Citan Hostel

I’d definitely recommend Citan Hostel for solo travelers like me. I stayed in the private twin room because I had A LOT of luggage 😂 and honestly, it was a good decision. Berth Coffee is just downstairs, which was a nice bonus. The staff were all really helpful and friendly, especially with foreigners. I felt safe the whole time I was there. Also, I was really surprised by how clean the room and bathroom were. Like, every time I used the shower area, it was clean. No complaints at all. The only downside for me is the location if you’re planning to go around Shibuya and other parts of the city a lot. You’ll usually have to change trains, so it can get a little hassle. But coming from Narita, it’s actually super easy just one train Overall, I really enjoyed my stay and would definitely stay here again. :)

I love the vibes of this place. everything is perfect. if I can ask for more, it would be great if all the ingredient stored in the kitchen indicates the date of reperenished like oil, soy sauce etc. so I can be sure it is safe to use for cooking.

Clean, Friendly staff, Cafe on first floor, Wifi and plugs ins in common area, no complaints :)

I booked three nights at CITAN Hostel through Agoda, looking forward to my stay in Tokyo. Unfortunately, the experience left me feeling quite disappointed, not so much because of the booking issue itself, but because of how it was handled. When I arrived, I was informed that the four-person dorm I had booked and paid for was unavailable, and that I would have to stay in an eight-person dorm instead. I understand that mistakes happen, and I wasn’t expecting anything unreasonable. I initially asked whether they could refund the price difference, but the staff explained that they couldn’t verify the room rates from when I made my booking. I then suggested a simple compromise: perhaps they could offer breakfast during my stay instead. However, I was told that the price difference between the two room types was much less than the cost of breakfast, and they were only willing to offer one breakfast rather than breakfast for all three mornings. Interestingly, when I later contacted Agoda at the hostel’s suggestion, I was asked to provide more information. That prompted me to look up the room rates and breakfast prices myself. To my surprise, the difference between the four-person and eight-person dorms was actually at least four times the price of a single breakfast. What made the situation even more uncomfortable was that the staff offered to cancel my reservation free of charge, as though this were a helpful alternative. Under normal circumstances, I might have considered it. But this was a long holiday weekend in Japan, and Tokyo was packed with visitors. Most affordable accommodations were already fully booked, while the remaining options were extraordinarily expensive. I remember thinking, If I cancel now, where exactly am I supposed to sleep tonight? I had arrived with a confirmed, fully paid reservation, trusting that my accommodation was taken care of. Suddenly, I was being presented with two choices: accept a room I hadn’t booked or try to find somewhere else to stay at the last minute, potentially at a much higher cost. Neither felt like a genuine choice. I couldn’t help feeling that the hostel was in a much stronger position than I was, because realistically, I had very little flexibility. Offering free cancellation might have sounded reasonable, but it didn’t address the predicament I had been placed in through no fault of my own. In the end, I stayed in the eight-person dorm for all three nights. I subsequently contacted Agoda to request appropriate compensation, but the matter remained unresolved after my stay. I don’t expect hotels or hostels to be perfect. Mistakes happen, and I can be understanding when they do. What I do hope for is some empathy, transparency, and willingness to find a fair solution. A complimentary breakfast for three mornings would have been a small gesture compared with the price difference I had paid, and I would have appreciated the effort. I’m sharing this experience because I think many travellers can relate to the feeling of arriving somewhere unfamiliar, believing their accommodation is secured, only to find themselves in a situation where they have little control. I genuinely wish my stay had started differently. Sometimes, what stays with you isn’t the mistake itself, but how you’re treated when something goes wrong.