Osaka Municipal Nagai Youth Hostel

I stayed at the Nagai Youth Hostel when in need of accommodation in Osaka. A lot of the places were booked out and this was the one with the best references that still had available spots. The hostel is located straight inside the Osaka Nagai Second Stadium and the atmosphere of the hostel corresponds to it with displays of student sport events. It's also a bit of a walk from the closest JR/subway station especially with a heavy backpack. The rooms are pretty spacious with only 3 bunk beds with privacy curtains and big lockers. The place was quiet, so I slept well. The hotel was clean and I enjoyed the Japanese style ofuro bathrooms which even had shower cubicles for shy people. The annoying thing was no internet in the rooms. There was a free wifi spot at the reception area but that was a quite a walk from my room. The place had a a few rules which weren't that strictly adhered. Like a curfew and lights out after 11 p.m. You also had to pay 200 yen for your bed linen. The staff was friendly and spoke some English. Initially they over-chard me for my stay but returned that money the next day without me asking. I also paid for the breakfast, which was Japanese style - miso soup, rice, fish and cabbage. Not worth paying extra 515 yen.

For a youth hostel, this was quite nice. The beds in the dorms are bunk beds but lots of room, not cramped, and have a curtain going round for privacy and a little night light so you can read or whatever. Thought this was a really nice touch for a youth hostel. Kitchen was alright, nothing special. The bathrooms were nice and clean, kind of a traditional style Japanese bathroom but had private shower cubicles. The staff spoke good English and were friendly, nice to talk to some evenings. There was wifi in the common reception area which worked well enough for Skype or what have you but not in rooms. The hostel was a bit far out from the main sites in Osaka but a 5min walk to the subway which didn't take long to get to the centre of town. It's located in a stadium, easy to find and felt safe as a solo female out in the evening there.

Located about 10 mins from Tsurugaoka station, Nagai is part of a stadium and I would dread to be here (or trying to travel about) when an event was on! I was travelling on a school trip to Japan as a teacher, and Nagai was good in that we had all of our students in three rooms, so it was convenient to keep track of them. The laundry was really useful, and I didn't need to wait to wash or dry. It was also great that, even after check out, we could store all of our bags while we went out for the day before our flight home.||||Unfortunately, the positives stop there. Being school students, many of our group were uncomfortable with the showering arrangements - for the females, only three cubicles (with very small doors, only barely covering the 'essentials') and about four Japanese style seated shower positions in the open, plus onsen tub. This really isn't adequate for accommodation as big as Nagai, and was very confronting for some of our students. There was also quite a large queue for the shower on one night. Additionally, you need to hire towels, as they aren't included. As we checked in fairly late, by the time we realised that we needed to hire towels the reception was closed, so we had to wait until the morning to shower. My bed was very hard, and you had to put on your own sheets and pillowcase. I didn't particularly like that the breakfast was set - your whole group had to turn up at the same time, and all got a set, lukewarm plate. The whole place looks very dated and bashed up, with wallpaper peeling, stains in some areas and felt very stuffy.||||While this may be okay for a backpacker on a super tight budget, it certainly wasn't what I was expecting and I wouldn't come back again, individually or with students.

Nagai subway station has to direct approach to the nagai park and it leads to 10 minutes walk for the satium where in 3rd floor youth hostel is located. Excellent value for money.Hostel can be reached from Tsurugaoka station also. Sleeping quality is excellent. Cleanliness excellent. Reception staff will guide you. Free wifi in public waiting. Breakfast has to be pre-ordered. The quality of rooms are also good and economical. Generally very less occupants are there, so no crowding. Enjoy swimming pool view from rooms.

Use this Youth Hostel every year with a school exchange trip to Japan and cannot fault it. Staff are friendly and unbelievably helpful. Situated close to underground and JR line train transport, surrounded by really cheap eating place and a pool next door (although avoid use during weekend crowds). Situated in the arena of a sports stadium and surrounded by a park this is away from the hustle And bustle of city Osaka and gives you a great base to trip out from. Communal bathrooms but privacy available if you do not want to immerse yourself fully into Japanese bath house culture. Wifi, breakfast available, towels for hire etc. can even borrow bikes for a ride around the park in the evenings! Worth the travel out to it from central Osaka!

After staying here for about three weeks in January 2010... ||(Very Late Review due to being busy etc but better late than Never as the old saying go's! ^_^) ||||I've got to say that the place is amazing and the staff are very lovely, friendly and really helpful!||||This is definitely one of the best Hostel's that I've stayed in while in Japan to date and would Highly recommend it to others who are looking to be in and are the Nagai Region,||Plus on top of that. It's central more or less as it has two Train Stations that takes you directly to Shin-Osaka and has stops -JR Line!- to places like Umeda etc...||||Plus on top of that the Hostel is located in the Nagai Stadium which is really amazing, has another Stadium and Nagai Park opposite that is used by all the local Schools each day Monday to Friday -Early Mornings!- for P.E. / Fitness etc... ||||So yeah, the Hostel is well placed and offers a lot of things as well as located just opposite a Swimming Pool / Water Park!||||So if you are looking for somewhere really nice, affordable and friendly to stay then I'd personally recommend the "Osaka Municipal Nagai Youth Hostel"... ||||||Gordon M

If you are lucky and have a dorm room to yourself (which may happen quite frequently, because this hostel doesn't seem to get many visitors), then it's better than a hotel, with your own balcony looking out onto Nagai Park and a really nice common bath. No towels, no breakfast/dinner unless you reserve well ahead.

I had stayed at this Youth Hostel back in Jan 2008. I'd have written this review sooner, but haven't had the time to until now. I stayed here for about three or so weeks while in Osaka and have got to say that I adore this hostel, the staff were extremely friendly, helpful and the hostel itself is quaint, comfortable and the area that it's based in is amazing! ^_^ .. I plan to revisit this place when I'm next back in Japan. Kindest regards, Gordon M ^_^ ..