Ishigaki Guesthouse HIVE

The personel

No oven, no router in the front of the guesthouse making the wifi not strong enough in my pod and on the balcony.

The kitchen and common area are nice, kitchen is well set. A big fridge with a freezer. Very comfortable to cook. The view from the lounge is also very nice. The cabin is big, with rollo. Inside is light, a small mirror, even a small table and a personal fan. The idea of such cabins is kind of cool. Though might be tricky to carry the luggage to the top levels (I was lucky to get the lowest). You also get a free towel. And there are indoor slippers available, outdoor shoes are left in a locker at the entrance. There is also quite a big locker (with a digit lock) close the cabin. Shampoo and body shower in the showers, washing machine and dryer are available, and you can also use the rooftop on sunny days for drying, which is awesome. The hostel is close to a farmer’s supermarket where you can get delicious pineapples! It is close to a shopping arcade, bus stop and ferry terminal.

Can’t say I didn’t like something. It was tricky to understand what to do if you arrive before the check in time. But you can actually leave the luggage (in the common area at the back) and stay there before check in. Important: remember the entrance code, otherwise you won’t get inside.

For an affordable hostel, it’s probably the best and most comfortable one I’ve ever stayed at. Not only was the staff super kind and helpful, the facilities were all new, very clean and convenient. The cute little nooks are super spacious and private, and it’s one of the only places where I’ve been able to comfortably maneuver around in such little space. Lock boxes add for extra comfort, and they allow you to leave your luggage even after check out for one final day of exploring There’s also tons of helpful restaurant and activity information on the walls, and the hostel offers 500yen snorkel set, bicycles, and scooters(if you have a Japanese license) for the whole day! We took our kits to Yonehara beach and saw tons of magical tropical fish~

No complaints! Highly recommend this place~ Note: Be aware that it’s 3 flights of stairs to get up to this hostel (just in case you are traveling with someone that this might be an issue for!) :)

The location is around the corner from the bus terminal and the port terminal in Ishigaki and the facilities were quite clean. Messages online were responded to rather quickly which was nice! The kitchen and shared space is clean and well air conditioned. Also there is a rooftop area where you can dry your clothes after your wash them - or you can use the drying machine.

It was quite hot. The main room with all of the beds only has one big AC unit and pipes are connected to it to go to various parts of the room. I woke up every night due to the heat. I think if you stay here in winter it's fine, but in my option it is not a comfortable temperature to sleep at unless you like to be warm before sleeping. I think there needs to be at least another ac unit. Also there is an izakaya next door that has their trash in front on the stairwell to the hostel. To put it frankly, it smells like hot garbage so I had to hold my breath going up the stairs. It isn't the hostel's fault but.. it was unpleasant.