The Best Hostels in Kobe

May 19, 2023

The Best Hostels in Kobe

If you want to spend time in Kobe but are on a tight budget, staying at a hostel may be your best option. The good news is you have some great ones to choose from, whether you want a dorm or a private room. You can use the money you save on accommodation to enjoy Kobe cuisine and visit top sites around the city.

1. Guesthouse Maya

If you search for reviews of top hostels in Kobe, one name you’ll see repeatedly is Guesthouse Maya. It’s ideal whether you’re traveling alone, with a partner, or in a group. For instance, it has private double rooms (a rarity in Kobe hostels) and mixed and female-only dorms.

The hostel has an aesthetically-pleasing design and multiple amenities, including laundry facilities, a kitchen, a common room where you can meet other travelers, and a library. The staff are all locals who know Kobe inside out, meaning they can provide personalized suggestions of what to do while you’re in the city.

Finally, the location is good — it’s close to public transport and Suidosuji shopping street. You can take advantage of the free transfer if you arrive at the airport. The only downside is trains on the Hankyu railway occasionally pass close to the hotel. However, you’ll receive earplugs when you come to ensure you won’t have a problem sleeping.

2. Guest House Kobe Nadesikoya

Another hostel that offers free airport transfers is Guest House Kobe Nadesikoya. The mixed dorms have 22 beds, and the female-only dorms have eight beds, meaning you can meet many new people. Each guest receives a pod with curtains for privacy, a shelf, a light, and a power outlet.

In addition to the dorm, you’ll be able to meet people in the café, although you’ll probably want to venture outside for food — the hostel is just a minute away from Chinatown. You can also prepare your drinks with the kettles and store food in the on-site refrigerators.

3. Hostel Ini. Kobe

If you’re coming to Kobe in the summer, consider Hostel Ini. Kobe for its rooftop terrace where the staff host BBQs. The hostel also holds regular events in the bar on the first floor.

Although there are no laundry facilities at the hostel, there is a coin-operated laundry nearby and several cafés and restaurants. In addition, you’ll be close to Kobe Port Tower, a public bath, and Kobe Center for Overseas Migration and Cultural Interaction, which has a museum and promotes cultural exchange events.

4. Yume Nomad

If you’re looking for an extra-cheap hostel, you may like to consider Yume Nomad. Even though the prices for the rooms are low, the hostel has free WiFi, a café, a kitchen, and a common room. Plus, you can use the bicycle rental to explore the city by bike — lockers are available to store your things while you’re out.

Try to book as far in advance as possible — there’s not a huge number of hostels in Kobe, and they quickly become fully booked.

Tomio344456, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons