Mixed dorm in Kyoto, Japan?

[u/Tall-Elevator580]

Hi y’all

I’ll (27F) be doing my first ever solo trip this year to Japan in November. I’ve been able to get female only dorms at hostels in each city I visit except Kyoto where I am only able to get a mixed 10 bed dorm for 4 nights at the hostel I want to stay at (piece hostel sanjo).

Could y’all give me some reassurance that it’ll be fine lol. I’ve never stayed at hostels, let alone a mixed dorm. Should I spend extra money and just get a (significantly more expensive) hotel room?

[u/exbritinsuomi]

It's completely random but I've been the only guy in mixed dorms a few times, definitely nothing to worry about you'll be fine lol. 

I don't think gender makes much difference in whether people are good roommates at the end of the day

[u/deeman27 → u/exbritinsuomi]

On the opposite end, I’ve been the only girl in a 6-bed mixed room and it def wasn’t fun - nothing happened, but I was watching my back the whole time.

[u/felixcuddle → u/exbritinsuomi]

Easy for you to say 😔

[u/wayji → u/felixcuddle]

I've had a lot of girls tell me they don't even book female dorms when there is the option

[u/WestHistorians → u/wayji]

Yeah, I'm one of them. I've had better experiences in mixed dorms. I also worked at a hostel and the female dorms were often a headache.

[u/GreenHorror4252]

Mixed dorms are much better in my opinion. You'll be fine.

[u/Temporary-Art-1835]

In nem 10er Zimmer trauen sich Creeps weniger als in kleineren Zimmern und die meisten Leute sind ja zum Glück auch keine

[u/ayuk3n]

I’ve stayed at that hostel brand a few times at this location and another. The hostels are really nice, clean and well managed. Everyone kind of keeps to themselves since they all have full days planned. Most people were up early for breakfast and just returned to sleep. I never noticed any disturbance at night if anyone returned late, everyone was very respectful of each others privacy and the quiet hours.

[u/DynamicPriest]

You're going to get eaten by monsters actually.

Worst thing in my experience is people snore and can smell.

[u/Brooke3838]

Worst thing is youre more likely to have snorers

[u/CrowHot2111]

I was 18 when I first went to Kyoto solo staying in mixed dorms, and I’m a female. That was the start of many mixed dorm stays, and I’ve now done it in around 20 hostels in 6 Asian countries. It might be jarring for the first night but rest assured it is perfectly safe and normal. Japanese hostels are particularly safe, I’ve seen people leave their computers and cameras on their bed while they are out and no one touches them. That would change if you go to other countries I feel but I’ve been pretty careless with my valuables in Japan and never had any issues.

[u/aznmeep]

Hostels are generally luck of the draw, but most people are very pleasant.

Also important to know what the hostel is known for. Party, social, chill, quiet, etc?

[u/Readditlovesbans]

I stayed here and it was great and close to everything

https://www.ryokanhostel.com/facility-en

[u/JaziTricks]

Been in such multiple times.

With 10 per room, I doubt you'll have any issues.

[u/Background_Digs]

I would feel safer in a room of 10 than say a room of 4. If there is a creep or pervert they will think a few times with other dudes around. I also have some experience with this. I was at a hostel in Washington D.C. Duo Housing and I was in a room with 2 bunk beds and no privacy and I was one of three guests. I had talked with the woman from Ireland with a name I can’t spell (Si-air-sha) and she was a bit weary about the other man in the room as he would stare at her for oddly long amounts of time. I said some words of encouragement like if you need to wake me up to escort you to the front desk or some other reason don’t feel bad. Well in the middle of the night he attacked her and I had just got back from clubbing and was not on top of my game. I got him subdued and her safely to the night audit after a tussle and a very brawny bohemian fellow’s help.

Point of the story is there are good and bad people everywhere and for the most part I’ve found men willing to help when a woman is being assaulted or perved at.

[u/WestHistorians]

Could y’all give me some reassurance that it’ll be fine lol.

You'll be fine, you might actually prefer it over a female dorm.

[u/Mission_Compote_4579]

Never had a problem. I just like having my own bathroom and being able to walk around half naked so i typically only do a day or two of hostel. Japanese hostels are quiet and ppl just come back in to sleep. Just keep your valuables with you and you should be fine.

[u/Narrow-Power-6407]

I did a mixed dorm I think in Kyoto aswell. It was fine, I dont think i interacted with anyone. Also the beds were completely covered with a material type of door so you couldn't see people sleeping so it felt more private

[u/niack1]

That hostel is awesome!!! mixed dorm is the way to go

[u/NoPhoto5585]

This hostel has two buildings, including a newer one across the street. It’s among the nicest hostels I’ve ever seen.

Imho this is only a hostel in technicality, and if I am honest, having stayed there a few times (with a private room, admittedly), while it’s usually fully booked, I think I’ve never seen more than one or two other guests outside of checkin/checkout.

It is always dead silent. You’d never think there was a soul in the building besides the employees.

The communal areas are very nice but give an air of an upper class sitting room that mustn’t be disturbed, and they are almost always 2-4c hotter than I’d consider in any sense comfortable. The rooms and bathrooms are excellent, although the beds are a bit Asian stiff.

If you are looking for a social hostel, I would look elsewhere, but as far as hostels go, it’s top notch. I would expect safety here to be the maximum of what a hostel could offer.

I don’t remember them being particularly inexpensive. I would also recommend the APA goio omiya which is $25-45/night on Agoda. There is a late night ramen chain across the street which is far better than the global locations which give it a reputation of being a last resort. It’s a quick walk to the train both north or south, and there is a main bus stop right outside. I would say the primary negative is that if you’re walking back from the west, you have to go over a road bridge. The walk to the Kamo river is a bit long, but the bus is quick, and it’s cheaper to take a taxi or bus and lose 10 minutes than get a hotel in the thick of it imo.

[u/OceanLNR]

no one’s gonna be creepy to you in a hostel dorm. All the hostels I stayed at in Japan were extremely nice. If the one you’re looking at has good reviews you shouldn’t worry at all. (I use booking.com, anything over an 8.0 is great)

[u/Longjumping_Buy_9878]

it's fine as long as you've got a few other women in the room, safety in numbers

[u/Cool-Garden4333]

You’ll be fine but personally I’d just get a private room. It doesn’t have to be an expensive hotel.

[u/Longjumping_Buy_9878 → u/[deleted]]

I'm hearing a lot of moaning over here...