Hostel Of The Day – The Wknd Travel

Hostel of the Day: THE STAY OSAKA SHINSAIBASHI – The Affordable Osaka Accommodation I Keep Coming Back To | My Favorite Osaka Hostel

In the last two years, I have been to Osaka four times. Believe it or not, I only stayed in one accommodation. I enjoyed my first stay back in April 2023, to the point where I stayed in this property every single time I visited Osaka after. I will not gatekeep this any longer, and I will share my favorite Osaka hostel, The Stay Osaka Shinsaibashi, in today’s Hostel of the Day feature.

I have been to Osaka a few times in the past. If you are interested to know more about my previous visits, feel free to check out the posts under the Osaka category.

The Stay Osaka Shinsaibashi

The Stay Osaka Shinsaibashi is 2-star high-rated accommodation in the heart of Osaka. Renovated in 2019, the property has 134 well-designed private and dormitory rooms across 7 floors. The reception, communal lounge, and co-working spaces are found on the second floor.

A few years ago, I stayed with The Stay Osaka’s sister hostel, The Stay Sapporo, in Hokkaido. I also featured the said hostel in this website. I hope you can check out that hostel of the day post here.

Location & Access

The Stay Osaka Shinsaibashi is located at 1-14-29 Shimanouchi Chuo-ku, Osaka, Osaka Prefecture, 542-0082. It is in the center of Osaka, in a quiet neighborhood east of Shinsaibashi. The property is 2 minutes by foot from Exit 6 of Nagahoribashi Station (K16/N16) on the Sakaisuji & Nagahori Tsurumi-ryokuchi Subway Lines. It is 10 minutes by food from Exits 5 & 6 of Shinsaibashi Station (M19) on the Midōsuji Subway Line.

The hostel is 700 meters or 10 minutes away by foot from the Shinsaibashi Shopping Street and 1.1 kilometers or 15 minutes away by foot from Dotonbori/GGlico Man Sign. It is also near several local restaurants and convenience stores like Lawson, Family Mart, and 7-Eleven.

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The Stay Osaka is 25 to 30 minutes by train (Midōsuji Subway Line) from Shin-Ōsaka Station, 45 to 50 minutes away by train (Midōsuji and Sakaisuji Subway Lines) and airport bus from Osaka Itami Airport, and 50 minutes to an hour by train (Midōsuji and Sakaisuji Subway Lines, Nankai Lines, and Osaka Loop Line) from Kansai International Airport.

The hostel’s location is an easy 10 out of 10. It is close to everything one needs when traveling around Osaka. It is near the subway station, near commercial spaces, and is accessible to the airports via train.

In 2023, I stayed with another hostel in Osaka named Backpackers Hotel Toyo. It is probably the most economical hostel in the city with good quality facilities. You can check out my Backpackers Hotel Toyo hostel of the day feature here.

Room Options & Cost

The Stay Osaka Shinsaibashi has a long list of hotel- and hostel-type private and dormitory rooms that all types of guests can choose from.

The private rooms have the following configurations: queen room with private toilet, twin room with private toilet, triple room with private toilet, 4-bed bunk room with shared toilet, 4-bed bunk room with private toilet and mini kitchen, Japanese-style (futon) room (for 5 people) with private toilet, 5-bed bunk room with private toilet and mini kitchen, and 6-bed bunk room with shared toilet.

The dormitory rooms have the following bed arrangements: mixed dormitory room with shared toilet, female dormitory room with shared toilet, and mixed dormitory room with semi-double beds and shared toilet. Room or dormitory bed rates per night vary depending on season and booking platform.

I stayed with The Stay Osaka Shinsaibashi four times in the last 2 years, and I have booked the same mixed dormitory room (Room 701) with semi-double beds for all stays. Each semi-double bed features an enclosed (by curtains) space, a pillow and duvet, a safe box, in-room slippers, and toilet amenities, including bath and face towels. The room also features a large storage space and a small co-working space with tables and chairs facing the windows.

I paid an average of ¥4,322.13 per night, or ₱1,682.86 per night, with 11 out of 16 nights during peak season (long holiday weekend and Sakura season).

Guest Facilities & Amenities

Guests staying at The Stay Osaka Shinsaibashi enjoy the following facilities and amenities:

Free High-Speed Wi-Fi – All hostel guests have access to complimentary high-speed wi-fi both inside the rooms and in the communal areas. The connection is fast enough to accommodate those people working remotely while in Osaka.

Shared Kitchen – Guests can use the shared kitchen to cook meals during their stay. The kitchen is fully-equipped with a burner, pans, and everything needed for cooking.

Communal Dining Area – The hostel has a spacious and aesthetic communal dining area beside the kitchen.

Complimentary Tea, Coffee, & Ice Cubes – The Stay Osaka Shinsaibashi offers complimentary tea, coffee, and ice cubes to all guests. The hostel’s tap water is safe for drinking.

Co-Working Space – The hostel has a co-working space shared with the dining area on the second floor. Some dormitory rooms also have small co-working spaces inside the rooms.

Common Lounge & TV Area – Guests can chill and relax in the common lounge and TV area beside reception.

Clean Communal Showers & Toilets – The property makes sure that its communal showers and toilets are clean and well-maintained.

Air Conditioning & Heating Systems – All private rooms, dormitory rooms, and common areas feature air conditioning and heating systems.

Breakfast Service – The hostel offers breakfast service to those who avail themselves of it. The breakfast meals can be ordered for a fee the night before.

In-House Bar – The Stay Osaka has an in-house bar that sells alcoholic drinks and mixed drinks.

Vending Machines – The hostel has vending machines in front of reception.

Tourist Corner – The Stay Osaka has a tourist corner that has guides, city maps, flyers, and pamphlets with everything about Osaka, current promotions, and upcoming events.

Locker Rental – Guests can rent lockers for their valuables or other items when needed.

Free Boardgames Rental – Guests can borrow the boardgames near the lounge area and play with them during their stay.

Free Umbrella Rental – The Stay Osaka offers free umbrella rental during rainy days. Guests can freely get one when leaving the hostel and return it after use.

Coin-Operated Laundry & Dryer – The hostel has a coin-operated laundry and dryer, which guests can use during their stay.

Luggage Storage – The Stay Osaka offers free luggage storage before check-in until 3:00 p.m. and after check-out until 10:00 p.m.

Hostel Shop – Forgot to bring something? Fret not. The hostel has a small shop selling items the guests might need during their stay.

Seasonal Hostel Activities – The property hosts seasonal hostel activities to welcome guests from around the world. These activities are announced ahead of time in the hostel socials and on the noticeboards.

Long Reception Hours – The hostel reception is open from 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. daily. Check-in starts at 3 p.m. daily while check-out is allowed until 10:00 a.m.

Multi-Lingual & Friendly Staff – The hostel staff are all warm, welcoming, and friendly. They speak different languages including Nihongo, Korean, and English.

Lift Access – The hostel has one lift that goes to every floor. Guests who bring large luggage do not need to carry it via the stairs.

Designated Smoking Area – The Stay Osaka Shinsaibashi has a designated smoking area outside near the building entrance.

Secured Room Access – All private and dormitory rooms can only be accessed by using the assigned key cards during check-in. The key cards only work on your assigned room, the assigned floor in the lifts, and the common floors.

Secured Hostel Premises – The rooms can only be accessed by the guests. Also, the lift requires a keycard for it to go up. The main entrance door is locked every day after 11:00 p.m. The hostel is also equipped with a 24/7 security surveillance system.

Hostel Experience

I have stayed with The Stay Osaka Shinsaibashi several times in the past, and I will continue to stay with them every time I am in Osaka.

The hostel wins in some aspects. First, the mixed-dorm with semi-double beds is something I really like. I get the privacy I need for a fraction of the price of a private room. I also like that the room is spacious, has its own toilet and shower, and has a small co-working space or table.

Second, the hostel’s common area is my favorite. The common area is spacious and aesthetic. It is also perfect for those who need to do some work during their stay. It also has a fast and reliable wi-fi connection, ideal for work calls and meetings.

Third, the hostel offers complimentary amenities like shampoo, conditioner, liquid soap, coffee, tea, and even ice cubes. It is my first time to see a hostel regularly provide ice cubes to its guests. Fourth, the hostel’s location is one of the best in Osaka. It is in a quiet neighborhood near Shinsaibashi and near many Osaka sights like Dotonbori, Kuromon Market, and Namba. It is also accessible to the city’s public transportation system.

Fifth, the hostel’s rates are not the cheapest in the city but are affordable and reasonable for the location, facilities, and amenities they offer.

The Stay Osaka Shinsaibashi is not a perfect hostel. I also had some not-so-good experiences during my previous hostel stays. First, the common area can be very noisy and busy during the night when most guests are back from the days outside. There was one instance when guests were laughing out loud and shouting at 1:00 a.m. Good thing, the staff advised that group to tone down their voices.

Second, the dormitory room temperatures can be hot and uncomfortable at times. The dormitory room temperatures are controlled by the staff. There were instances when it went to the high and hot temperatures during my spring visits.

Even with these not-so-good experiences, The Stay Osaka remains to be my favorite hostel in Osaka. I enjoyed my previous stays with them and I am looking forward to coming back in the future.

If you have any curiosities about the hostel and about a potential upcoming stay, please feel free to reach out to them on the following channels:

The Stay Osaka Shinsaibashi
Address: 1-14-29 Shimanouchi Chuo-ku ,Osaka, Osaka Prefecture, 542-0082
Phone Number: +81 06-6251-3900
Email: osaka@thestay.jp
Website: www.thestay.jp/osaka/en
Instagram: www.instagram.com/the_stay_osaka_shinsaibashi

This wraps up my post about The Stay Osaka Shinsaibashi. 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, Yeah Hostel in Barcelona, Imano Tokyo Ginza Hostel in Tokyo, and Z Hostel here in the Philippines.

Before you go, I hope you can like, follow and share my social media pages – Facebook and Instagram. This will help me increase my reach; it will also keep you up-to-date with the latest blog posts, itineraries and flight reports on this website. Thank you and please watch out for more Sakura 2024 content in the coming weeks.

PS. Photos were taken using my OnePlus 9 Pro.

Hostel of the Day – IMANO TOKYO GINZA HOSTEL – Comfortable & Value Accommodation Near Tokyo’s Bustling Ginza District | My New Favorite Tokyo Hostel

Last October 2023, I, together with some friends, flew to Tokyo for a few days to re-visit the city we visited back in 2015. I spent 11 days and 10 nights around the city and stayed at only one accommodation, Imano Tokyo Ginza Hostel. Now that Oak Hostel Zen has closed permanently, I can tell you that this property is now my favorite hostel in Tokyo.

Join me in today’s hostel of the day feature and learn why Imano Tokyo Ginza Hostel instantly became my new favorite hostel in the city.

Imano Tokyo Ginza Hostel

Imano Tokyo Ginza Hostel opened its doors to the traveling community in 2017. This excellent property aims to provide comfortable accommodation, just like when one comes to visit a friend’s home. Imano offers both shared dormitory and private rooms across 8 floors above the exceptional second-floor communal lounge and co-working space and the ground-floor reception.

Location & Access

Imano Tokyo Ginza Hostel is located at 1-5-10 Shintomi, Chūō-ku, Tōkyō 104-0041. It is in the center of Tokyo, in a quiet neighborhood between the Tsukiji and Ginza areas. The hostel is 2 minutes by foot from Exit 2 and 6 minutes by foot from Exit 1 of Shintomicho Station on the Yurakucho Subway Line. It is 6 to 10 minutes by foot from Exit 4 of Tsukiji Station on the Hibiya Subway Line, from Exit A1 of Takaracho Station on the Toei Asakusa Line, and from Exit A3 of Hatchobori Station on the JR Keiyo Line.

The hostel is about 10 to 15 minutes by foot from famous places like Tsukiji Outer Market, Ginza Shopping Street, and Tokyo Station. It is also near several local restaurants and convenience stores.

Imano Tokyo Ginza Hostel is 1 train ride away from and to Narita International Airport via the Keisei Narita SkyAccess Line that continues to the Asakusa Line (and vice versa) from Takaracho Station. It is also 1 train ride away from and to Haneda International Airport via the Keikyū Airport Line that also continues to the Asakusa Line (and vice versa) from Takaracho Station. Given Tokyo’s extensive train system, there are also other ways to reach the property via other train lines.

The hostel’s location may not be near a local supermarket, but it is still a good base of choice when traveling around Tokyo. It is near various train lines, which makes it accessible almost everywhere in the city. Its ‘one train ride away to and from the airport’ also makes it a convenient place to stay when in Tokyo.

Room Options & Cost

Imano Tokyo Ginza Hostel offers shared dormitory rooms and private rooms, depending on what the guests need.

The hostel offers the following dormitory configurations: a 6-bed mixed dormitory room, a 6-bed female dormitory room, and a 4-bed mixed dormitory room. All these dormitory rooms feature bunk beds with individual reading lights, privacy curtains, power outlets, hangers, bag and shoe lockers, air conditioning, and safety boxes. These dormitory rooms also have access to shared showers (with shampoo, conditioner, and liquid soap), toilets, and wash areas (with hair dryers and kettles) located on every floor. Dormitory bed rates start at ¥3,400 per bed per night.

Imano Ginza’s list of private room options is as follows: Japanese-style single or twin room, 4-bed family room, and 6-bed family room. The private single or twin tatami rooms feature futon beds, in-room shower and toilets with wash basins, televisions, bathroom and toilet amenities, face and bath towels, and air conditioning. The 4-bed and 6-bed family rooms feature the same amenities as the dormitory rooms above. These are dormitory rooms converted into private rooms when guests or families book them. Private room rates start at ¥10,000 per room per night.

My friend and I stayed at Imano Tokyo Ginza Hostel for 10 consecutive nights. We booked our stay with Agoda, spent the first 5 nights in the Japanese-style twin tatami room, and paid ₱9,298.86 each. Another friend joined us for the next 5 nights, and we all stayed in the 6-bed mixed dormitory room. We paid ₱6,589.06 for all 5 nights.

In total, I paid ₱15,887.92 for all 10 nights, roughly ₱1,588.79 per night in an expensive city like Tokyo and neighborhood like Ginza. Not bad!

Guest Facilities & Amenities

Guests staying at Imano Tokyo Ginza Hostel enjoy these facilities and amenities:

Free High-Speed Wi-Fi – Guests have access to a high-speed internet connection available throughout the building. Those working remotely can also take advantage of this “work from anywhere”-friendly Wi-Fi connection.

Drink Coupon Upon Check-In – The hostel staff gave us a drink discount coupon upon check-in. The coupon was valid throughout our stay.

Complimentary Slippers – The hostel provides complimentary slippers to all guests. The slippers are only limited to 1 pair per person per stay.

Café & Bar – Imano Tokyo Ginza Hostel has an in-house café and bar. The café opens at 8:00 a.m. daily, while the bar starts operating from 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.

Clean Showers & Toilets – The property makes sure that its communal showers and toilets are clean and well-maintained.

Communal Wash Areas – Each floor has a communal wash area where guests can dry their hair, brush their teeth, or wash their faces.

Air Conditioning & Heating Systems – All private and dormitory rooms feature air conditioning and heating systems.

Communal Lounge & Dining Area – Imano Tokyo Ginza Hostel has a cozy, aesthetic, and spacious communal lounge and dining area. This communal area is also perfect for those who want to get some work done during their stay in Tokyo.

Shared Kitchen – The property has a small but functional shared kitchen near the communal lounge and dining areas.

Complimentary Water Refill – The hostel offers drinking water refill through the dispenser found in the small kitchen.

Outdoor Terrace & Smoking Area – The hostel prohibits smoking inside the hostel premises. They have the second-floor outdoor terrace as the designated smoking area.

Meeting Box Rental – Need to attend an important meeting during your stay? The hostel has a RemoteworkBOX near reception, which is available for rent for only ¥700 per hour.

Free Boardgame Rental – Guests can borrow the boardgames near the café & bar and play with them during their stay.

Free Umbrella Rental – Imano Tokyo Ginza Hostel offers free umbrella rental during rainy days. Guests can freely get one when leaving the hostel and return it after use.

Coin-Operated Laundry – The property has a coin-operated laundry on the second floor. Please reach out to reception if you want to use this facility.

Luggage Storage – The hostel offers free luggage storage to guests on their check-in and check-out days.

Locker Rentals – They also offer locker rentals for valuable items that cannot be left inside rooms and in the complimentary luggage storage. Feel free to reach out to reception if you want to rent one.

Hostel Shop – The hostel has a shop where guests can purchase amenities, snacks, and drinks or rent other amenities such as bath towels and pajamas. The shop is located beside the reception.

Seasonal Hostel Activities – Imano Tokyo Ginza Hostel conducts seasonal activities where checked-in guests can join. These activities are posted on their social media platforms.

24-Hour Reception – People arriving early in the morning or late at night do not need to worry about checking-in. The hostel reception is open 24 hours a day.

Multi-Lingual & Friendly Staff – The hostel staff speak many languages; they are also nice, approachable, and friendly.

Lift Access – The hostel has one lift that goes to every floor. Guests who bring large luggage do not need to carry it via the stairs.

Secured Room Access – All private and dormitory rooms can only be accessed by inputting the number combinations found in the room keycards.

Hostel Experience

I enjoyed my stay at Imano Tokyo Ginza Hostel to the point that it became my instant favorite.

Imano Tokyo Ginza Hostel wins in these aspects. First, the hostel’s private and dormitory room rates are competitive on the affordable side if we look at Tokyo, and particularly Ginza rates. The hostel has everything a traveler needs during his or her Tokyo visit. Second, Imano Ginza’s location is central but quiet. It is in a peaceful neighborhood away from the busy Ginza and Tsukiji commercial districts.

Third, the hostel’s second-floor communal lounge / work area is the best. They have high-speed internet, which allowed me to be productive at work for a few days. The tables have power and USB outlets, which can be used to charge laptops and phones. Fourth, the hostel provides free drinking water refills. It helped us save some money by not buying drinking water.

Lastly, Imano Ginza has a whole bunch of friendly staff. One staff member, Mai (if I remember it right), even went to us on the second floor to give us candies she bought during her weekend trip to Yamanashi Prefecture. Lovely!

The hostel also has its drawbacks. First, the shared kitchen is very small. Only one person can use it at a time. Second, for those traveling with large suitcases, the double or twin private tatami rooms have very limited space. The suitcases can only be opened on top of the beds.

Lastly, the dormitory rooms need better ventilation. The 6-bed mixed dormitory room on the fifth floor where my friends and I stayed for a few nights had this disturbing or unpleasant unventilated smell. This can easily be fixed by opening the windows and letting fresh air circulate for a few hours every day.

Nevertheless, I still had a nice and delightful 10-day stay at Imano Tokyo Ginza Hostel. I am happy I got the chance to try both their private tatami and dormitory rooms during this lengthy stay. I will be back in the future, now that it is my new favorite hostel in Tokyo.

If you want to see how the hostel looks in real life, their website has this feature that shows a 360° panorama view of the property. Also, in case you have questions about Imano Tokyo Ginza Hostel, please feel free to reach out to them on the following channels:

Imano Tokyo Ginza Hostel
Address: 1-5-10 Shintomi, Chūō-ku, Tōkyō 104-0041
Phone Number: +813 5117 2131
Email Address: tokyo-ginza@imano.jp
Website: www.imano.jp/ginza/en
Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/imanotokyoginza
Instagram: www.instagram.com/imano_tokyo_ginza

This wraps up my stay at Imano Tokyo Ginza Hostel. 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.

PS. Photos were taken using my OnePlus 9 Pro.

Hostel of the Day: YESINN YOUTH HOSTEL @ YAU MA TEI – 4 Nights in Hong Kong’s Most Economical Quality Accommodation for Less Than ₱5,000 Each

Early last year, my friends and I won free roundtrip Cathay Pacific Airways tickets from Hong Kong International Airport’s World of Winners campaign. We used these free tickets in December 2023 and spent 5 days and 4 nights around Hong Kong.

Spending four nights in Hong Kong can be expensive given the high per-night costs of quality accommodations. Luckily, we came across Yesinn Youth Hostel @ Yau Ma Tei. We stayed at Yesinn for all four nights and paid less than ₱5,000 each.

Join me in today’s hostel of the day feature as I share with you why I think Yesinn Youth Hostel @ Yau Ma Tei is one of Hong Kong’s most economical accommodations.

Yesinn Youth Hostel @ Yau Ma Tei

Yesinn Youth Hostel @ Yau Ma Tei is an affordable accommodation located in a 25-story building in Yau Ma Tei, Kowloon. Formerly known as Wing Shing Hotel, the property offers a wide range of room options for guests traveling alone, with friends, and/or families. The hostel has its central operations in the second-floor reception and has rooms scattered throughout the building.

Location & Access

Yesinn Youth Hostel @ Yau Ma Tei is located at 1B Wing Sing Lane, Yau Ma Tei, Kowloon, Hong Kong, Hong Kong. It is located within the busy Yau Ma Tei area, just a few meters by foot from the famous Nathan Road. It is about 5 minutes by foot to exit C of Yau Ma Tei MTR Station of the Kwun Tong and Tsuen Wan Lines, literally 1 minute by foot to the Temple Street Night Market, and about 15 minutes by foot to the Ladies Market and the Sneaker Street in Mongkok. The hostel is also near various local restaurants, supermarkets, shops, and convenience stores.

The property is one bus ride away (A21 bus) to and from Hong Kong International Airport and Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge Hong Kong Port. The bus fare costs HKD 34.6 per person, and the trip takes about 45 minutes to an hour, depending on traffic.

The hostel’s location is an easy 10 out of 10. It is in a small and quiet street off Nathan Road but is close to everywhere. Its accessibility to the airport through the A21 airport bus makes it more attractive and convenient for its guests.

Room Options

Yesinn Youth Hostel @ Yau Ma Tei offers a long list of room options for those who want to stay. The property offers both shared dormitory rooms and private rooms.

The hostel offers the following dormitory room configurations: an 8-bed mixed dormitory room, a 4-bed mixed dormitory room, and a 4-bed female dormitory room. All these rooms feature bunk beds with individual reading lights, privacy curtains, shared bathrooms and ensuites, power outlets, air conditioning, and limited storage spaces. Rates start at HKD 99+ per night if you book directly with the property.

Yesinn’s long list of private room options is as follows: standard single room, standard twin room, standard triple room, comfort bunk room, comfort double room, and quadruple bunk room. All these private rooms feature in-room bathrooms (with heaters) and ensuites, air conditioning, bathroom amenities (towels and toiletries), desks and chairs, cable televisions, kettles, hair dryers, and power sockets. Rates start at HKD 199+ per night if you book directly with the property.

My friends and I booked our stay with Agoda and took advantage of Unionbank Visa’s 15% discount at the time of booking. We got 2 comfort bunk rooms and paid ₱19,954.57 for 4 nights. Each person only paid ₱4,988.64 for 4 nights. Cheapo, right?

We asked the ladies to pick their room, and we got the comfort bunk room on the 15th floor. We arrived with little to no expectations given the price we paid, but we were pleasantly surprised with how our room looked. We got a small bunk room with a surprisingly big (Hong Kong standards) shower and ensuite. I told my friend that I had seen a smaller room and toilet during our 2018 Hong Kong trip. My friends and I were happy and content with our rooms, given their location, inclusions, and the price we paid.

Guest Facilities & Amenities

Guests of Yesinn Youth Hostel @ Yau Ma Tei enjoy the following facilities and amenities:

Complimentary Wi-Fi Access – Hostel guests have access to fast Wi-Fi connections both in common areas and inside the rooms.

Communal Lounge – The hostel has a communal lounge area beside reception where guests can chill, kill time, and talk to other guests.

Shared Kitchen & Dining Area – Guests can prepare food in the shared kitchen. There are also seats and tables that can be used while eating. The kitchen is also complete with cutlery, plates, glasses, and other kitchen or meal needs.

Daily Housekeeping – The hostel staff goes around and cleans all rooms every day. Guests can opt out of this daily housekeeping service by putting the ‘Do Not Disturb’ sign on their room doors.

Vending Machines – There are vending machines in the common area. These machines have drinks and snacks that guests can purchase with cash or an Octopus card.

Friday Movie Nights – Yesinn Hostel @ YMT hosts free movie nights every Friday at 8:00 p.m. All guests are welcome to join this movie night.

Free Boardgame Rental – Guests can borrow boardgames and play with them in the common area.

Hostel Shop – The hostel has a shop that sells basic hostel amenities.

Concierge Services – Yesinn Hostel offers concierge services. Printing services are also available for a fee.

Luggage Storage – The hostel offers luggage storage to guests who need to leave their bags before check-in or after check-out. Please let reception know if you want to keep your bags with them before check-in or after check-out.

Long Reception Hours – Hostel reception hours are from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. Please let the hostel know if you are arriving earlier or later than the stated hours. The hostel’s reception is found on the second floor.

Express Check-Out System – The property adopts an express check-out system where outgoing guests only need to drop their keycards in the mail box near the vending machines.

Multi-Lingual Hostel Staff – The Yesinn hostel staff speaks multiple languages: English, Cantonese, Mandarin, Korean, and Spanish.

Lift Access – All hostel guests have access to two lifts that run from the ground floor up to the rooms.

Secured Room Access – Room keycards are issued to guests upon check-in. These keycards only work on the assigned floor (in the lifts) and in the assigned room during the stay. It does not work anywhere else on the property.

Secured Hostel Premises – The hostel premises are equipped with security cameras and surveillance systems. The building entrance is also manned by security personnel all day.

Hostel Experience

I had an awesome stay at Yesinn Youth Hostel @ Yau Ma Tei. Knowing what affordable Hong Kong accommodations look like, I was pleasantly surprised by how nice this hostel is given the price we paid.

Yesinn Hostel is one of the most economical and value-added hostels in Hong Kong. My friends and I paid less than ₱4,988.64 each for 4 nights and got 2 comfort bunk rooms with private toilets and showers. We also liked the hostel’s relatively quiet location, but it was near everything. We were near Temple Street Night Market, Nathan Road, Ladies Market, Sneaker Street, and Mongkok. We were one ride away from Hong Kong International Airport. We were near Yau Ma Tei MTR station, supermarkets, shops, and local restaurants.

We also liked the number of amenities the hostel provided inside these comfort bunk rooms. We had bath and face towels, a television, a water kettle, a hair dryer, and toiletries inside the room. We also had a nice view of the city from our room windows. We also liked how the hostel kept the rooms clean and tidy every day. A massive thank you to the housekeeping staff who make up our room every day.

I, honestly, do not have anything to say negative or against the property. I have read reviews about a few things and experiences, but I have not experienced them. I will probably just warn the readers to manage their expectations regarding the room size. I can tell you the rooms are small to the point where one might not have space to open two medium- or large-sized suitcases.

Other than that, all is well with this amazing hostel. I will consider booking this again on my next Hong Kong trip, especially when I am on a tight budget. I hope I have given insights about the hostel, what they offer to their guests, and how our experience went. In case you have questions about the property, you may reach out through the following:

Yesinn Youth Hostel @ Yau Ma Tei
Address: 1B Wing Sing Lane, Yau Ma Tei, Kowloon, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
Phone Number: +852 5608 9966 / +852 3703 7333
Email Address: ymt1@yesinn.com
Website: www.yesinn.com/en
Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/YesinnYMT
Instagram: www.instagram.com/yesinn_ymt

This wraps up my stay with Yesinn Youth Hostel @ Yau Ma Tei. 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.

PS. Photos were taken using my OnePlus 9 Pro.

Hostel of the Day: BACKPACKERS HOTEL TOYO – Osaka’s Most Affordable & High-Quality Accommodation

In April 2023, I flew to Japan for the first time since the pandemic. I spent the first night in Fukuoka at Fukuoka Hana Hostel. The following day, I flew to Osaka with Peach Aviation and based there for the rest of the trip. I initially planned on taking the bus from Fukuoka, but I ended up flying because of an affordable flight.

I spent my first night in Osaka in the city’s most affordable, quality, and high-rated accommodation, Backpackers Hotel Toyo. I have seen this accommodation a lot of times when I planned my previous Osaka trips, but I only stayed here for the first time on this trip. Join me as I share with you why you should consider booking today’s hostel of the day feature, Backpackers Hotel Toyo, on your next trip to Osaka, Japan.

In case you missed it, I have been to Osaka several times in the past. Here’s the list of blogs related to Osaka: The Japan Series | 3 of 3: OSAKA (2015), Going Solo in Japan Series: KYOTO & OSAKA (2016), Japan Highlights 2019: UNIVERSAL STUDIOS JAPAN – A Theme Park That Brings You Back to Being a ‘Kid’ Just for a Day (2019) and Kansai 2023: OSAKA & NARA Photoblog (2023).

Backpackers Hotel Toyo

Backpackers Hotel Toyo is a hotel or hostel for budget-minded travelers. The property offers affordable, accessible, and comfortable accommodation options in the expensive city of Osaka and the country of Japan. The hostel is nestled in a multistory building in the quiet area of Nishinari Ward.

It has been operating for years, and it has maintained its good-quality accommodation. Backpackers Hotel Toyo is rated highly on booking websites such as Agoda (8.3/10), Booking.com (8.2/10), Hostelworld (8.7/10), and Traveloka (8.9/10). These ratings are as of early January 2024, based on over 7,400 reviews across all 4 sites.

Location & Access

Backpackers Hotel Toyo is located at 1 Chome-3-5 Taishi, Nishinari Ward, Osaka, Japan 557-0002. It may be a bit of a walk from the bustling Namba and Shinsaibashi areas, but it is close to Shinsekai, another popular area in Osaka. It is 2 minutes by foot to Exit 2 of Dobutsuen Mae Station of the Midosuji Subway Line, 3 minutes by foot to the East Exit of Shin-Imamiya Station of the JR Loop Line, and 5-10 minutes by foot to Shinsekai. It is approximately 40 minutes from both Kansai International Airport (KIX) and Osaka Itami Airport (ITM).

The property is in a relatively quiet neighborhood but is practically near everything. It is 5-6 minutes away by subway to Dōtonbori, Namba, and Shinsaibashi; 20 minutes away to Universal Studios Japan; 30 minutes away to Nara Station; and about 45 minutes to an hour away from Kyoto Station.

The hostel is also near convenience stores, restaurants, and izayakas. Its location is perfect; it is an easy 10 out of 10.

Room Options

Despite being a budget accommodation, Backpackers Hotel Toyo only offers private Japanese tatami mat rooms with shared toilets and showers. They have four room types: a Japanese-style single room without air conditioning, a Japanese-style single room with air conditioning, a Japanese-style twin room, and a Western-style twin room.

The non-air-conditioned rooms come with a fan during the summer season. The single rooms came with a small monitor, clothes hanger, and curtained windows. The twin rooms also come with a small refrigerator. All guests have access to communal shower rooms and toilets. Room prices per night vary per booking platform.

Here are the hostel’s rates (back in April 2023) if you book with them directly: Single room without air conditioning (¥1,700 per night), Single room with air conditioning (¥2,100 per night), and Twin room (¥5,000 per night).

I booked my stay with Agoda and only paid ₱823.91 for a night in a Japanese-style single room with air conditioning. I got assigned to Room 212, which was near the far end of the second floor. The room came with a tatami bed, comfortable sheets, and a pillow. It also had a small monitor, hangers, and a small dust bin.

Guest Facilities & Amenities

Free Wi-Fi Access – Hotel Toyo provides wi-fi access to all its guests.

Communal Lounge Areas – The property has two communal lounge areas on the ground floor, one near the reception and one near the kitchen and dining area.

Outdoor Terrace – The hostel has an outdoor terrace on the rooftop floor. It is a designated smoking area and clothes drying area.

Desktop Computer Access – Guests can freely use the desktop computers for whatever use they need them for.

Shared Kitchen & Dining Area – The hostel has a shared kitchen and dining area complete with kitchenware and utensils.

Shared Shower Rooms & Toilets – There are shared toilets per floor. Shared shower rooms are on the first floor. The shower rooms have complimentary shampoo, conditioner, and liquid soap.

Complimentary Water Refill – The property provides complimentary water refills to those who need to fill up their water bottles and tumblers.

Complimentary Morning Coffee & Tea – Hotel Toyo provides complimentary coffee and tea from 7:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

Complimentary Public Bath in Neighboring Hotel – Guests also have complimentary access to a public bath in a neighboring hotel. Please ask the receptionist if you want to check this out.

Vending Machines – There are two vending machines found near the reception booth. These vending machines have beers, coffee, soft drinks, and water.

Video Games, Consoles, & Boardgames – There are video games, consoles, and boardgames in the first-floor common area that guests can borrow and play with.

Ping-Pong Room – Guests can also play ping-pong in the ping-pong room on the 6^th floor.

Laundry & Ironing Facilities – The laundry and ironing facilities on the first floor can be used for an additional charge. Please approach the receptionist if you want to wash or iron your clothes.

Luggage Storage – The hostel can keep your luggage before check-in or up to 10:00 p.m. after check-out. After 10:00 p.m., the luggage storage fee costs ¥300 per night, unless you have an upcoming booking within the next 2 weeks.

Long Reception Hours – Hotel Toyo’s reception is open from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. Guests arriving beyond 11:00 p.m. need to contact the property before check-in for instructions on what to do.

Bicycle Rental – The property offers bicycle rentals for those who want to rent one during their stay.

Hostel Shop & Merchandise – Hotel Toyo has a small shop that sells trip essentials like razors and adapters. They also sell hostel merchandise such as shirts, tote bags, and even postcards.

Multilingual Staff – The hostel staff can speak in Japanese, English, and Chinese languages.

Secured Hostel Areas – The property is equipped with a 24/7 surveillance system. There are security cameras in the common areas and in the hostel communal areas.

Hostel Experience

I had a quick but valuable stay at Backpackers Hotel Toyo. I only stayed there for one night, but I already know why this property is highly rated by its guests.

Backpackers Hotel Toyo leads the game with its affordable and valuable price point. For less than ₱850 per night, the guest can enjoy a private room with a traditional tatami bed and air conditioning. This low nightly private room rate is rare in a first-world country like Japan.

The property does a good job of keeping their communal showers and toilets clean and well-maintained. They also provide bath amenities like liquid soap, shampoo, and conditioner. The hostel may not serve any food, but it boasts complimentary morning tea and coffee and free water refills for all its guests.

The hostel vibe is fun and social. Guests easily mingle with other co-guests. They can easily find mates to join and go around the city with. Lastly, I find it nice that the hostel showcases and sells their merchandise to their guests. The hostel takes pride in their accommodation and offers souvenirs for those who want to remember the fun experience they had on the property.

During my stay, I noticed some areas in which the hostel could further improve. First, the place is already starting to show its age. Everything still works fine, but you can see that the place has been there for a long time and might need some renovation in the medium term.

Second, the hostel might need to monitor the cleanliness of the communal areas more. The living, kitchen, and dining areas were not so clean during my stay. There were leftover plastics in the living room and other misplaced stuff in the kitchen and wash areas. There is a big chance that these were left by other guests, but I believe the hostel can implement stricter measures to prevent this from happening.

Lastly, the property does not have lifts. Travelers who bring large suitcases or big luggage need to carry them up to the upper floors if they are assigned on the upper rooms. I know this can be out of the property’s control, but I am putting it here for future guests to see if this will be a factor for them or not.

Overall, it was a lovely stay at Backpackers Hotel Toyo. I will surely be back at this property for its price, location, and vibe. I hope you can consider staying in this affordable, valuable, and high-rated Osaka accommodation.

For any questions or booking-related inquiries, feel free to reach out to Backpackers Hotel Toyo on these platforms:

Backpackers Hotel Toyo
Address: 1 Chome-3-5 Taishi, Nishinari Ward, Osaka, Japan 557-0002
Phone Number: +81 6 6649 6348
Email Address: info@hotel-toyo.jp
Website: www.hotel-toyo.jp
Facebook: www.facebook.com/hoteltoyo
Instagram: www.instagram.com/backpackers_hoteltoyo

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 & Z Hostel here in the Philippines. Before you go, can you visit my social media pages –Facebook & Instagram – and like or follow them? Thank you & see you in the next one!

PS. Photos were taken using my OnePlus 9 Pro.

2023 Roundup: Revenge Travel At Its Peak

And just like that, another year is about to end. Looking back at this year, I can confidently say it has been a year of peak revenge travel. I started the year without any plans, but I was able to take on more than the usual number of trips I take in a year.

Join me in today’s roundup as I look back on how this year went for this website and my travels, as usual.

Blog Roundup

I am ending 2023 with 36,000+ page visits by over 29,000 unique visitors from all over the world, a big jump from last year’s 16,500+ page visits by almost 13,000 unique people.

Content-wise, I managed to post 38 blogs (including this) that mainly talked about our 2022 trip to France, Italy, and Spain. I also continued sharing my flight experiences with Emirates, Vietnam Airlines, Vueling, Scoot, Air France, and many more. I kept featuring hostels from Europe and Southeast Asia; I also shared itineraries, day trips, and travel tips about the places I visited in the past.

I had a busy but fruitful year maintaining this passion project. I am a little bit behind, but I am keen on finishing a lot of content for you in the next few weeks and months. I want to thank you for sticking by and showing some love to all the posts on this site.

A Dream Come True Part 2: 24 DAYS Around FRANCE, ITALY & SPAIN For Less Than ₱170,000 ALL IN – Airfare, Accommodation, Food, Museum Tickets & Transportation Included

Trips Roundup

VIETNAM

I spent a week in Vietnam before their Tết Holiday last January. I flew into Hanoi, met new friends, and explored the city. I also spent a day in Hạ Long Bay. After Hanoi, I flew down to Ho Chi Minh City on business class with Vietnam Airlines for the first time. I spent a few days around the city and met with old (and new) friends after not seeing them for more than 5 years.

HANOI Weekend Photoblog: 3 Fun-Filled & Spontaneous Days around the Vietnamese Capital City
Flight Report: VIETNAM AIRLINES VN 219 – Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City – Wide-Body Business Class Product in One of the World’s Busiest Domestic Routes [January 2023]
Hostel of the Day: LONG HOSTEL SAIGON – Family-Managed Homey & Value Hostel Found in the Heart of Ho Chi Minh City District 1

SINGAPORE

In March, I flew to Singapore with Scoot with my relatives to celebrate my cousins’ birthdays. We went around Marina Bay, Bugis, Kampong Glam, and Orchard. We also spent a day at Universal Studios Singapore and became kids again with the kids.

I also took this time to reconnect with friends from college dormitory days and my previous 2019 Boracay trip.

Flight Report: SCOOT TR 397 – Manila to Singapore – Reasonably-Priced Early Morning Flight to the Lion City [March 2023]
Hostel of the Day: CUBE BOUTIQUE CAPSULE HOTEL @ KAMPONG GLAM – Budget-Friendly Property in the Heart of Singapore’s Muslim Quarter
Hostel of the Day: THE POD BOUTIQUE CAPSULE HOTEL – Dark-Themed, Futuristic & High-Priced Property Along Singapore’s Beach Road
Flight Report: SCOOT TR 390 – Singapore to Manila – Affordable Low-Cost Afternoon Flight Back to Manila [March 2023]

JAPAN – FUKUOKA & KANSAI REGION

For the first time since the pandemic, I flew to Japan for a week. I started my journey in Fukuoka, stayed only around the city, and hopped on a Peach Aviation flight to Osaka. I spent the rest of the week just walking around Dōtonbori, Shinsekai, and Shinsaibashi. I also took trips out of Osaka and went to Kyoto, to Uji for green tea, and Nara for Sakura.

Flight Report: PEACH AVIATION MM 158 – Fukuoka to Osaka Kansai – Future-Proof & Efficient Japanese Domestic Low-Cost Flight [April 2023]
Kansai 2023: OSAKA & NARA Photoblog [April 2023]
Kansai 2023: UJI – Do-It-Yourself Half-Day Tour Around Kyoto’s Green Tea Heaven + Kyoto Side Trip [April 2023]

HOSTED FRIENDS IN BICOL

For the second year in a row, I hosted Manila friends again in Bicol for the Labor Day weekend. Just like last year, we spent two full days on a private coastal beach and spent the rest of our time around Legazpi and nearby towns.

CEBU

Last August, I took a quick hop from Legazpi to Cebu to spend a random food trip weekend with my N9 constants. We went around the city, ate a lot of food, and enjoyed each other’s company for 48 hours. Like my 2022 Cebu trip with high school friends, we also went out of the city to visit the Sirao Garden and Temple of Leah.

AUSTRALIA

Two weeks after Cebu, I flew to Australia with my parents. I took them around Sydney for the first four days. We walked around the city and went to the Sydney Opera House, near the Sydney Harbour Bridge, to Darling Harbour, Chinatown, and within the central business district. We also took an afternoon out to the famous Bondi Beach.

We spent the remaining 5 days in Brisbane with our relatives, my father’s sister, and her family. We went around the city, drove up to the Australia Zoo, and drove down south to Gold Coast. I will post flight reports about our Singapore Airlines and Virgin Australia flights taken during this trip, so I hope you can look forward to those.

JAPAN – TOKYO

In October, I flew to Tokyo for a few days with my high school friends. We have been to Tokyo in 2015, but we have not been to many places. We went around the usual places like Shibuya, Ueno, Roppongi, Tsukiji Outer Market, and Tokyo Disneyland. We also went to Shinjuku, Odaiba, Ginza, and the new Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo – The Making of Harry Potter in Nerima City.

We also took a do-it-yourself day tour to Fujikawaguchiko and saw Mount Fuji in its glory. We were three days early before its first snowcap, but we just found another reason to go back in the future.

I have so much to write about our Tokyo trip. I hope you can look forward to these contents in the future.

DAVAO

Last month (November), my travel and buffet buddy got married in Davao. My friends and I flew to Davao to witness this very important occasion. We went only for the wedding and nothing else. We also took this chance to spend time with friends whom we had not seen in a long time.

HONG KONG

Early this year, my friends and I joined Hong Kong Airport’s World of Winners campaign and luckily won Cathay Pacific tickets to Hong Kong. We used the free tickets early this month and flew to Hong Kong for 4 full days. We went to the usual places like Avenue of the Stars, Mongkok, Ngong Ping Village, City Gate Outlets, and The Peak.

We also spent one whole day in Hong Kong Disneyland, from park opening to closing. We availed of Klook’s early entry tickets and immediately rode the two new rides in the newly-opened Arendelle: World of Frozen. Please look forward to my Hong Kong blog next year.

Bonus – US Tourist Visa

Another achievement I got this year was getting my B1/B2 United States Visa, which is valid for 10 years until December 2023. A day after arriving back from Hong Kong, I showed up at the Embassy of the United States of America in Manila for my visa interview. I got approved eventually and got my visa after four days.

I will write about the do-it-yourself process of getting this visa soon and post it, hopefully next month.

What’s In Store for 2024

You might wonder what plans I have for next year. At this stage, I am unable to disclose until everything is final or the trip has happened. I do not have a lot booked, but I am looking forward to whatever flight deals come my way this coming 2024.

Of course, I will not stop posting details of my previous trips, flights, and hostels. I have a lot of content planned for 2024. I am looking forward to sharing all of them with you.

2023 has been a great travel year for me. Thank you to friends and families who joined me on all these trips. Also, thank you for sticking with me throughout the year. I look forward to taking you with me on my future adventures! Here’s to more in 2024 and beyond.

I wish you, your families, and your friends a fun-filled and prosperous 2024! Happy new year!

Cheers,
Paolo ✈️