Nui. Hostel & Bar Lounge
"How did it strike you on arrival?Where there's a warehouse district, there's a hipster to repurpose it. It's no different at Nui., a hostel in Kuramae located within a former toy factory. And the hostel? That’s just the half of it, because Nui.'s space doubles as a coffee bar and lounge. Leave it to Tokyo to pull off treehouse vibes—at ground level, because the hip entrance is raw and industrial, with an actual segment of a tree near its center. Handcrafted wooden stools, chairs, and benches are arranged on poured concrete, while a buzzy coffee bar churns espresso and cheap pain au chocolat. Nice. What’s the crowd like?A mix of foreign travelers (staying at the hostel) and locals (sipping espresso). Everyone is young, but there's not a kid in sight. The good stuff: Tell us about your room.A handful of private rooms are available, as well as a female-only dorms, but the Mixed Dormitory is common ground. Eight hand-crafted wooden bunk beds are sturdy and include basic features: a reading lamp, electrical outlet, and a curtain. The room itself is compact, but not austere, with green-tinged concrete floors and bamboo privacy shades. We’re craving some deep, restorative sleep. They got us?The bed is cozy enough with charcoal-colored sheets. It's cramped—no surprise for a bunk—but clean. How about the little things, like mini bar, or shower goodies. Any of that find its way into your suitcase?It’s BYOT (you know, bring your own towel) unless you're staying in a private room, which comes with towels. There's shampoo, body soap, and even hand soap, but don't have high expectations for anything extra (like conditioner). Maybe the most important topic of all: Wi-Fi. What’s the word?Free Wi-Fi. Room service: Worth it?Room service? What room service? Staff: If you could award one a trophy, who gets it, and why?The whole team is young, hip, and above all, friendly. Of course, everyone knows that in times of need (i.e., in times of jet lag), a good barista is a hero. Anything stand out about other services and features? Whether it’s childcare, gyms, spas, even parking—whatever stuck with you.Access to a communal kitchen and a top-floor library is part of the whole picture; both are well-designed and well-equipped (coffee, tea, travel magazines, and even laptops). The rentable bikes are a great perk, too. What was most memorable—or heartbreaking—about your stay?The location isn't inconvenient, per se (it's a short walk to a subway stop), but it's not exactly walking distance to any of the attractions on the typical tourist's bucket list. Bottom line: worth it, and why?It's worth it for the conversation and the cool-factor, but when it comes to the small stuff, it doesn't go above and beyond with amenities." - Keith Flanagan
