Shiretoko Iwaobetsu Youth Hostel
Shiretoko Iwaobetsu Youth Hostel descritpion
Located in Shiretoko National Park, Shiretoko Iwaobetsu Youth Hostel offers affordable dormitory-style accommodations. Free parking is available on-site and guests can share travel stories with each other at the shared lounge. Iwaobetsu Bus Stop is a mere 1-minute walk away.
The rooms feature bunk beds and heating facilities. Bathrooms and toilets are shared. Guests must bring their own towels and toiletries.
A coin-launderette is on-site and guests can watch DVDs in the shared lounge. A fridge and an electric kettle are provided as well. A 3-hour nature tour is available between 08:00 and 13:00 for guests who wish to explore the area. Charges apply and reservations must be made at time of booking.
Youth Hostel Shiretoko Iwaobetsu is a 20-minute drive from Utro Ski Resort and a 15-minute drive from Shiretoko Five Lakes. JR Shiretokoshari Train Station is a 75-minute drive away.
No meals are served.
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Facilities of Shiretoko Iwaobetsu Youth Hostel
Pets ：Pets are not allowed.
Activities ：Skiing | Hiking
Internet ：No internet access available.
Parking ：Free!Free private parking is available on site (reservation is not needed).
Services ：Vending Machine (drinks) | Baggage Storage | Laundry
General ：Heating | Designated Smoking Area
Reviews for Shiretoko Iwaobetsu Youth Hostel
Review 1：Buses aren't so frequent, not really anything in the near vicinity- bring food, or prepare to order your day around bus timetables. (irrelevant if you have a car!)
Review 2：Great atmosphere, plenty of conversation and very helpful and friendly staff
Review 3：The hotel building is old and shows lots of signs of wear. The staff’s attentiveness to issues helps with this, but there is a need for an overhaul. However, as the hostel’s opening season is short it might be difficult to fund a new building or a major overhaul of the old one. It would be a great shame if this facility was lost. The hostel has no wifi, which can be an issue if you are trying to arrange onward travel. There are no cooking facilities for guests except a hot water dispenser and a microwave, but this seems common in Japanese hostels. I am used to UK hostels where the provision of a kitchen is part of the point of staying there! There are no shops or restaurants nearby, or anything much! Other drawbacks are about the area rather than the hostel. The attractiveness of the Shiretoko National Park is its wildness – most space is really reserved for the wildlife but this means there are few roads and even few footpaths, so it limits what a traveller can. Hiking is pretty much limited to the Mt Rausu/ridge trail or walking along the road which runs from Utoro to Kamuiwakke hot spring. It is not allowed to walk the few hundred meters down the river to the sea, unfortunately, due to the salmon farm being off limits. But a visit to the accessible spots and a boat trip out to the Cape are all really great – so I recommend a visit of 3-4 days to see everything.
Review 4：Staff are very helpful. There is little accommodation actually within the Shiretoko National Park and the hostel provides budget accommodation in a good location, served by the local bus. The Park is a great site which is really largely reserved for nature, rather than a human-centred entity where there is some protection for wildlife. There aren’t man buses and they are expensive; I found hitching to be mostly very successful (I think some people thought I was taking a risk walking in brown bear country and were happy to ‘save’ me!)
Review 5：We brought a simple meal for cooking, and we were surprised when we were not able to prepare our food as we were not allowed in the kitchen. At the same time, all the other guest were eating a nice meal prepared by the staff. We were not allowed to order this food when we arrived in the afternoon. We ended up eating our food raw. I think this hostel should inform their guest better about their policy. No close alternatives for eating.
Review 6：Great location, probably the best alternative for budget hikers and sightseers in this part of the area.
Review 7：There was no info material in English which made it a bit hard to get around. I also expected the possibility of hiking starting in the vicinity of the hostel, but there was nothing, you had to take the bus.
Review 8：The food was absolutely amazing, I never expected anything like this in a youth hostel. Also, it was very quiet at night.
Review 9：- 10km from Utoro and buses are few and far in between (the fare is ¥530), the walk takes two hours - No meals, so better stock up in Utoro or go bear hunting (they have a big and comfy dining room though) - Staff only speaks japanese
Review 10：- Exceptionally quiet and ideally located (farthest place into Shiretoko) - Cheapest place around by far - No direct access to the sea (it's a restricted area for some reason I didn't investigate) - The dorms are really cozy
Review 11：The location can make getting around difficult if you aren't part of a tour or have a car.
Review 12：Nice dining area to talk to people Next to a river where bears are supposed to be seen in certain seasons.
Review 13：This was the most disappointing accommodation of our trip - the whole place smelt like a mix of stale cigarette smoke and poorly managed drop toilets. Very expensive considering the poor condition. Staff lacked the helpfulness we've found throughout japan, even in accommodation that cost half as much. Incredibly difficult to access if you don't have a car. Thankfully we did because dinner wasn't available and breakfast was not good. If you can, get a rental car and stay somewhere else.
Review 14：Basic accommodation in a pretty location 4km away from the trailhead for the incredible walk up to the summit of mt. rausu.
Review 15：A little old, but you get what you paid for. Also, pretty inconvenient location if you don't have a car.
Review 16：Friendly staff
Review 17：the room is a bit staffy. Although it was cold in fall, there is no air inside the room and hence a bit hot
Review 18：very friendly staff
Review 19：Best place for climber.
Review 20：Hard to get to without transport.
Review 21：Close to the Five Lakes and set near a river.
Review 22：Very good location near the bus stop but inside the real nature with fascinating views of the river and mountings. Friendly stuff.
Review 23：Smell of the drop toilets.
Review 24：Comfortable beds. Great location.
Review 25：- Far away from everything! No restaurant, 7/11! You need your own car or you are lost! Bus frequenzy is really bad, you waste a lot of time!- Staff should inform better about everything at arrival! (bus system, reservation for dinner and breakfast...)
Review 26：A lot of nature :)
Review 27：No kitchen facilities available for use - only hot water (so basically can only cook ramen). It was quite expensive for a rural dorm bed.
Review 28：The place was quite clean and the futon bed was very comfortable. There was a big dining room that could be used at any time.
Review 29：Right next to bus stop, easy to get around to the other parts of Shiretoko
The Fine Print
Credit card will be used for guarantee purposes only. When settling the bill, the hotel will accept cash only (in Japanese Yen).