ASO Base Backpackers

Excellent hostel experience. Rooms have comfortable beds and good basic amenities. Bathrooms and showers are extremely clean. They have a nice kitchen and common area with games, cards, and a nice wood stove. The owners are very friendly and speak good English. You can tell they really care about the place and want you to have a good experience. Met some other travelers who were super cool. This place is a go to for anyone traveling through the area.

I've visited this guesthouse twice already. It's very homey and comfortable. Although the kitchen and bathrooms are shared, they're very clean. They have a facility for everything, from cooking utensils to laundry. I loved hanging out at the common room and at the second floor balcony. The atmosphere is great. If I ever visit Aso again, I'll definitely stay here.

It is one of the best hostels I’ve been so far. I had a comfortable stay there. The place is clean and has good smell. They have washers and dryers for just 300円. They also have luggage storage to store your belongings before/after checkin.

Nice place to stay in Aso. They have a nice kitchen where we can prepare our meals. Cosy common area where we can discuss abt our hiking routes and travel plan. Everything clean and neat. Love it and will stay again.

This is a great hostel. It is very comfortable and clean. The bathrooms and showers are very clean with shampoo, conditioner and body wash provided. The private rooms are also very spacious. You cannot check in until 4pm but they have a luggage room on the side you can use until you can check in. I recommend this place. They also have a deal with the onsen across the street where you can get a discount if you purchase a ticket directly from the hostel. The staff is very nice. Highly recommend.

I had booked to stay here for two nights. I turned up early and was not allowed in. A mad popped his head around the door and said I could leave my luggage but was not allowed in. I had wanted to make a coffee as I was freezing. I had all my own cups and coffee. Not allowed to use area before check in. Most places allow common area use before check in. This was a bad start. I went around the town and Mt Aso. I came back at 4.05pm. Again the man popped his head around the door, this time allowing me access to indoors. After opening the door he run off. I looked behind the door and he had gone behind the counter. He never once told me to come in. So I looked and came in. Then he chastised me for coming in with shoes. I did not know to take them off, as he said nothing at all, not even a hello nor welcome. I went out, then I got my slippers from my luggage. He said I would have to ring the bell again. This place was feeling tense. He is quite an angry and unfriendly guy. The lady is very uptight also. Police Station kind of feeling. Anyways, they never asked for my name to check for my booking which is how things are always done. They asked for passport and for me to fill out a form. I did all this, and then they told me they had cancelled my booking. What? I never received any cancellation email. I said why? They said because I put on the request box prefer lower bed? I always do this, and have done this worldwide for years. They cancelled my booking because of this. They said they sent me an email. It's not right to cancel a booking due to someone requesting a choice. It was so uncomfortable just being in the reception area, and so much hassle and tension I left and took the train back to where I came from. All this nonsense happened whilst a pair of people where in the living room behind me. I don't think these people running the place are Japanese. It's run like the Korean places I stayed in previously. So regimental, rigid and cold. I could not wait to leave, despite waiting until the very late 4pm check in time. To think I wasted all this time hanging about. I could of caught the train so many hours before.

This hostel is very clean and comfortable to stay in the common area. They have some house rules but not too harsh so I can accept.(Just some simple house rules like have to be quiet after night time.) The only down side is probably the entrance where guests keep their shoes😅 I had to hold my breath everytime I change my shoes. This place is also near to Aso Station, within walking distance.

I have been traveling for six consecutive months, and honestly, this is the place where I have been treated the worst by far. From the moment we arrived, I had the feeling that we were not welcome. Everything is about rules and rudeness. The pinnacle moment was at checkout, which is at 10:30 AM, but at 10:33 AM, with our backpacks already outside, I returned the key. With much condescension, they told me that if it wasn't clear, the checkout time was at 10:30 AM and that I should leave the building immediately. We couldn't use the common areas, bathroom, kitchen, or anything. Fortunately, they let me retrieve some bananas that were in the fridge. To top it off, right at the entrance, there is a shoe cabinet that smells terribly of feet. The smell is truly excessive. Honestly, if you don't like people, it would be better not to open a business that deals with the public. I wish I had paid attention to the reviews that warned about this; I thought it wouldn't be that bad.