My friends and I flew to Japan for last year’s Sakura season. We spent the first few days in Takayama and Osaka, then traveled to Hiroshima during the forecasted “full bloom” period. To our surprise, the full bloom was delayed by a little over a week due to colder-than-usual temperatures. We spent two days and two nights in Hiroshima and enjoyed the historical city, despite the large crowds.
We stayed at Santiago Guesthouse Hiroshima for our two nights in the city. This property will be featured as today’s Hostel of the Day. Read on below to find out if this type of backpacker accommodation is something you would consider for your upcoming trip to Hiroshima.
Santiago Guesthouse Hiroshima
Santiago Guesthouse Hiroshima is a budget-friendly accommodation located in the heart of the city. The property occupies the 3rd to 6th floors of a six-story mixed-use building. It offers 89 private and dormitory rooms across four floors, with the reception, communal dining, and kitchen areas located on the 6th floor.
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Location & Access
The property is located at 4-18 Nakamachi, Naka-ku, Hiroshima, 730-0037, Japan. It is situated in a quiet commercial neighborhood filled with shops, offices, cafes, and restaurants.
The Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and Museum is 700 meters away on foot, while the Atomic Bomb Dome site is 850 meters from Santiago Guesthouse. JR Hiroshima Station is just over 2 kilometers away, accessible by both tram and bus. Hiroshima’s Hondori Shopping Street is only 5 minutes on foot (300 meters) from the hostel’s entrance.
Santiago Guesthouse is 50 kilometers from Hiroshima Airport, but it is close to important establishments such as 7-Eleven, Lawson, and Family Mart convenience stores. The property’s location is perfect, especially for those who want to base themselves in the city for a few days while exploring.
Room Options & Cost
Santiago Guesthouse Hiroshima offers both private and dormitory rooms. The private rooms are available in the following configurations: twin room with shared bathroom, twin bunk room with shared bathroom, double room with bunk bed and shared bathroom, family room for 4 adults, family room for 5 adults, and another family room for 5 adults. These private rooms feature air conditioning, a heating system, comfortable bedding, a clothes rack, a table and chair, and a lamp.
On the other hand, the air-conditioned dormitory rooms offer the following bed arrangements: 8-bed mixed dormitory, female dormitory, and mixed dormitory rooms, all with access to shared bathrooms on the 4th floor. The dormitory beds feature Japanese-style bedding, individual reading lights, power sockets, lockers, and privacy curtains. Room or dormitory bed rates per night vary depending on the season and booking platform.
My friends and I booked our stay about 6 months in advance. I stayed in the mixed dormitory room for 2 nights and paid ₱1,342.09 after discounts. My friends stayed in the twin room for 2 nights and paid ₱5,660.43 (for 2 people) after discounts. Accommodations in Hiroshima are relatively affordable, even during the peak season. Be sure to book early to get the best possible rate.
Guest Facilities & Amenities
Guests staying at Santiago Guesthouse Hiroshima can enjoy the following facilities and amenities:
Free Fast Wi-Fi – Guests have access to complimentary high-speed Wi-Fi throughout their stay.
Shared Kitchen & Dining Area – The guesthouse features a shared kitchen and dining area near the reception.
Communal Lounge Area – Guests can relax and meet fellow travelers in the communal lounge area, located just beside the reception.
Clean Shared Shower & Toilet Facilities – The guesthouse offers clean shared toilet and shower facilities. The toilets are located on each floor, while all shower facilities are on the 4th floor. Each shower cubicle is equipped with bottles of shampoo and liquid soap.
Towel Hire – The hostel offers towel rentals for guests who do not have bath towels. The rental fee is ¥200 per towel.
Air Conditioning & Heating System – The entire hostel building is equipped with air conditioning and heating, which are used depending on the season and current weather conditions.
Drink Vending Machine – Guests can purchase drinks from the vending machine located on the 4th floor.
Tour Desk / Tourist Corner – The property offers tours and activities. Feel free to approach the reception if you would like to book one.
Lockers & Safe Boxes – Lockers and safe boxes are available for rent near the reception.
Coin-Operated Laundry & Dryer – The hostel has a coin-operated laundry and dryer, which guests can use during their stay.
Luggage Storage – Complimentary luggage storage is available for incoming guests on check-in day and for outgoing guests on check-out day.
Limited Reception Hours – Reception is open daily from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Guests arriving outside these hours should contact reception in advance to arrange their check-in.
Multi-Lingual & Friendly Staff – The property has friendly staff members who speak multiple languages.
Secured Hostel & Room Access – Access to the hostel and rooms is restricted to guests only. The main door is locked and can only be opened using a code.
Lift Access – The hostel has a lift that serves all floors. Guests with large luggage do not need to carry it up the stairs.
Hostel Experience
My stay at Santiago Guesthouse Hiroshima was just alright. It was not exceptional, but it wasn’t bad either.
The property excels in the following aspects. First, Santiago Guesthouse Hiroshima’s rates were affordable. My friends and I booked our stay 6 months in advance and got a good deal for both the dormitory bed and the private room. Second, the hostel’s location is quiet yet central enough to walk to Hondori Shopping Street, Peace Memorial Museum, and Atomic Bomb Dome site.
Third, the hostel staff were friendly and accommodating. The staff member who checked us in, Rilly, even gave us slippers to use during our stay. Fourth, the hostel’s communal shower areas were kept clean and tidy throughout the day. Lastly, despite the limited space, the hostel managed to fit in a communal lounge area, as well as shared kitchen and dining areas, which guests can use during their stay.
Santiago Guesthouse Hiroshima also has its flaws. First, my friends and I visited during the peak season. This meant that all rooms and dormitory beds were booked, leading to messy and smelly rooms. The staff struggled to keep the dormitory rooms tidy, given the number of luggage and bags inside.
Second, the communal areas were crowded at night, which meant that at times, guests’ noise reached our dormitory room on the 6th floor. Lastly, the property’s check-in time is at 4:00 p.m., one of the latest I have ever encountered in my years of traveling. I do not mean to suggest they change it, but I find it a bit unusual.
Nevertheless, it was still a good stay at Santiago Guesthouse Hiroshima. My friends and I got a good deal for the price we paid, and we would not hesitate to go back. I suggest you check them out during the off-peak season and avoid booking during peak times.
If you have any questions about the hostel or a potential upcoming stay, please feel free to reach out to them through the following channels:
Santiago Guesthouse Hiroshima
Address: 4-18 Nakamachi, Naka-ku, Hiroshima, Hiroshima, Japan, 730-0037
Phone Number: +81 82 545 8477
Email: hiroshima@sansansantiago.com
Website: www.sansansantiago.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/santiagoguesthousehiroshima
This ends up my post about Santiago Guesthouse Hiroshima. What do you think of the hostel? Do you have any questions about anything mentioned above? Feel free to post them in the comments section below. You may also send these questions to me via email to contact@thewkndtravel.com.
Thanks for joining me in today’s Hostel of the Day feature. Please also take time to check out my previous HOTD features by clicking this. You will find my other hostel reviews about Le Village Montmartre in Paris, The Bed KLCC in Kuala Lumpur, The RomeHello in Rome, Yesinn Youth Hostel in Hong Kong, The Stay Osaka Shinsaibashi in Osaka, Yeah Hostel in Barcelona, Imano Tokyo Ginza Hostel in Tokyo, and Z Hostel here in the Philippines.
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PS. Photos were taken using my OnePlus 9 Pro.