About us 1 What is Youth Hostel? 2 What Kind of Place is Youth Hostel?  3 What are the Necessary Requirements for Using Youth Hostel? 4 Can a Alone Traveler or a Family Stay at Youth Hostel? 5 What is Youth Guest House? 6 Japanese Youth Hostel 7 Overnight Charge 8 Change / Cancellation of Reservation 9 From Arrival to Departure 1 What is Youth Hostel? "Youth Hostel" is a global network of accommodation for travelers, originated in Germany. Youth Hostel, of which basic concept is to provide lodging place for anyone who wants to enjoy safe, pleasant and economical traveling, now extends its network by covering 80 countries all over the world with 5,500 hostels. In Japan, approximately 350 facilities are scattered throughout the country from Hokkaido to Okinawa, offering accommodation at very reasonable overnight fee of about 3,000 yen per night (around 5,000 yen on half-board basis). 2 What Kind of Place is Youth Hostel? Its bedrooms in general are gender-wise separated dormitories capable of accommodating 4 to 8 people in one room, with sets of bunk beds placed in western-style interior (you may also find Japanese-style bedrooms with 'tatami mats'). Guests are kindly requested to help themselves with chores such as setting and clearing their own table, or putting sheets on their bed. Meals and services provided at hostels are more than satisfactory despite the low price; Youth Hostel is gentle-on-the-budget accommodation for travelers where guests can enjoy company of their lodging-mates in relaxing atmosphere. 3 What are the Necessary Requirements for Using Youth Hostel? Every user is required to have a Youth Hostel Membership Card. The card is obtainable via simple procedure from one of the Japan Youth Hostel's prefectural offices or from any youth hostel in the country. The membership card is valid throughout the world, allowing the holder to stay at every hostel located in whichever corner of the world once it is obtained in Japan. 4 Can a Alone Traveler or a Family Stay at Youth Hostel? Yes! Hostels' welcome mats are always out for travelers on their own, too. There will be no more loneliness of traveling alone in Youth Hostel, for you can make friends with your roommates on the instant. Although the bedrooms are separated according to the gender, a private room will be available for a family or a group. 5 What is Youth Guest House? Youth Guest House is an accommodation providing quality services and facilities, up-grading those of the conventional Youth Hostel. The rooms are generally en-suites (i.e. with bathroom/toilet). Overnight charge is roughly 6,500 yen per night on half-board basis. There are currently 7 Youth Guest Houses in Japan. 6 Japanese Youth Hostel Japan is a country where the four seasons revolve with their respective beauty. Every region has its own cultural climate, and there are innumerable places that visitors should not overlook while traveling. It is true that high prices of Japan press heavily upon tourists from abroad. However, Youth Hostel provides safe and secure accommodation for travelers, including those on their own, at a low price. Network of Japanese youth hostels consists of 320 facilities spreading across the country from Hokkaido up in the north to the islands of Okinawa in the far south. Peculiarity and size differ from hostel to hostel: some large, some small with homely atmosphere, and some located in rural areas; Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines in particular places function as youth hostels; there are even facilities that are designated as cultural assets for their historic buildings. Individual hostel organizes activities and programs such as walking, skiing, diving or Christmas party, all full of features, in which the guests can take part at a very reasonable cost. These shall be a great opportunity to promote friendship with your lodging-mates including many Japanese young people. 7 Overnight Charge Overnight charge of Youth Hostel, which varies according to the level of facilities, is 3,200 yen per night at average for a bed in a gender-wise separated dormitory. The price shall range between 3,500 and 5,000 yen for a special room with bath, or for an accommodation at Youth Guest House where facilities and services are of higher grade. When hostel is not crowded, a guest may be assigned to a dorm to use it all by his/herself. In such case, the guest will only have to pay the prescribed overnight charge. But if a group or a family consisting of a smaller number than the dorm's capacity asks for one room exclusively for them to use, then extra will be charged. Overnight charge for visitors under 15 years of age is 500 yen in less. Many hostels cater meals for guests at around 760 yen for breakfast and 1,260 yen for supper. 5% consumption tax will be added to the overnight/meal charges. 8 Change / Cancellation of Reservation When changing or canceling a reservation, contact the hostel at your earliest. Cancellation Fees shall be charged as follows: Cancellation fees shall be calculated at each night (incl tax) basend on following list. In case of reservation of meals as well, this cancellation condition shall be applied on including meal fees (incl tax). Change/Cancellation
9 From Arrival to Departure Youth Hostels are generally closed between 10 am and 3 pm. Check-in time is normally from 3 pm to 8 pm, and guests who will be having dinner at hostel are requested to arrive before 6.30 pm. After arriving, present your youth hostel membership card at the reception, fill in the guest card, and pay the prescribed overnight fee. Guests are requested to check out before 10 am. |
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