Name: Thank you Hippopotamus - Hostel
Address: 390-0875 Nagano, Matsumoto, Jousai 2-5-18, Japan, Matsumoto, Matsumoto, Matsumoto, 390-0875, Japan
Rating: 6

Smoke-free property

Heating

Garden

General

Luggage storage

Services and amenities

Common kitchen

Vending machine

Meals

Free Wi-Fi

Internet

English

Japanese

Languages Spoken

Bike rental

Recreation

No parking

Parking

Pets Not Allowed

Pets

Location

At the hostel

Matsumoto Airport

Thank you Hippopotamus - Hostel

Matsumoto

child-bed

child-bed-fee

external-private-bathroom

private-bathroom

shared-bathroom

10-beds

11-beds

12-beds

13-beds

14-beds

15-beds

16-beds

17-beds

18-beds

19-beds

2-beds

20-beds

21-beds

22-beds

23-beds

24-beds

25-beds

26-beds

27-beds

28-beds

29-beds

3-beds

30-beds

31-beds

32-beds

33-beds

34-beds

35-beds

36-beds

37-beds

38-beds

39-beds

4-beds

40-beds

5-beds

6-beds

7-beds

8-beds

9-beds

king-bed

queen-bed

limited-time

lounge

treatment

no-window

bay-view

bosphorus-view

canal-view

city-view

courtyard-view

garden-view

golf-view

harbour-view

inland-view

lake-view

land-view

mountain-view

ocean-front

ocean-view

oceanside

panoramic-view

park-view

partial-ocean-view

partial-sea-view

partial-view

pool-view

river-view

sea-front

sea-view

street-view

sunrise-view

sunset-view

water-view

with-view

annex

basement

main-building

1-bedroom

2-bedrooms

3-bedrooms

4-bedrooms

5-bedrooms

6-bedrooms

not-guaranteed

wired-internet-access

smoking

sauna

duplex

safe

mini-bar

breakfast-for-1

breakfast-for-2

pets-allowed

wi-fi

kitchen

As a long-term budget traveller, I'm not squeamish about hygiene and cleanliness. Still, this hostel has a very dirty kitchen, a run-down appearance (holes in all the shoji/paper doors, doors barely move), and just gives off a shabby feeling. Feels like young guys hanging out there, and financing their hanging out by barely managing a hostel.

While I might have been there at the wrong day (the staff who was there said he's only filling in once every two weeks), my experience in this hostel was awful. Short version, hostel staff unable to provide instruction for parking, then unable to get me past a racist parking guard.

Long version. Across very little to no English, I finally got a room booked (which was not ready yet, fair enough as it was before official check-in time). Then I tried to park next to the hostel, there is a very big city owned parking for 300yen/day, which is very cheap. The parking guard obviously doesn't like Gaijin, and just didn't want to let me enter. Lied to me and sent me around the block searching for another parking. I got the staff to translate, guard said I can't park here because it's election Sunday tomorrow, but there's another parking for the same price (more lies). I drove around with the hostel guy in my car, he finally had to admit the guard lied. But he didn't want to confront him about it. I asked the hostel guy if he knew another parking which is not too expensive. No idea. Asked him if he can call anyone who knows. Stammering, but no action. So I finally let the hostel guy run, and parked the car for 100yen/20min, went to the hostel, talked to Japanese traveller who HAD parked his car there, but didn't want to talk to the parking guard either. I talked to the hostel guy again, he finally said all people usually park there, and that the parking is not guarded over night. So I parked there over the night. Left early. Came back for an errand, parked at the side of the road, the parking guard comes running, "600 yen! Yesterday 300 yen! Today 300 yen!", he obviously saw my car on the parking lot. So I tell him that he should let me in next time, and I will gladly pay then. He doesn't understand English, I don't understand Japanese. He's trying to keep me from leaving, by force. When I get in the car, slams the windows with his fist. He's also 2 heads shorter than me, 15 years older, wears glasses and is intellectually challenged. Can't hit that. His guard friends stand around, do nothing, and want to be elsewhere. So I open the window, try to shoo him off. At this point he's shouting "No! No! No! 600 yen! No!". Crazy. He starts grappling again. I've had enough, shake him off, drive off under blows against the windows and threats. I stop at a traffic light, think about it. It's 6 bucks, and he's got my licence plate. Are the police going to be fair to a foreigner? I drive back, tell him what I think of him in my native language, and want to pay the 600 yen. He seems somewhat remorseful for completely losing his Japanese public face, leads me to the hostel, the guy in the hostel (not the one the day before) has obviously paid him the 600, so I now have to give HIM the 600. I tell him the story, but he has nothing to say, really. Obviously still too afraid to say anything that could lead to conflict with the parking guard. I understand you need to keep up Tatemae. But the parking guard didn't, and it was clear for everyone to see that he was just racist. To then NOT do ANYTHING about it if you're hostel staff and you have paying guests, that's not Tatemae, that's just cowardice and bad service.

Run-down, unable to help past a racist parking guard

Stayed in Matsumoto city as a base for Kamikochi and onwards to Norikura. The host is a very charming Japanese woman who has artist friends that spend the night in the area. I got to listen to them play traditional Japanese instruments and watch them plan out an upcoming play in a festival- the host explained them to in English. A small but with an artist vibe and open kitchen free of use- it's definitely a good value for my money. 

Being right across the Matsumoto Castle is a plus!

Good value and atmospheric

Matsumoto no Yado was a comfortable stay, and provided a great rest following the completion of the Alpine Route. The private room was quite spacious, however the shower space was a little cramped and shabby (and also the sandals that were provided were a little mouldy). I would still recommend this place however, due to its great location, friendly service, and affordability.

Great value for in-and-out travellers

It is a bit of a walk from station, but the most important sight - Matsumoto Castle is right across the street. Cool owner welcomed me with a free drink and I enjoyed my 2 night stay in a nice futon dorm. I just think the hostel needs a regular staff, most of the time there was no one at all, bathroom needs some work done as well.

Cool

It is the cheapest place to stay at Matsumoto, right across the street from the castle. The staff is very friendly and helpful. The place has an old and comfortable feel to it. The dorm,  like many places in Japan, doesn't have beds but futons that you can spread on the matted floor. Tea is free and the kitchen is full fledged with microwave, stove and toaster. Thus overall a value for money!! 

Thank you Hippopotamus - Hostel

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