Hostel JAZ — Hotel in Tokyo

Not recommended — disappointing experience overall

Self check-in was a bit inconvenient, and the staff weren’t very talkative or helpful. Honestly, it’s the first time in Japan I’ve experienced this kind of “non-service”.

One of the biggest issues was the Wi-Fi — it barely worked in the room, if at all. After 4 weeks of traveling around Japan, this was by far the worst connection I’ve had. As someone working online who booked a private room for that reason, it was incredibly frustrating.

Speaking of the private room — not really worth it. I’ve had better deals in the past weeks. To be fair, it was Golden Week, so I understand prices were higher, but still… the room was tiny and located inside the men’s dorm, which wasn’t clear when booking.

Also worth noting: my room was on the 4th floor, and there’s no elevator. Not ideal with luggage.

Location-wise, it’s about a 15-minute walk to the nearest train stations (depending on which one), and Ueno itself is already a bit far from major attractions in Tokyo. Even if you want to go out in Ueno, the main streets are about a 20-minute walk away. Within a 5-minute walk, there’s basically nothing except a Lawson and 7-Eleven.

The hostel vibe was pretty dead. No social atmosphere at all — unlike other places I’ve stayed in Japan where I made friends from day one. I didn’t see anyone chatting or hanging out, and in the end, the vibe felt a bit depressing.

To add to that, the staff again seemed cold and unhelpful. I requested to cancel my last night (in a private room) five days in advance because I realized my flight was too early and I’d have to leave the night before anyway. They didn’t care and refused to cancel or offer any kind of refund or partial credit. So I paid full price for a night I didn’t use — even a 50% cancellation fee would’ve been better than that.

Also, in my one-week stay, the room was never cleaned. I think you can request cleaning after 7 nights, but honestly, that feels a bit long for a private room.

And finally — people were walking around the hostel in outside shoes, including in the dorms, bathrooms, and common areas. For a place in Japan, that’s just gross and doesn’t reflect the standard of cleanliness you’d expect.

Overall, pretty average at best. I’ve had far better experiences in terms of location, amenities, cleanliness, vibe, and staff — so I wouldn’t...

The most concerning issue during my stay was the presence of a security camera inside the female dormitory, positioned directly at the exit of the sleeping area. There were no signs indicating surveillance, and the staff did not mention it at check in. I only noticed the camera on my last day, after repeatedly moving around the room in situations where I expected full privacy, such as after leaving the shower with only a towel. When I raised the matter with the staff, the response did not address the seriousness of the situation.

In addition, the dormitory room had a persistent unpleasant smell that made the stay uncomfortable from the first day.

The social environment was also disappointing. The hostel did not feel friendly or welcoming, and although this normally does not happen to me, I did not speak with a single guest during four days.

The location is not ideal either. The surrounding area feels neglected, and the two nearest train stations are about a ten minute walk from the hostel, which makes moving around less convenient.

Due to the undisclosed camera in the female dormitory, the uncomfortable conditions inside the room, and the overall atmosphere and location, I cannot recommend this hostel.

Response to the hostel:

Thank you for your response. I understand the need for security in shared spaces. However, the camera in this case was positioned inside the female dormitory area, directly at the exit of the sleeping zone, where guests have a reasonable expectation of privacy. Under Japanese privacy principles, including the Act on the Protection of Personal Information and the guidelines of the Personal Information Protection Commission, video surveillance must be limited to appropriate locations and handled transparently. Although cameras may be used for safety, operators are generally expected to provide clear signage or notice when surveillance occurs, especially in areas that are not openly public.

Because no signs were posted and no disclosure was made at check in, the installation of a camera in this particular location raises significant privacy concerns under Japanese law and...

I recently stayed at Hostel Jaz in the female dormitory for seven nights. My feedback is based on my personal stay, and it aligns with comments shared by other past guests.

Security Issues The dormitory uses a 4-digit code (plus *) for entry, and unfortunately, this code remained unchanged throughout my entire stay. Due to this, a former guest who had already checked out was able to re-enter the dorm late at night. Security footage confirmed that she entered the room, took my Hoka shoes, and left. I reported the incident to the staff and the police, which required five hours of explanation at the hostel. As a result, I was ultimately left with no shoes and had to head to the airport in that condition. This incident clearly reflects a lack of proper access control and guest safety.

Service Response The staff were courteous and expressed sincere apologies. They acknowledged the shortcomings in their security and offered me one complimentary night for a future stay. However, given the seriousness of the situation, I do not feel comfortable returning, and I believe this gesture does not adequately address the inconvenience and stress I experienced.

Room Conditions & Hygiene The shared toilet is located inside the dorm room without any ventilation or windows. As a result, unpleasant urine smell like ammonia are consistently present throughout the day and night, which affects overall comfort and cleanliness.

Lack of Dormitory Management Although the hostel has a stated quiet time between 11:00 PM and 8:00 AM, this is not enforced. Guests frequently entered late and made noise well past midnight. One guest arrived around 11:30 PM and was disruptive until 2:00 AM, while another started moving around before 6:00 AM. Unfortunately, staff did not intervene to maintain the rules.

In summary, while the staff were kind and communicative, the lack of basic security, poor air quality, and weak enforcement of dormitory rules made my stay extremely uncomfortable. I hope this feedback is helpful for both future travelers and the...