ZEN Hostel

2.0 star property
Hostel within walking distance of Yudanaka Hot Spring

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your current months are December, 2024 and January, 2025.
December 2024
January 2025

Photo gallery for ZEN Hostel

Front of property
Executive lounge
Reception
Reception
Interior entrance

Reviews

8.6 out of 10

Excellent

Popular amenities

  • Laundry facilities
    Laundry facilities
  • Air conditioning
    Air conditioning
  • Free WiFi
    Free WiFi
  • Free parking
    Free parking
Main amenities
  • Air conditioning
  • Garden
  • Microwave in a common area
  • Refrigerator in a common area
  • Self-serve laundry
  • Multilingual staff
  • Limited hour front desk
Feel at home
  • Separate bedroom
  • Garden
  • Laundry facilities
  • Free self parking

Room options

Available filters for rooms
Showing 5 of 5 rooms

Basic Shared Dormitory, Mixed Dorm

Highlights

Air conditioning
Heating
Separate bedroom
  • 2 sq m
  • Sleeps 1
  • 1 Twin Bed

Basic Suite, Japanese Futon

Highlights

Air conditioning
Heating
Separate bedroom
  • 40 sq m
  • Sleeps 6
  • 1 Twin Futon

Basic Twin Room, Japanese Futon

Highlights

Air conditioning
Heating
Separate bedroom
  • 10 sq m
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Twin Futon

Basic Quadruple Room, Japanese Futon

Highlights

Air conditioning
Heating
Separate bedroom
  • 20 sq m
  • Sleeps 4
  • 1 Twin Futon

Basic Triple Room, Japanese Futon

Highlights

Air conditioning
Heating
Separate bedroom
  • 12 sq m
  • Sleeps 3
  • 1 Twin Futon

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About the neighborhood

Map
3031 Hirao, Shimotakai-gun, Nagano, Yamanouchi, 3840401

What's nearby

  • Yudanaka Hot Spring - 3 min walk - 0.3 km
  • Shibu - 7 min walk - 0.6 km
  • Shiga Kogen Ski Area - 9 min walk - 0.8 km
  • Jigokudani Monkey Park - 7 min drive - 4.3 km
  • Ryuoo Ski Park - 11 min drive - 9.0 km

Getting around

  • Haneda Airport (HND) - 112.2 miles/180.6 km
  • Narita Intl. Airport (NRT) - 128.5 miles/206.9 km
  • Iiyama Station - 16 min drive
  • Zenkojishita Station - 27 min drive
  • Nagano (QNG) - 30 min drive
  • Yudanaka Station - 4 min walk

Restaurants

  • ‪関英ドライブイン - ‬11 min walk
  • ‪HAKKO - ‬1 min walk
  • ‪串道楽 - ‬2 min walk
  • ‪福十拉 - ‬5 min walk
  • ‪関谷醸造場 - ‬5 min walk

About this property

ZEN Hostel

When you stay at ZEN Hostel, you'll be in a great location, within just a 10-minute walk of Yudanaka Hot Spring and Shiga Kogen Ski Area. Free perks include WiFi and self parking. Also, Jigokudani Monkey Park and Ryuoo Ski Park are within a short drive. Public transportation is close by: Yudanaka Station is just 4 minutes by foot.

Languages

English, Japanese

At a glance

Hotel size

  • 5 rooms

Arriving/Leaving

  • Check-in start time: 3 PM; Check-in end time: 10 PM
  • Minimum check-in age: 18
  • Check-out time is 10 AM
  • Contactless check-out available

Restrictions related to your trip

  • Check COVID-19 restrictions.

Special check-in instructions

  • The front desk is open daily from 3 PM - 10 PM
  • Front desk staffed during limited hours
  • This property doesn't offer after-hours check-in

Required at check-in

  • Credit card, debit card, or cash deposit required for incidental charges
  • Government-issued photo ID may be required
  • Minimum check-in age is 18

Children

  • No cribs (infant beds)

Pets

  • Pets not allowed

Internet

  • Free WiFi in public areas
  • Free WiFi in rooms

Parking

  • Free onsite self parking
  • Onsite parking limited

Other information

  • Designated smoking areas

Property amenities

Food and drink

  • Shared microwave
  • Shared refrigerator

What to do

  • Skiing nearby

Services

  • Front desk (limited hours)
  • Laundry facilities
  • Multilingual staff

Facilities

  • Garden

Room amenities

Home comfort

  • Air conditioning and heating

Sleep well

  • Bed sheets provided

Freshen up

  • Shared bathroom
  • Shower only
  • Towels

Stay connected

  • Free WiFi

Fees & policies

Policies

The Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare requires all international visitors to submit their passport number and nationality when registering at any lodging facility (inns, hotels, motels, etc. ). Additionally, lodging proprietors are required to photocopy passports for all registering guests and keep the photocopy on file.
This property accepts credit cards.

Also known as

ZEN Hostel Yamanouchi
ZEN Yamanouchi
ZEN Hostel Yamanouchi
ZEN Hostel Hostel/Backpacker accommodation
ZEN Hostel Hostel/Backpacker accommodation Yamanouchi

Frequently asked questions

Does ZEN Hostel offer free cancellation for a full refund?
Yes, ZEN Hostel does have fully refundable room rates available to book on our site. If you’ve booked a fully refundable room rate, this can be cancelled up to a few days before check-in depending on the property's cancellation policy. Just make sure to check this property's cancellation policy for the exact terms and conditions.
Are pets allowed at ZEN Hostel?
Sorry, pets aren't allowed.
Is parking offered on site at ZEN Hostel?
Yes, there's free self parking. Parking spots may be limited.
What are the check-in and check-out times at ZEN Hostel?
Check-in start time: 3 PM; Check-in end time: 10 PM. Check-out time is 10 AM. Contactless check-out is available.
What is there to do at ZEN Hostel and nearby?
Have fun with nearby winter activities like skiing. ZEN Hostel also has a garden.
What's the area around ZEN Hostel like?
ZEN Hostel is a short 4-minute walk from Yudanaka Station and 9 minutes' walk from Shiga Kogen Ski Area.

ZEN Hostel Reviews

Reviews

8.6

Excellent

8.6/10

Cleanliness

8.8/10

Staff & service

10/10

Amenities

8.2/10

Property conditions & facilities

10/10

Eco-friendliness

Reviews

10/10 Exceptional

Very chill, run by nice people
1-night trip
Verified Hotels.com guest review

8/10 Very Good

Fook Wai, 1-night trip with friends
Verified Hotels.com guest review

10/10 Exceptional

Enjoyed our stay at Zen hostel. The staff was attentive and helpful in planning activities.
Lorena, 2-night family trip
Verified Hotels.com guest review

8/10 Very Good

Nice on a budget
Cheap, clean, friendly staff, lots of trust, good breakfast
Jon, 1-night family trip
Verified Hotels.com guest review

10/10 Exceptional

Great value and attention to details from the hist
It was a great stay! Everything that you could need was provided! Very friendly environment both the staff and the guest! Special Kudos to Maya who manages the hostel very professionally and welcoming. She provided very useful information as well as the gentleman that was also there!
luis, 1-night trip
Verified Hotels.com guest review

10/10 Exceptional

Great place to stay in Yamanouchi!
Zen Hostel is in a neat, old, traditional Japanese building. The lounge overlooks a pretty Japanese garden which can be viewed through the giant windows making it seem like you are outside. The walls throughout the hostel are adorned with nice photos from around the world. The floor in my private room was covered by beautiful tatami mats on which a futon is placed for sleeping. The futon was a little thin for sleeping on my side (boney hips) but was otherwise comfortable. Everything is clean. The heaters provided kept the room as toasty as I needed but the common spaces are pretty cold so bring warm jammies in the winter for the trip to the restroom. I don't consider this a negative for this hostel as I found it is normal for there to be cold common spaces in places in the low budget range (I wouldn't know about the fancy hotels in Japan). The staff were super nice and speak English. The breakfast options were yummy and reasonable at 600 yen. The dinner menu is limited but my curry was good. The location is perfect, just 5 minutes walk to the bus and train station and close to all restaurants. I definitely recommend this place!
holly, 2-night trip
Verified Hotels.com guest review

8/10 Very Good

Clean hotel, but wifi is slow and too far from metro or JR station
Nelson, 1-night trip
Verified Expedia guest review

10/10 Exceptional

Amazing, non expensive and clean place.
Kevin, 2-night romance trip
Verified Hotels.com guest review

6/10 Good

Not bad but expensive for what you get
We stayed at a "private" twin room and once our door was opened by someone while we were away, and another time while we were still inside someone came into our room even though it was locked! It was a mistake but I couldn't recommend the private room if you are concerned about someone entering the room. Furthermore my girlfriend didn't think the room was that clean, personally I thought it was average. Service was nice and it's not far from station. However this area doesn't have many stores or restaurants that are open. I chose to come here because my girlfriend lives close by, but hotels in Nagano city are much cheaper and cleaner if you book in advance. Unfortunately my girlfriend was a bit picky and didn't want to travel to Nagano so I ended up paying more money for less. If you have the choice, stay at a hotel in Nagano city or choose this if you want to be close by some specific tourist attraction.
2-night romance trip
Verified Hotels.com guest review

10/10 Exceptional

個室に泊まりましたが、旅館のような部屋に泊まることができくつろげました。 また、近くの有名温泉旅館と提携していて、追加料金で温泉に入れる仕組みがあり、助かりました。
ANDY, 1-night trip
Verified Expedia guest review

8/10 Very Good

Town stay for snow monkey trip
Convenient for snow monkeys and nice nearby onsen. Employees very kind made nice breakfast and drove us to the station
Verified Hotels.com guest review

6/10 Good

Beware, this is NOT in Shibu Onsen town!
We chose this hostel by mistake. We thought it was in Shibu Onsen since this what we searched for when booking. Our fault!! We were disappointed to learn this place is in neighboring village and can not provide key to the 9 public onsens in Shibu Onsen. The owner didn’t bother explaining where we got it wrong. He pretended he doesn’t know what we are talking about and offered to sell us entry to an Onsen nearby his place where he has a deal. What is the problem helping us understand the situation? This is not the friendliness and hospitality we got accustomed to traveling around Japan. The hostel itself is ok, very basic and abit unhygienic in Japanese standards. It is quite cheap so you get descent value for money.
ren, 1-night trip
Verified Expedia guest review

10/10 Exceptional

Friendly English speaking staff, good breakfast, private showers, comfy bedding and good location handy for the snow monkeys.
2-night trip
Verified Expedia guest review

10/10 Exceptional

Nice Hostel close to the mountains, friendly staff
Out family of 6 stayed in the self contained suite that had our own toilet and bathroom very comfortably.
CC, 2-night family trip
Verified Expedia guest review

10/10 Exceptional

Modern comfortable
Our party of 5 stayed in a private room with shared bathroom. The traditional tatami room is nice and the staff are great. They serve good choices of breakfast at their lounge area for a fraction on price. Had their fresh fruit smoothies, matcha latte and roll cakes in the afternoon and they are delicious. Totally recommend this place to all travelers.
Verified Expedia guest review

10/10 Exceptional

Modern meets Japanese simplicity
Great value for a private room which was warm and spacious. It was surprisingly quiet considering the paper walls and doors. The common areas seemed new, modern, and clean. The shared bathroom was clean and the shower booths were great, very private. One of very few places without its own onsen or yukatas but you still get some traditional features like the garden off the lounge area and Japanese style rooms with tatami and futons (Japanese floor mattress). The cafe had good prices for drinks but a limited menu. Breakfast was good but expensive. No amenities in the room, not even tissue. You need to rent towels and bring your bedding down to the laundry bins but it was well worth it to save on the cost.
Verified Hotels.com guest review

6/10 Good

Weekend Adventure
It was a wonderful stay. Coming from a warm environment, the cold rooms were a challenge. The heat in the rooms is kerosene. The heater runs for 3 hours and then beeps, and shuts off. So, if you are a light sleeper, this could be a problem. The showers are located on a separate floor-not with the toilets and it is co-ed, with private shower stalls. The shower area was not heated. With an outside temp of 24 F it was quite cool in the showers. Overall we had a delightful adventurous time, but it does take some grit to keep the smile on. The staff were amazing, helpful, funny and kind. Also most importantly...they speak English :).
Verified Hotels.com guest review

10/10 Exceptional

Helpful and budget
We almost couldn't go there when the local train has stopped because of heavy snow. I called them and got a pick up from them as a service, I saw people taking taxi into the town and it must cost a fortune. So they are willing to help on contingency. The paid access to a nearby hotel's onsen is quite good, in a good timing we were in public bath with nobody else. If you go to nearby ski resort(Ryoo for my case), ask for coupon as the discount is really good compare to the original walk in price.
Verified Hotels.com guest review

4/10 Fair

Freezing but nice staffs
•Freezing almost everywhere •Hot water stopped in the middle of shower •Coffee was terrible... we ordered 2 and the 2nd one was like brown hot water. We didn't mind if they were free but actually paid ¥350 each •The staffs are nice and friendly
Verified Expedia guest review

10/10 Exceptional

Excellent stay-close to Snow Monkeys
The Zen hostel is very close to the Yudanka train station and takes no more than 5 minutes to get to. The hostel is very well laid out and decorated. Our room was clean and provided just what we needed- - place to sleep. The facilities ( bathroom and showers)are very clean. The buikding itself is very historical- but has been updated to be quite modern. Each room has its own heaters. Food served here is quite delicious. The owner was kind enough to give us a lift up to the snow monkeys- which is a huge plus. Just make sure you know your way back down or can catch a taxi cab. Enjoyed our stay very much and would most certainly return!!!
Verified Expedia guest review

10/10 Exceptional

Super friendly host.
It is a very new hostel. Bright, comfortable, modern. Owner has tastefully decorated the hostel. He speaks good English, friendly and helpful. Price is very reasonable. Best hostel that I have stayed so far.
Verified Hotels.com guest review

8/10 Very Good

YUKAKO, 1-night trip
Verified Hotels.com guest review

10/10 Exceptional

DAISUKE, 1-night trip with friends
Verified Hotels.com guest review

6/10 Good

1-night trip with friends
Verified Hotels.com guest review

10/10 Exceptional

1-night trip
Verified Expedia guest review