Hostel Knot

The staff is very welcoming, there are a lot of common areas which are stocked well. The staff provided a lot of information and advice on sights to see, restaurant, etc. The very old school onsen next door is convenient to wind down each evening.

I pretty much liked everything. :)

Hostel Knot is an extremely nice and cozy stay in shuzenji onsen. I immediately felt at home. The staff was very helpful and kind. It's a place that makes you wan't to come again. Everything in town is within 20 minutes on foot and I can really recommend the soba restaurant right next door! All in all a great place to stay if you enjoy a calm atmosphere and want to experience the different onsens in town.

Nothing about the hostel itself. Since it is more rural japan, most stores and places aren't open past 5pm. The town feels very empty at night and it's a bit difficult to get around the izu peninsula from here if you don't have a car and are planning on using shuzenji onsen as a base.

Staying at a hostel was a first for our family of 5 (kids 7, 10 and 13), so I was a little nervous about whether it would suit us. But it turned out to be such a great experience. We reserved the dorm (ususally the female only dorm) for our private stay so the room was lockable and just for us, with 6 individual beds, a mirror, small table and chair. The room looked so cool, so I had kept it a secret from my kids and they were so happy when they saw it - all going to their individual dens straight away to chill out! We shared the toilets, shower and kitchen with one other mixed dorm room and a private double room. Everyone there was very respectful and quiet so the stay was very comfortable and peaceful. The location was perfect, right in the middle of town, and there was parking available for a small additional charge. Staff helped us to make a dinner reservation and it was a great choice. They also gave us a map with all the things to do and places to eat in the area which was very helpful. There is also an onsen next door that guests can use for free. The second evening we made some food at the hostel and spend time in the communal areas. We ended up talking to many of the other guests from all over the world, sharing drinks and stories, and having a lovely and memorable evening! Hostel Knot is a great choice for a stay in Shuzenji!

I liked everything and it all exceeded my expectations. However I would probably not recommend staying here with younger children. Being a small place with a lot of shared spaces I was, quite rightly, often reminding my children to be quiet and respectful. They were old enough to understand this but I would have found it a bit stressful if I had brought them when they were younger!

It was clean.