1166 Backpackers

Excellent location near the main temple. Nearby bus stops for access to anywhere in town. Strong Wi-Fi and very friendly, informative staff. The building has wooden floors so it creaks whenever you walk. Everyone just needs to be mindful when walking because of noise. Also the bathrooms are on the ground floor so you have to walk down narrow stairs since most rooms are upstairs.

Beds are traditional Japanese beds and you make your own sheets, which is custom in most places around Japan. The female dorms are pretty spacious and the hostel contains an impressive amount of free to use hygiene items. Stuff was incredibly friendly and helpful. As soon as I came in to check in the girl on duty made me cold barely tea, sat with me and explained everything I could possibly need to know about Nagano and the prefecture as a whole. She recommended places to visit, told me about the prefectures staple foods and delicacies, hikes, museums, temples and so many more activities. By her advice i went the day after to a Buddhist morning ceremony, it was an amazing experience that I wouldn’t even know about without her advice. The hostel is walking distance from Zenkōji temple which was a big plus. The other stuff were also very friendly, they gave me great recommendations solely out of kindness and it’s clear they really do love Nagano. Facilities were great, the common area was just like a living room and felt like a home. I came as a solo traveler and it was off season so there weren’t many other travelers around, other then the stuff the hostel was quite quiet and I was basically all alone (I do suppose it depends on the season, I was in Nagano in the summer and the busy season is mainly winter). If you come as a group or if you just want peace and quiet it’s an amazing option, for me it was a bit lonely. the showers are on the bottom floor while the dorms are on the top floor.

Nothing I didn't like, but if you are a big person the stairs and the place might require extra care since the place feels very traditionally sized.

The doorway in our room was a bit low, so be careful , watch your head and you will be OK

Awesome staff, very friendly and with great recommendations!

Liked it all

All staff go out of their way to help you with whatever you need! The hostel has been set up for making connections and sharing time/experiences with whoever walks through the door. An excellent stay!

Erverybody was sooo helpful, they even helped finding my next place to stay. So grateful

This was one of my favorite stays in my one month in Japan. I absolutely loved this hostel. The staff make this place really special. They are all incredibly helpful, warm and welcoming and willing to assist with everything. I also met lots of awesome people here to go sightseeing with which was great as a solo traveler. It's very conveniently located in the centre of the tourist area of Nagano by Zenkoji temple. The filter coffee in the mornings is delicious. As a bit of a coffee snob, I was excited to wake up to it each morning. There is also barley tea and snacks available all day. Nothing to dislike here. I'd just add that the dorm rooms are a bit small so the room can be noisy depending on the other sleepers but I didn't have any issues. The hostel being in the perfect location in Nagano's tourist hotspot means that it is about a 20 minute walk from Nagano station however there are buses very regularly, almost every 5 minutes, and they all go to and from the station.

The staff were exceptional and very friendly and helpful! N/A

They care so much it sort of makes you re-evaluate how you live your life. Sometimes that’s japan, but even for Japan, 1166 goes beyond.

I loved everything about my stay. The staff were so friendly and truly wanted to ensure that your trip in Nagano would be a good one. I they give you a run down on Nagano and give amazing recommendations. Nothing

The staff was very kind and welcoming and the place was lovely

Friendliest and most helpful staff I’ve ever met at a hostel or hotel. Dorms have tatami mats and shoji windows which makes for a cozy vibe. The mattresses are quite cushy by Japanese standards which was really nice after bruising my hips in other hostels. Duvet was big and warm.

Although it’s about a 20-minute walk from Nagano Station, arriving here felt like discovering a much quieter and more local neighborhood—an unexpected and pleasant surprise. The check-in process was very professional. The staff even helped carry my luggage up to my room on the second floor. My stay was actually very short—barely half a day—but the staff still took the time to carefully introduce Nagano and share many recommendations. And their suggestions turned out to be excellent. The restaurants, onsen, and viewpoints they recommended were all very authentic and local. The hostel also provides several notebooks filled with useful information for travelers, which I found very thoughtful. They offer free tea every day as well, and it was surprisingly good! I will definitely come back next time. And by the way, the staff’s English is excellent too.

warm and nice staff. Fluent English communication. highly recommended for solo travellers

The people here are very kind, and the location is really good. The doors were a little hard to open

That I just stayed one night. Could have spent more time there

One of my favorite hostels I’ve ever stayed in!! The staff were so kind and helpful. They were constantly giving me recommendations for things to do during the day and restaurants to go to. I also went to my first onsen while there, and they were so kind in explaining what all I should expect and bring. The house itself was lovely as well. I was in the bunk dorm, and it was very spacious. I had two larger bags and one smaller bag, and they all fit in the space by my bed which I really appreciated. The hostel’s one and only downside for me was that it was a bit of a hike from the main train station. There was the option to bus, but I decided to walk the 20 minutes and with all my luggage it wasn’t easy. With that said, once there, the location was great. There’s a bus station right next door and a different train station close by, so it was also very easy to go about my day.

Warm place and people.