is also an inevitable place to see when visiting the city because of its modern & clean facilities.

Japan Alps

One of the most beautiful views that welcomed me in Matsumoto is the view of the Japan Alps. I’ve seen the same alps in 2017 from Mount Fuji’s 4th Station but seeing them a bit closer was different. These alps run along the mountains of Central Japan, mostly in Nagano Prefecture. Most of the areas in Matsumoto provide a nice sight of the alps.

After walking around Matsumoto for a few hours, I headed to the Alpico Bus Terminal in front of Matsumoto Station & took the afternoon bus to Osaka where I met with my sisters.

Fukuoka

The second stopover I made & the last city I visited on my recent Japan trip is Fukuoka. As mentioned in my previous posts, I had to go to Fukuoka because it was from this city where I got my cheap flight back to Manila. Believe it or not, my Fukuoka to Manila ticket cost me less than ₱700 not including check in baggage. Cheap right? I got this on way ticket from one of GetGo‘s points sale last August 2018.

I’ve been to Fukuoka in 2016 so I decided to just walk around the city in this 22-hour stopover. I booked a night stay in Fukuoka Hana Hostel (again) & explored the nearby area by foot right before my flight. I went around the following areas.

Kawabata Shopping Arcade

My hostel was located along Kawabata Shopping Arcade. I took this chance to check on the local shops, restaurants & cafes in the arcade. The area is tourist-friendly though I find it catering more to the local crowd than the tourists. I still had a nice stroll anyway.

Tenjin

Tenjin is Fukuoka’s downtown area. Located about 15 minutes walk from my hostel, this area is full of shops, fancy restaurants & night clubs & bars. It is also where you will find most of the locals & tourists; also the place to see a lot of Hakata ramen places.

Canal City Hakata

Canal City Hakata is Fukuoka’s largest & most unique shopping complex. This 5-storey commercial complex has about 200 shops & restaurants & 2 hotels with canals running through the building.

One of the unique areas you’ll see in this shopping mall is the Ramen Stadium in the fifth floor. It is an area of 8 restaurants serving different flavors of ramen from various Japan cities & areas.

Kushida Shrine

Kushida Shrine is the Shinto shrine a few meters away from my hostel in Hakata. The famous local festival called Hakata Gion Yamakasa is being held in this shrine every July. I was there on a weekend so there were a lot of people in the shrine.

I only decided to walk around the area near my hostel because I was a bit tired. It was the last of 9 days in Japan & I’ve been out & about for the past days. That laid back last day was the one I wished for before flying back to Manila the same night.

So there you go.. This post sums up my stopovers in Matsumoto & Fukuoka & my February 2019 Japan trip in general. Thank you for taking time in reading my posts & sharing them in the online world. I appreciate all the comments, emails & messages I receive. They keep me going!

Do you have any question about Matsumoto, Fukuoka or the whole trip in general? Feel free to post them in the comments below or send them via email to contact@thewkndtravel.com. Can you do me a favor? I hope you can help me promote my social media pages to your friends & families – Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.

The end of a trip series means a start of another series. That’s right – watch out for my upcoming posts about my recently-concluded Melbourne trip with my N9 friends.

PS. Photos were taken using my HTC U11.

Hostel Of The Day: FUKUOKA HANA HOSTEL – Fukuoka’s In-Demand & Best Valued Tourist Accommodation

After spending 4 days & 3 nights around the Kansai Region (Kyoto, USJ & Nara), I had to fly to Fukuoka for an overnight stop before heading back to Manila. My sisters flew out of Kansai International Airport in Osaka on the same night I flew to Kyushu’s main city. I had to spend a night in Fukuoka & decided to book a stay in today’s Hostel Of The Day feature – Fukuoka Hana Hostel. It was the last of 4 hostels I’ve stayed with in this February 2019 Japan trip. The other 3 hostels I’ve stayed with are Khaosan World Asakusa Hostel & Ryokan, Dot Hostel Nagano & New World Inn Osaka.

I already stayed with Fukuoka Hana Hostel in 2016. In fact, I did a quick feature of the hostel in my Fukuoka 2016 blog post. I remember I mentioned in that post that I’ll stay in this hostel again if I go back to Fukuoka. I just did! I didn’t have the Hostel Of The Day section at that time. Now that I’ve started writing about the hostels I’ve been to, I think it’s the best time to share with you a thorough feature of Fukuoka Hana Hostel. This hostel is a member of the Hana Hostel & J-Hoppers Hostel Group.

Location & Access

Fukuoka Hana Hostel is located along the Nakasu Kawabata Shopping Arcade. It is the only hostel among the row of shops, cafes & restaurants in the arcade. The nearest subway station is Nakasu-Kawabata Station & is about 5 minutes by walk from the property. The famous Canal City Shopping Mall is about 2 to 3 minutes away by walk while the Tenjin area is 15 minutes away by foot. There is also a nearby 24-hour Don Quijote shop located 10 minutes away by foot.

Fukuoka’s main train station, Hakata Station, is a station away from the nearest subway station or around 15 minutes by foot. Fukuoka Airport is 4 stations away (10 minute ride) from Nakasu-Kawabata Station. My flight from Osaka arrived the airport at 9:15 in the evening. I got off the plane, picked up my baggage, walked to the airport station & arrived the hostel at 9:50 in the evening. It was that close! The nearest local supermarket & convenience store is a crossing away from the hostel.

Fukuoka Hana Hostel‘s location is very central & accessible. Everything a visitor or tourist needs can be found a few minutes by foot. The tourist spots can also be reached through the nearest subway station.

Room Types & Pricing

Fukuoka Hana Hostel is a medium-sized hostel that caters to both leisure & business travelers. The property has both dormitory & private rooms. The dormitory rooms (3-bed male, 6-bed female & 8-bed mixed) cost from ¥2,500 a night (seasonal). The rate includes free WiFi, a single bed with curtains, duvet & pillow, air conditioning & exhaust fans in a spacious room, a personal reading light & access to in-room or communal shower & toilet facilities. Towels are not included.

The private rooms (loft bed twin room, double tatami room & loft bed triple room) cost from ¥6,200 per night (seasonal) & has an in-room toilet & bath. Guests also have access to free WiFi & air conditioning just like the ones in the dormitory room.

Guest Perks & Amenities

If you’ve read my previous Japan-based hostel of the day features, you’ll know that these hostels provide a long list of perks & amenities to all of its guests. These hostels cost higher than the usual Asian hostel; it makes sense they give the guests more facilities to enjoy. Check out the following perks, facilities & amenities a Fukuoka Hana Hostel can enjoy.

Free WiFi

The hostel offers free WiFi to all its guests. The password can be obtained from the reception. The WiFi signal is available throughout the building.

Private/Common Toilets & Shower Facilities

The hostel has both private or communal toilet & shower facilities depending on the room configuration you avail. The 3-bed male dormitory room on the 2nd floor has its own toilet & shower area. Other dormitory rooms have access to common facilities in the hallway. These facilities include free shampoo & liquid soap.

Communal Kitchen With Free Coffee & Tea

Fukuoka Hana Hostel has a spacious kitchen area where guests can cook & prepare their meals – may it be breakfast, lunch or dinner. The property also has storage spaces & a refrigerator to store the guests’ food. Coffee & tea are offered for free at any time of the day or night.

Communal Living & Dining Area

The hostel has a spacious living & dining area where guests can mingle with the other guests or with the staff. There are a number of tables & chairs available for use. Guests can also use the desktop computers near the reception for booking flights, planning itineraries or for whatever use it can be. There is also a television in the living area which guests can use to watch news, series & shows.

Rooftop Terrace

The hostel also has a rooftop terrace where guests can relax while having a nice view of the river.

Washing & Drying Facilities

They also have washing machines & drying facilities on the rooftop terrace. Washing clothes cost ¥200 while drying costs ¥100. Check with the reception for the updated rates & times when the machines are available.

Free Luggage Storage

The property offers free luggage storage to all its guests. There is a dedicated luggage storage room right beside the reception area. Guests can leave their bags & luggage in that room on the days of check in & check out only.

Standard Reception Hours

Reception is open daily from 8:00 am up to 10:00 pm with about a 1-hour break from 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm. Check in time starts at 3:00 pm until 10:00 pm while check out is until 11:00 am.

Helpful Staff

Fukuoka Hana Hostel’s people are nice & helpful. They speak good English & make sure that all guests have a good stay. They even give out recommendations on where to go & what to do while in Fukuoka. Ask for tips on where to eat the best Hakata Ramen – they know where to go.

Guest Events

The hostel hosts guest events (or parties as they call it) at least once a week. These events range from takoyaki making activities to meet-up nights. It’s the perfect time to meet people from all the world & enjoy exchanging stories with these people.

Free Use of Board Games & Books

There are shelves full of books & guides which guests can make use of. All guests can pick up a book/guide & read at any time during the stay. Guests can play using the board games stacked near the shelves.

Bicycle Rental

The hostel offers bicycle rental to guests who want to explore the city by bicycle. Feel free to check with reception how much is the rental rate.

Secured Door Entry & Facility

The hostel doors are open every time the reception is open. After 10:00 pm, the hostel door is locked & only guests can access it via a secure code found in the hostel keys. The hostel is also equipped with surveillance cameras.

My Experience

Allow me to share my thoughts on how my stay with Fukuoka Hana Hostel went. I booked a night stay in a 3-bed male dormitory room via Agoda for ¥2,600+. I believe the weekend rate at that time was at ¥2,800 but I got a discount from my BPI Credit Card. The room I booked in 2016 is the same room I got for this year’s trip. I requested to stay in the lower bunk bed upon booking. Voila, the hostel staff reserved the lower bunk bed for me – massive thanks!

I had a pleasant one night stay in Fukuoka Hana Hostel last February. The staff welcomed me with big smiles on their faces. The facilities were clean & well-maintained. Everything looked the same since my 2016 stay. The kitchen, dining & lounge areas were kept clean & tidy. Check in & check out were smooth. Everything fell into place again.

Bought food for dinner in the nearby supermarket & ate it in the communal lounge area. Yum! 🙂

In a growing popular city like Fukuoka where hostels or budget accommodations are limited, Fukuoka Hana Hostel stands out to be the best. The nightly rates, location, service & facilities make the hostel the best-valued property in the city. I will say this for the second time. I will definitely stay again in Fukuoka Hana Hostel if I plan to go back to Fukuoka in the coming months or years.

If you have questions or clarifications with the hostel, feel free to contact them on the details below. Make sure to book your stay as soon as possible – they’re always booked out!

Fukuoka Hana Hostel
Address: 4-213 Kamikawabata-cho, Hakata-ku, Fukuoka-shi, Japan
Phone Number: +81 9 2282 5353
Email address: fukuoka@hanahostel.com
Website: www.fukuoka.hanahostel.com
Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/FukuokaHanaHostel
Instagram: www.instagram.com/fukuoka_hana_hostel
Twitter: www.twitter.com/hakatahostel

Let’s have a last look at the clean communal lounge & dining spaces of Fukuoka Hana Hostel. 🙂

Have you ever stayed with Fukuoka Hana Hostel? How was your stay? Feel free to share some details of your experience in the comments section below. I am in constant search for hostels to stay with & feature in this site. Do you have a cool or hip hostel in mind or maybe a property you’ve stayed with in the past? Share your suggestions below! You can also send your suggestions via email to contact@thewkndtravel.com. Don’t forget to follow me & please please please also help me in promoting my social media channels – Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.

Thank you for reading.. Until the next Hostel Of The Day feature! ✌️

PS. Photos were taken using my HTC U11.

Japan Highlights 2019: NARA – A Morning Visit To The Deer Park

After 36 hours in Tokyo, 48 hours in Nagano, a day being a kid at Universal Studios Japan & a lovely day around Kyoto, I accompanied my sisters to spend their last morning in Japan with the deer in Nara. This is the last city my sisters & I visited before they flew back to Manila the same evening. I’ve been to Nara in 2016 & I was delighted to go back & bring my sisters this time.

Our main reason for visiting Nara was to see & play with the deer. We really go there to explore everything Nara has to offer. I’ll probably put that as something to do in a future Nara trip. Let me share with you some details about this short but fun morning trip to Nara Deer Park.

Transportation & Access

As discussed in my previous Nara post, the city is accessible by trains from Osaka. The JR Yamatoji & Kintetsu Nara Lines connect the city to various points in Osaka. We took the JR Yamatoji line train from JR Shin Imamiya Station to Nara Station. I forgot how much the train fare costs because we used our IC cards in the trip. Journey takes about an hour per way.

We got off at JR Nara Station & walked towards Sanjo-Dori Street. This walking street full of souvenir shops, restaurants & cafes takes the visitors to the deer park. We dropped by a temple along this street before heading off to the park premises.

Applying for a Japan tourist visa soon? Let me help you. Check out these 4 easy steps on how to get your Japan tourist visa.

Kōfuku-ji

Kōfuku-ji is a Buddhist temple found along Sanjo-Dori Street & is one of the must-see places in the city. It is also one of Nara’s Seven Great Temples that played an important role in the history of the city, especially during the time of the Fujiwara clan. Make sure to check out the 5-storey pagoda within the temple grounds plus the various halls around it.

Tōdai-ji

Tōdai-ji is the most famous temple in the city. It is located just by the deer park & it houses the world’s largest bronze Buddha statue. This temple also has a large wooden gate at its entrance called Nandaimon Gate. Entrance to the main hall of this temple costs ¥600 per person. My sisters & I opted not to go inside the temple because of time constraints.

Nara Deer Park

Nara Deer Park is the place to see & play with the deer. These deer are considered sacred creatures in the Shinto Religion & are allowed to freely roam around the park. The deer do not bite or hurt the tourists but they tend to become really playful. The deer know how to ask for crackers from the visitors & know how to bow. They also know how to pose for selfies.

My sisters & I spent about an hour going around the park, feeding & playing with the deer. There were moments when we ran around the park because these deer don’t stop asking for food. Some of them, maybe those who are already full, just sit or lie down in one area & ignore all the people around.

Japanese Street Food

Right outside Tōdai-ji is a long row of stalls offering street food for reasonable prices. They have takoyaki (octopus balls), pork & beef sticks, yakisoba, ice cream sundae, chicken tenders, etc. My sisters & I dropped by for a snack. I got myself a pack of freshly-cooked takoyaki for ¥500.

This pretty much sums up our short but fun morning visit to the small city of Nara in Japan. It was a perfect morning side trip to see & play with the sacred deer. We rushed back to Osaka, had lunch in Ichiran, got our stuff from New World Inn Osaka & went straight to Kansai International Airport. My sisters flew back to Manila the same night while I flew to Fukuoka for an overnight stopover.

Have you been to Nara in the past? How was your visit? Did you enjoy feeding & playing with the deer? Are there other interesting places I should visit when I go back in the future? Let me know in the comments below & let’s engage in a discussion. If you want to be anonymous or if you have a question, you can also send me an email to contact@thewkndtravel.com. Don’t forget to follow me & please please please also help me in promoting my social media channels – Facebook, Instagram or Twitter. Many thanks!

Watch out for my next post about the short stopovers in Matsumoto & Fukuoka I had for this trip plus the post about the last hostel I stayed with in this trip – Fukuoka Hana Hostel. Thank you for reading & see you next time!

PS. Photos were taken using my HTC U11.

Hostel Of The Day: NEW WORLD INN OSAKA – Simple, Affordable & Modern Property Near Tennoji

UPDATE: New World Inn Osaka has ceased operations. I am keeping this Hostel of the Day feature to give tribute to such excellent accommodation.

Hello & welcome to the newest Hostel Of The Day feature on this website. In my last Japan trip, all my accommodations were hostels. I already shared with you some information about Khaosan World Asakusa Ryokan & Hostel & Dot Hostel Nagano, my hostels in Tokyo & Nagano respectively. I mentioned in my recent Kyoto post that my sisters & I decided to base in Osaka.

We decided to stay in an inn or hostel for 4 days & 3 nights while we explored the Kansai Region – Osaka City (for them), Universal Studios Japan, Kyoto & Nara. This accommodation is called New World Inn Osaka. It is a relatively new property located in the area of Nishinari, near Tennoji. We booked less than 2 months before our stay, but we still found this great accommodation for an affordable price.

Allow me to share with you some details about the hostel plus how my 3-night stay went in this lovely property.

Location & Access

New World Inn is a 3-storey hostel located 1-5-6 Taishi in downtown Nishinari-ku in Osaka. It is located in a quiet neighborhood about 10 minutes away by foot from Tennoji, Osaka’s one of the busiest stations. Popular Osaka attractions such as Tsutenkaku Tower, Kuromon Market & Osaka Tennoji Zoo are near the property. There are nearby restaurants, cafes & bars a few meters away from the hostel. The nearest convenience store is about a minute walk from the hostel’s doorstep. Believe it or not, there is a Don Quijote near the hostel, about 7 minutes walk, just across the Shin-Imamiya Station.

The property is very accessible via subway & JR lines. The hostel is about 3 minutes walk from the east exit of JR Shin-Imamiya Station. It is about 3 minutes walk from exit 4 of the Doubutsuen-Mae Station of the Midosuji Subway Line & also a few minutes walk from exit 8 of the Sakaisuji Subway Line. Namba & Shinsaibashi area are about 4 minutes away by subway. The hostel may not be in the super center of Osaka, but it’s strategic location connects all the guests to pretty much everywhere in the city & even in Kansai Region – Nara, Kyoto & Kawaramachi.

Room Types

New World Inn caters mainly to budget & business travelers. They have both private & dormitory rooms in the property. First, the property has a number of single private rooms. These rooms come with a bed, mattress & pillow, air conditioning & heater, power plugs, a small desk with a chair, mirror & lamp. The 2nd room type the property offers is the twin room. This room has 2 single beds, same features as the single room, but with a bigger space. This room also has a private balcony. Toilets & shower facilities are shared & are available for use on every floor.

The dormitory rooms come in a 4 & 6-bed configuration, all equipped with wooden-framed bunk beds. Each bed features a mattress, pillow, duvet, a reading light & a power outlet. Guests also have access to lockers located in each room. Just like the private rooms, toilets & shower areas are shared unless specified. There is a 6-bed dormitory room that includes a restroom, shower area & a powder area.

I booked my stay in this property via Agoda & Booking.com using credit card & promotional codes. I may not have the fixed rate at this point but rest assured that the room & dormitory bed rates are affordable & competitive enough.

Guest Amenities & Perks

Staying in a Japanese hostel comes with a long list of amenities & perks guests can enjoy. Check out the following offered by New World Inn in Osaka.

Free Wi-Fi

Guests have access to a fast & free Wi-Fi connection. Username & password can be obtained from reception.

Ground Floor Cafe / Bar

There is a cafe / bar in the ground floor. The hostel has partnered with this commercial establishment to check out the place for offers (if there are any).

Communal Lounge & Dining Area

Guests have access to a small communal lounge & dining area in the 2nd floor, right in front of the reception. It is the place where guests can relax & eat after a long day of exploring.

Communal Kitchen With Free Coffee & Tea

The hostel comes with a small kitchen complete with cooking & heating facilities. It also has a refrigerator where you can store food & drinks. Just make sure to put a label on your items. Coffee & tea are free & available any time of the day.

Common Toilets & Shower Facilities

As mentioned earlier, guests have access to clean & well-maintained toilet & shower rooms. These facilities are located in each floor. They even have female-only shower toilets.

Rooftop Space

The property has a communal rooftop terrace where guests can sit, relax & mingle with other guests. The terrace is open daily from 8:00 to 22:00.

Luggage Storage

Luggage storage is free of charge to all arriving & departing guests. Bags can be stored from 10:00 to 22:00.

Reasonable Reception Hours

The hostel has reasonable reception hours. Reception opens at 11:00 & closes at 22:00. Check in time is from 15:00 to 22:00 while check out is up until 11:00 only.

Nice & Helpful Hostel Owner

The owner of the hostel lives in one of the rooms in the 2nd floor. He is a super nice & helpful man. He makes sure that guests have a nice stay in his property. He even gives us suggestions on where to go & what to do.

Coin Laundry

New World Inn has coin laundry facilities. Washing of clothes cost ¥200 while drying costs ¥400 & lasts for 40 minutes. The laundry facility is open from 8:00 to 22:00.

Secured Door Entry

The property has a secured entry area. Everyone needs to key in a entry code to get through the door. The way going up the rooms is well-lighted. The hostel has no curfew.

My Experience

Let me share with you some thoughts about my 3-night stay in New World Inn. I got myself a single private room for around ¥2,700 per night. That pretty much is an equivalent to a dormitory bed in other Japanese hostels. My sisters stayed in a twin room on the 4th floor. My room was located just in the 2nd floor, near the reception & the communal areas. The room was just right for a single person, not much space for big luggages & other stuff. The bed was comfortable. The only problem I had with the room is its location in the building. It is by the main road so guests can hear all the cars & people passing by at any time of the day or night.

The facilities & common areas are modern, clean & well-maintained. The property interiors are simple but very neat to look at. The owner was really nice. The only thing I think of as a challenge to some guests is the absence of lift to the property. The hostel reception is located in the 2nd floor & it is a few steps up. It may be hard to go up with your big luggage but the owner is very much willing to help in bringing your stuff up & down the property. The property’s location is a winner. It’s 10 out of 10 for me & I will definitely stay here again when I fly back to Osaka.

If you want to know more about the property or if you want to check the rooms available for your intended stay, feel free to contact them in the details below.

New World Inn Osaka
Address: 1 Chome-5-6 Taishi, Nishinari Ward, Osaka, 557-0002, Japan
Phone Number: +81 6 6537 9140
Email address: Contact form available via website or Facebook page
Website: www.newworld-inn.jp/en/
Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/newworldinnjp

Have you stayed with New World Inn during your Osaka visit? How was your stay? Do you know other interesting or feature-worthy hostels in Osaka or anywhere in Japan? Feel free to share the names of these hostels in the comment section below. Who knows, I might consider that in my next trip to Japan. Do you have any questions about New World Inn or anything about Osaka? Feel free to send an email to contact@thewkndtravel.com. Don’t forget to follow me & please please please also help me in promoting my social media channels – Facebook, Instagram or Twitter. Many thanks!

PS. Photos were taken using my HTC U11.