Overall, this place exceeded my expectation greatly. The host is very helpful, welcoming and friendly. We had to cancel some of the spots right before the stay, but the host sponsored the full amount refund. The entire hostel was very new and clean at the time we stayed. It is close to Haruna-yama too. The vibe is amazing. Many foreigners from all over the world joined the conversation at the bar during the night. The host speaks great English too and seems like she's learning other languages too. She and her husband helped us reserve a local restaurant (good taste at a low price), and the restaurant gave us ice cream for free for being the Hostel guest at Matoi! Additionally, we even had free drinks, cocktails! Trust me it is the best hostel you can find at this price in the surrounding area or even around entire Japan.

Shower room size.

Super cool staff (best regards to George and John) and the whole design was really well made. They even gave me a lift on top (super lucky) and also some free dessert by chance! Facilities like showers were great as well.

The mattresses were kind of too hard for me and when the upper bed had their lights turned on it would be rather bright for the lower bed (I was sleeping in). Also the lock is a little bit loud when your bed is next to it when it closes automatically. If you're by foot it's kind of a long walk (30min) from the nearest station so car is easiest. Parking was super convenient though.

The whole building and amenities were super modern. Big kitchen with closet that would be great for longer visits, and a great common room with lots of tables and a sofa. The free drink cards per day are also a bonus, in addition to rental bikes being availabe for a fee. They also have a free transit option from the station to the building (though you should call the day ahead), which I think you can ask to drop you off somewhere in town, too. Staff were pleasant.

A group of other guests were extremely disruptive at night, and early in the morning. (4am, shouting and yelling). Another guest was snoring so loud he could wake the dead, so I did not sleep well. The snoring forced another guest I met at the hostel to avoid her room and sleep on the couch in the common room, since even earplugs did not work. I gave the hostel an "8" becasue the building is very nice, but really my satisfaction is much lower at "2" becasue of the group of guests with horrible manners.

The staff was really kind and understanding. I made the mistake of booking for the wrong night, so when I arrived they understood and simply swapped days so that I would not have to pay an additional night. I stayed 2 nights anyway because I liked the place. The staff spoke English and were just great people to be around. The place had all facilities one might need for a hostel, everything was clean, and the atmosphere was convivial. The slightly recluse location is offset by the fact that they offer to transport you to the nearest station if you require.

The location is a slight inconvenience as there aren’t many great things to do around, but as explained, the staff offers to transport you to the train station if you need it, so that’s not much of an inconvenience.

Fantastic and friendly hostel with great new facilities, very clean, well-maintained and stylishly decorated. All the staff were absolutely delightful and I enjoyed having a few beers in the bar and chatting with everyone. Great to have the shuttle bus service from the nearest station. Relaxing stop off point on my way to Kusatsu Onsen. Highly recommended!

The location is a little out of the way and there isn’t masses to do nearby, particularly if you’re coming via public transport like I did. If you have a car then it will be easier to get around and explore the local area and nature etc.

Matoi was my first stop after leaving the whirlwind that is Tokyo. It turned out to be a great getaway, with modern facilities located in a calm suburban part of Gunma. The hostel is a great base for exploring nearby Onsen towns, with both Ikaho and Kusatsu being suitable as day trips. Best of all is the staff, who are exceedingly warm and friendly, offering loads of recommendations and other conversation. I ended up spending most my time in the restaurant downstairs, chatting and trying out the various food and drinks on offer.

The hostel is some ways off from the nearest station, which can be a bit rough if you're carrying a lot. Luckily the staff can give you a ride if you let them know in advance.

This hostel is beautiful and modern with friendly staff who speak great English and Japanese. The beds were very comfortable with great linens and towels. Very beautiful and welcoming common areas too. Great keypad security system and small lockers available for your valuables as well.

Probably because it's a newer constructed building, the walls were pretty thin and it was easy to hear conversations between rooms and shared spaces. I recommend bringing earplugs!

The staff and owner were incredibly nice. I arrived way too early but could leave my luggage there while visiting a nearby Onsen - The owner even picked me up from there because no Bus was going back to the Hostel and then drove me to the train station afterwards. During the evening I traded in my Free Drink at the bar and had some nice conversations with the staff working there. They all spoke English and told me about their own experiences traveling around the world - It made for a very friendly environment. The rooms, beds, bathrooms and showers were all nice and what you expect from a good Hostel.

The friendliest atmosphere I've ever experienced in a hostel! You feel like part of one big family here. The staff is exceptionally kind, willing to help, and they organize many activities where you can get to know others really well. :) (Casino, karaoke…) A superb location for Initial D fans who want to explore Gunma. 🩷 Definitely follow their Instagram account @matoihostelbarjp to find out more about the events they organize. The rooms are clean, they have really tasty and original food - YOSHIDA IS THE BEST COOK! Among other things, they can also arrange shuttle bus transportation. :) Thank you all, you're amazing! We'll definitely be back! Anna & Kuba

I stayed for 6 days and I am so glad I decided to stay at this place! The place is really nice, cosy and pretty clean. What made my stay so great is the interaction with staff - they are so sweet, welcoming and ready to help you plan your trips or recommend a restaurant nearby. They also offer taking you to the train station by car. If you decide to stay there, I highly recommend you to get the drink downstairs at the bar and chat with the staff, other travelers and locals!!