Hostel Zen

An older building where updates are tastefully applied where you would hope. My rooms was fine tatami, the bed extremely comfortable. The staff keep the facilities very clean throughout the day. Quiet restful sleep. Within walking distance to quite a lot. Two grocers nearby. Internet was 85mbps.

Hostel Zen is actually two seemingly very different Hostels under one name. I was staying in the ANNEX building, rather than their main(?) one. As a result, if this comes across as particularly harsh for a review, its because I stayed in the worst of the two options. I don't think I got ripped off for the money I paid to stay here, but I definitely don't think it was any better than other options in the area. The location isn't bad, but I understand if other people are thrown off by the "vibe" of the surrounding area. Not too far from a metro station, it lacks the flexibility of hostels elsewhere around Yokohama/Tokyo. Cleanliness is a bit of a mixed bag. The showers aren't very pretty, but the rooms/corridors are clean for what you pay for. Maybe it's just because the building is old and the color scheme reminds me of school in the 90s... Staff - uhh... I had a minor interaction with someone at the door once, and the only other person I even spoke to showed me to my room. Can't confirm the staff are just ghosts. Probably the worst hostel during my stay in Japan for facilities, but I was one foot out the door by that point, basically. The only hostel where I had to pay for a shower.

Great location near to Yokohama china town, and only 5 mins walk from train station, room is small but tidy and clean, shared toilets and bathrooms, you cannot ask for more at this price, one thing I have to point out if you’re with big and heavy luggage you must ready to handle it as the building has no lift.

Don’t judge a book by its cover. This hostel is located on the edge of a “slum” district which has seen many generations of poverty. Arriving at night, it can be a scary seeming place. Homelessness, drunkenness and disability not seen so much elsewhere in Japan are on display and you might get your fair share of funny looks. The hostel is within an old apartment complex that smells strongly of cigarette smoke, is grimy and full of the city’s unwanted. The rooms are small and don’t match the lovely pictures of bright and spacious rooms. They are however clean and free of the smoke smell elsewhere in the building. The toilets are also clean and well stocked, the shower not so much. Despite all this, you will wake up in the hostel to a very different place. The woman who serves the breakfast is lovely and feels like a long lost mother taking care of you. The breakfast itself is a simple affair but it is served with care and love and can be enjoyed on the terrace surrounded by little plants. The people on the street will smile at you and the stray cats of the neighbourhood will come out to grace you with their presence. Maybe not for the faint of heart or solo women, but this place is worth a stay to see something different in Japan, and fantastic value for the price.

I've stayed here a bunch of times and loved it! Even one of my kids was *probably* conceived here!! It used to be my go-to, but they've let it go so bad. It used to be so clean and quiet and for the money you couldn't go wrong. This time the walls are covered in mould and it smells mouldy too. I'm not sure it would meet code to be fair. The walls have cracks and wallpaper is coming off. My room was situated next to the office and I had the communal fridge outside my door, so there was coming and going all (and i mean ALL) night, and people using the kitchen at stupid hours, which should be addressed by management. I hardly slept in 3 days. I'm not sure the airconditioner was removing any moisture at all because as soon as I changed temperature, everything got condensation on it. It seems Management knows about it because there were several moisture absorbers dotted quietly around the room. Honestly so disappointed but staying for three nights on the cheap it felt not worth it to say anything.

People who complain about neighbourhood are partially right, because it's indeed not the best (a lot of cheap hostels there). But actually, it is still safe. (It is Japan!) And yes, you get a WHOLE ROOM, and not just a capsule like in another hostels.A young girl like me was completely okay and nothing bad happened during my four days stay there. The staff is friendly. I walked through all the Yokohama by feet, so you can say it's pretty near the city centre

Bed was comfortable, room is quite small, but I was traveling solo so not a problem for me. Breakfast was delicious. It's a close walk to a few convenience stores, and about an eight minute walk to the nearest train station. You can walk to Yokohama Chinatown in just about ten minutes! Check-in was on the fifth floor and there are no elevators, so it was pretty exhausting heaving all my luggage up the stairs. Would have been nice if check in was on first or second floor instead. Staff were friendly though and the building is well kept. Maybe not for a family vacation, but if you are traveling solo, it's great!

I would definitely recommend staying at Hostel Zen. The room is very small but that is OK for one person. The included breakfast is very nutritious: 2 toasts, 1 egg, a chunk of banana and two drinks (coffee, tea, orange juice, milk, etc.)||I paid ¥4 000/night but on the board outside and in the Lonely Planet, it said ¥3 000.. Maybe it's because I used booking dot com? Nevertheless, it was a very good value. There is a couple of restaurants around and groceries and the train station is only a 5 minutes walk. You get to talk to Japaneses at breakfast. There is no really common area to hang out but a couple of balconies instead. There is a fridge you can use, but no kitchen. The Wi-Fi coverage is amazing!||Be aware of this: the reception is on the 5th floor and there is no elevator. Sometimes some smoke smell comes to your room from one of the balconies but not often. Reception closes at 8pm but you can check in somehow after that time. There is only one shower for the whole 4th floor. The hostel wasn't crowded during my stay but it could have been awful otherwise, even more if you happen to have the room in front of the shower.||This hostel can be a good base to explore the southern Tokyo region.