**Furoya Japan Hostel: Insane Views, Epic Parties! (Book Now!)**
Furoya Japan Hostel: "Insane Views, Epic Parties! (Book Now!)" - Reality Check & My Brain Dump
Okay, buckle up buttercups, because I'm about to spill ALL the tea on Furoya Japan Hostel: Insane Views, Epic Parties! (Book Now!). Forget those polished, perfect reviews – I'm giving you the REAL scoop, warts and all. Prepare for a rollercoaster of opinions, because let's be honest, no place is perfect, and that's the fun of travel, right?
First things first: The Hype vs. The Reality (and My Initial Skepticism)
"Insane Views"? "Epic Parties"? Honestly, my inner cynic was screaming, "Marketing!" Usually, those phrases translate to a slightly-above-average view and a gathering of people who are trying to have a good time. But, surprisingly… Furoya Japan Hostel mostly delivered.
Accessibility - The Important Stuff
Right off the bat, I need to be honest. This isn't a hostel built for accessibility. While they have an elevator, which is a HUGE plus, I didn't see anything specifically mentioning wheelchair access to rooms or facilities. (I'd recommend contacting them directly to confirm specific details for your needs. Safety is #1)
On-site accessible restaurants / lounges: No specific mention. I'm guessing here, but in a hostel setting, it's probably best to assume limited accessibility in smaller spaces.
Internet - The Lifeblood of the Modern Traveler
- Free Wi-Fi in all rooms! YES! Praise be! (Actually, I needed it to upload my epic ramen-eating videos – more on that later).
- Internet Access (LAN): Some rooms have LAN, but Wi-Fi is pretty ubiquitous, so I didn't even bother with it.
- Internet Services: They have it. It works. Seriously, that's the bare minimum I expect!
- Wi-Fi in public areas: Fast enough to post those aforementioned vids, and to stalk my friends, so I was happy.
Things to Do – AKA My Justification for This Hostel
Oh boy, where do I start? This is where Furoya shines.
- The "Insane Views" (Partially Believable): The common areas have seriously gorgeous panoramas, especially at sunrise. And the view from the pool… well, let's just say it almost made me forget I was sharing a pool with about 50 other people. Almost.
- "Epic Parties" (Mostly True, Depends on Your Definition of Epic): The common areas are designed for mingling. Expect loud music, plenty of drinks, and a lot of international faces. I met people from 10 different countries in one night. If you're looking for quiet, this is NOT your place. If you're looking for good times, consider it a potential home base.
- Pool with view: The view is stunning, but the pool itself is on the small side. Expect a wait, especially during peak hours.
- Fitness Center: (They claim there's one!). I admit, I'm a lazy human. I saw "Fitness center", but uh, I was too busy exploring the area. I'll take their word for it!
- Ways to relax: They have common areas, but again, its mainly for social interaction.
- Sauna/Spa/Steamroom: They didn't list this when I went, maybe they've upgraded by now!
Cleanliness and Safety - The "Gotta-Haves"
Okay, this is where I got pleasantly surprised.
- Anti-viral cleaning products, Daily disinfection in common areas, Hand sanitizer, Hygiene certification, Rooms sanitized between stays, Sterilizing equipment, Staff trained in safety protocol: They seemed to have really upped their game with sanitation protocols. In the current world, that's a MASSIVE comfort. Felt genuinely safe, even around all the shared spaces.
- Safe dining setup & Sanitized kitchen and tableware items: They made an effort to deliver on their promise to keep it clean.
- Physical distancing of at least 1 meter: This was also being enforced, but the hostel is small, and depending of the group size, it sometimes feels a bit crowded.
- First aid kit: Always a good sign.
- Smoke alarms, Fire extinguisher: They had it.
- CCTV in common areas: I felt secure.
- Staff trained in safety protocol: They also seemed very nice, helpful and spoke enough English.
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking – Fueling the Fun
- Asian breakfast, Western breakfast: Both available! Good basic food, nothing earth-shattering, but sufficient to get you going.
- Breakfast [buffet]: Standard hostel buffet setup. Nothing fancy.
- A la carte in restaurant, Coffee/tea in restaurant, Desserts in restaurant, Snack bar, Salad in restaurant, Soup in restaurant, Vegetarian restaurant: Restaurants options are limited, but they make do.
- Bar, Poolside bar, Happy hour, Bottle of water: Good to have these, for easy access to grab a drink.
- Food delivery: If you don't want to go out and want to order food, the option is there.
- Room service [24-hour]: Its not really the "room service" type of hostel, but there's always staff around.
Services and Conveniences – The Little Things That Matter
- Air conditioning in public area: Essential for that Japanese humidity.
- Cash withdrawal, Currency exchange: Super useful, especially if you're not fluent in Japanese yet.
- Concierge, Doorman: Makes things easier.
- Daily housekeeping: Rooms were spotless, which is impressive for a hostel.
- Elevator: THANK YOU. Lugging luggage down stairs after a night of partying is not my idea of fun.
- Laundry service, Dry cleaning, Ironing service: Got my clothes clean, no complaints.
- Luggage storage, Safety deposit boxes: Essential for peace of mind.
- Convenience store: For those late-night snack cravings, it's right there.
- Taxi service: No problems getting a cab.
For the Kids - Ehhh…
- Family/child friendly, Babysitting service, Kids facilities, Kids meal: This is NOT a family-focused hostel. It’s designed for young travelers.
Getting Around - Navigating Tokyo!
- Airport transfer: Available, which is super convenient.
- Car park [free of charge], Bicycle parking, Car park [on-site], Valet parking: All readily available.
- Taxi service: Easy to hail a taxi.
Available in all rooms - The Inside Scoop
- Air conditioning, Alarm clock, Blackout curtains, Carpeting, Coffee/tea maker, Complimentary tea, Daily housekeeping, Desk, Free bottled water, Hair dryer, In-room safe box, Internet access – wireless, Ironing facilities, Laptop workspace, Mini bar, Mirror, Non-smoking, Private bathroom, Reading light, Refrigerator, Satellite/cable channels, Seating area, Separate shower/bathtub, Shower, Slippers, Smoke detector, Socket near the bed, Soundproofing, Telephone, Toiletries, Towels, Wake-up service: All your standard room amenities are there.
- Additional toilet, Bathrobes, Bathroom phone, Bathtub, Closet, Extra long bed, High floor, Interconnecting room(s) available, Internet access – LAN, Ironing facilities, Linens, On-demand movies, Refrigerator, Safety/security feature, Scale, Sofa, Soundproofing, Umbrella, Visual alarm, Window that opens: They also include a lot of minor things that makes your stay a little bit more special.
My Specific Experience: The Ramen Incident (and why you should book)
Okay, here's a story for ya. I love ramen. Obsessed with it. On my second night, after a few too many drinks with my new hostel buddies, I stumbled back to the hostel starving. The snack bar was closed. The vending machine was out of everything I wanted, and I thought, "Oh, well, I can probably grab a late-night bowl somewhere."
NOPE.
And that's when the panic set in. Where the heck do you find a ramen shop in Tokyo at 2 AM? I was lost, hangry, and on the verge of tears.
Then, a hostel staff member – bless her soul, I can't remember her name – came to my rescue! She called a local place (yes, at 2 AM!), arranged a takeaway, and even gave me directions back to the hostel. She didn't have to do that, and that's when I realised that Furoya's staff wasn't just employees. They're genuinely invested in their guests having a good time.
That's the kind of experience you won't get at a generic hotel. That’s the kind of service that makes a hostel memorable.
The Imperfections? They Exist, But They're Manageable
- The Noise: It's a party
Okay, buckle up, buttercup. This isn't your perfectly curated Instagram feed. This is…well, this is how it actually went down at Hostel Furoya, Japan. Prepare for a ride.
Hostel Furoya: A Messy-But-Beautiful Adventure (or, How I Survived a Week in Kyoto)
Day 1: Arrival and the Great Ramen Emergency (and immediate regret)
- Time: 8:00 AM - Ugh, the flight. Let's skip that. Suffice to say, I arrived bleary-eyed at Kansai International Airport, feeling like a deflated balloon animal.
- Transportation: Train (the Shinkansen – yes, I used the word! – from the airport to Kyoto station - felt like the future) I was so excited! Even if I accidentally brought my entire luggage.
- Destination: Hostel Furoya, Kyoto. The photos online promised a minimalist haven. Reality…well, reality was a little less Zen and a lot more "lost tourist."
- Check-in: Smoothish. Except the receptionist, who looked like she was carved from granite, had a name I couldn't pronounce and a smile I had to squint to see. But she was clearly used to wrecks like me. At least the Hostel was clean and the common area was perfect for my current state.
- Early Afternoon: Ramen Time: Found a place near the hostel. It seemed promising! Until I ordered the "Spicy Volcano Ramen." My mouth exploded. My tears flowed. I think I may have accidentally set off a fire alarm. (Okay, probably not. But it felt that way). The noodles were amazing, though. Maybe I'm just a wimp.
- Late Afternoon: Attempted (and FAILED) to decipher the washing machine instructions. Wound up just throwing all my clothes in and hoping for the best. Pro-tip: learn basic Japanese before you go. Or, you know, at all.
- Evening: Collapsed on my bunk. The hostel has the smallest beds I have ever seen. My feet dangled off the edge. Read a book. Or attempted to. I fell asleep reading the first chapter.
Day 2: Temple Trauma (and the accidental purchase of a Buddha)
- Morning: Woke up. My clothes were surprisingly clean. Victory! Decided to be ambitious and visit Fushimi Inari Shrine.
- Transportation: Walked. It was…far. Like, really far.
- Destination: Fushimi Inari Shrine. Those thousands of orange torii gates? Stunning. Truly. The climb to the top? Brutal. I was sweating like I'd just ran a marathon. I'm pretty sure I saw my life flash before my eyes halfway up. I swore off stairs forever.
- Midday: Got lost (classic). Wandered into a little trinket shop. Was charmed by the shop owner and his stories. Ended up accidentally buying a miniature Buddha statue, mostly because I felt bad for the shop owner. It's now sitting on my desk, judging me.
- Afternoon: Exhausted. Had some of the best street food I've ever tasted - dango!
- Evening: Ramen again! This time the Miso ramen. Less explosive, still delicious. Chat with a girl. The one person in the hostel who spoke English. "I think I am in love with Japan.” She rolled her eyes. But I was serious.
Day 3: Bamboo Forest Bliss (and the existential dread of solo travel)
- Morning: Arashiyama Bamboo Grove! Yes! This was on the list. Found it.
- Transportation: Another train. Got off at the wrong station. Twice.
- Destination: The Arashiyama Bamboo Grove. Magical. Seriously. It was like walking through a dream. I could almost forget about all the other tourists. Almost.
- Mid-day: Had a picnic in the park with the view of the Togetsukyo Bridge. Ate a suspiciously-looking onigiri. Still alive. This trip is a success.
- Afternoon: Visited Tenryu-ji Temple. More serene beauty. Started to feel a little bit…melancholy. Solo travel is great, until it isn't. I missed having someone to share it with.
- Evening: Back at the hostel. Met some other travelers. We shared some beers and stories. Laughter. I felt a little less alone.
Day 4: The Kiyomizu-dera Mishap (and the terrifyingly beautiful view)
- Morning: Another Temple, Kiyomizu-dera Temple. This time, I managed to navigate the bus system without major incident. (Victory!)
- Destination: Kiyomizu-dera Temple. Stunning views. Breathtaking. (Literally, because I nearly passed out from the heat). Admired the wooden stage, and the crowds, the endless crowds of people.
- Mid-day: Attempted to drink the "Otowa Waterfall" water. The lines were HUGE. After waiting for an hour I found the line for the water itself was also huge. Nope. No refreshing water for me.
- Afternoon: Got lost trying to find the Gion district. Wandered into a quiet, shaded street and sat on a bench to collect myself.
- Evening: Gion! Finally! Stumbled upon Geishas. Felt like I was in a movie! Ate at a very, very, very expensive restaurant. Worth it, kind of.
Day 5: Golden Pavilion Gloom (and the overwhelming beauty)
- Morning: Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion). Expected beauty, received beauty. The reflection in the pond! The gold! It’s not a temple, it’s an experience.
- Transportation: Trains and buses. Starting to feel like a pro.
- Destination: Kinkaku-ji. The Golden Pavilion! It was, well, golden. And beautiful. And packed with tourists. But still, worth seeing.
- Mid-day: Ate a matcha ice cream. It was so good I almost cried.
- Afternoon: Explored the gardens around the Golden Pavilion. Found a quiet spot. Sat in silence. Felt grateful.
- Evening: Cooked a simple meal (ramen, surprise!) in the hostel. Talked to my new friends.
Day 6: Market Mayhem (and the realization that I cannot, in fact, buy everything)
- Morning: Nishiki Market! Finally the day!
- Transportation: Walked. Got lost. Found it!
- Destination: Nishiki Market. A sensory overload of food! Pickles, seafood, sweets… I wanted everything.
- Midday: Sampled about a million things. My taste buds were in heaven. My stomach was a little bit worried.
- Afternoon: Spent way too much money on souvenirs. Had to hide a few in my suitcase because I had already reached my budget (shhh).
- Evening: Celebrated my last night with all my new friends. Ate cheap sushi, drank a lot of beer. Swore I'd come back.
Day 7: Farewell, Japan (and the lingering scent of ramen)
- Morning: Packed. Said goodbye to the hostel. The receptionist even cracked a smile. Maybe.
- Transportation: Back to the airport (tear).
- Departure: Sad. Exhausted. Overwhelmed. But absolutely, positively, head-over-heels in love with Japan.
- Emotional conclusion: Still dreaming of those orange torii gates. And maybe, just maybe, I'll be able to conquer that washing machine next time. Either way, this trip was a beautiful mess. And I wouldn’t have had it any other way.
P.S. I still don't know what the Buddha statue is supposed to do. But he makes a good conversation starter. And if you're going to Hostel Furoya…bring earplugs.
Indonesia's Botani Square: IPB Convention Hotel's Hidden Gem Revealed!
Furoya Japan Hostel: Insane Views, Epic Parties! (Book Now!) - Seriously, Though!
Okay, "Insane Views" - Is That Just Hype, Or Are We Talking Jaw-Droppingly Spectacular?
Alright, alright, let's cut the crap. "Insane Views" is *not* hyperbole. I'm talking... remember that scene in *Spirited Away* when Chihiro's on the bridge? Yeah, kinda like that, but, like, *every* damn morning. I woke up one day, bleary-eyed, stinking of sake from the night before, and BAM – Fuji-san. Just *there*. Right outside my window. I nearly choked on my instant ramen. Literally, my jaw fell open. I'm pretty sure I spent a solid hour just staring. It's not just a 'view,' it's a *presence*. It's the kind of thing that makes you spontaneously start taking existential photos and posting them on Insta with some pretentious philosophical caption. Don't judge me; I did it. You will too.
"Epic Parties"? Like, Is This Place Full Of Rabid Backpackers Doing Shots All Night? Because, Honestly, I'm 32...
Okay, *look*. Yes. There *are* shots. Sometimes. And yes, there are backpackers with questionable life choices. But here's the thing: the parties are what you make them. My first night? I walked in, feeling like a wet blanket. I was jetlagged, grumpy, and convinced everyone would think I was ancient. But then this dude, this absolute *unit* of a human named Hiro, shoved a beer in my hand and yelled something incomprehensible in Japanese. Next thing I knew, I was attempting to karaoke a Bon Jovi song (poorly, I might add... my vocal range is basically a whisper and a scream) and laughing my head off. It's not just about getting hammered; it's about the *vibe*. It's about genuine connection. You *will* meet some weirdos. You *will* find yourself trying to explain the plot of *The Good Place* to someone who doesn't speak a word of English. And you *will* love it. Mostly.
What's the Deal With the Dorm Rooms? Are They Cramped, or Can I Swing a Cat (Figuratively, Of Course)?
Okay, cat-swinging? Probably not. (Though, let's be honest, if *you* can swing a cat, hit me up, I'm impressed). The dorms are… well, they're hostels. They're not the Ritz. But they're clean, the beds are surprisingly comfy (I’m usually a sensitive sleeper, and I snoozed like a baby!), and they actually *have* windows. The shared bathrooms are… functional. Think… functional, but with a Japanese aesthetic. And the lockers? Essential. Hide your good snacks. Trust me. Some of the rooms are bigger than others, so check the descriptions when you book. I ended up in a smaller room, which I was initially bummed about, but then I made friends with everyone in there, and it felt like we had our own little slumber party every night. So it all depends on your preferences.
Can I Get a Sense of the Staff? Are They Actually Helpful, or Do They Just Pretend to Care?
Oh, the staff. Okay, so picture this: I’m hopelessly lost (shock). I can’t read Japanese (obvious). I’m trying to get to a temple that's… well, further away than I thought, and the train schedules are baffling. I'm reduced to a sweaty, confused mess. That's when I found out how good the staff are. And not just the helpful, "yeah, here's a map" way. I'm talking about the "hold your hand and walk you to the *exact* train platform, buy you a coffee and explain the Japanese rail system with actual patience" way. They’re friendly, they're knowledgeable, and they actually seemed to *enjoy* helping. (This is not a paid endorsement, I swear!) Honestly, the staff is a HUGE reason why Furoya is so good. They're the glue that holds the whole place together. They're even up for late-night chats (and sometimes help with the karaoke!). They didn't judge my awful singing. Which, in my opinion, is above and beyond.
I'm a Vegetarian/Vegan. Can I Actually Eat Anything in Japan, or Will I Be Stuck With Salad?
Okay, food in Japan *can* be tricky for vegetarians and vegans. But the staff at Furoya are WELL aware. They're amazing at suggesting local places and even have some basic cooking facilities. I'm a pescatarian, so it wasn't quite as difficult for me, but I overheard them giving excellent advice to other guests. They pointed them in the direction of some incredible local places, including a little ramen shop that offered a delicious veggie broth. I ate ramen *every day* in Japan. (Don't judge me.) They really went above and beyond to make sure everyone could enjoy the food scene, even if they weren't major meat-eaters.
What's the Vibe Like Overall? Is It More Party Animal, or Chilled-Out Traveler?
It's… both. It's a weird, beautiful, chaotic blend. You've got the hardcore party-goers, the ones who are fueled by instant ramen and the thrill of the next karaoke session. Then you've got the more chilled-out folks, the ones who want to hike, visit temples, and maybe have a quiet beer while watching the sunset. The magic of Furoya is that it somehow accommodates both. You can be your own person. You can sit in the common area and quietly read a book, or you can join in a raucous game of cards. There's a genuine sense of community. I think the staff does a great job of setting the tone, but it really depends on the people who are there at the time.
Okay, Hit Me With a REAL Negative. What's the Catch? What's the One Thing That Sucked?
Alright, alright. Fine. Here's the catch: the laundry situation is a bit…meh. There are machines, but they're sometimes busy. And the drying situation can be a bit of a hang-fest (pun intended!). So, pack light or be prepared to do some serious hand-washing. Also, remember the "fun" party nights, the constant social pressure to have fun is a legit real thing - especially if you are a bit of an introvert. It will give you a FOMO so strong, it's the only reason why I had to get some sushi. And, okay, sometimes the noise from the parties can travel up to the dorm rooms but hey, earplugs are a thing, yeah? My issue was, in the moment, I was torn, I wanted it to be a quiet zone. On the other hand, that's why I was in the hostel in the first place... and I would have rather stayed in more than out of it!
Luxury Stay Blog
