Unbelievable Otaru Stay: Otaornai Backpacker's Hostel Morinoki Review!
Unbelievable Otaru Stay: Otaornai Backpacker's Hostel Morinoki – My Brain Dump of a Review! (SEO, S'more!)
Okay, buckle up, buttercups, because I'm about to unleash a review about the Unbelievable Otaru Stay: Otaornai Backpacker's Hostel Morinoki, and let me tell you, my brain is still trying to process the sheer… unassuming charm of the place. Forget your polished travel blogs, this is the real deal, warts and all. (And trust me, there are some warts.)
First Impressions? (Spoiler Alert: They Evolved)
Finding the place was a mini-adventure in itself! Hidden away, like a well-kept secret – which I'm kinda sworn to keep (but hey, here we are!). The exterior? Rustic. Friendly. Think "cozy mountain cabin meets…well, Otaru." My first thought? "Is this really the place?" Followed immediately by, "Oh, hell yes."
Accessibility – The Reality Check:
Now, I'm gonna be upfront: Wheelchair access? Eh, It ain't great. There's an elevator, which is a good start, but the overall vibe is very… character-filled. Think uneven floors and narrow doorways. While they TRY to have Facilities for disabled guests… I'd recommend contacting them directly to get the full skinny on accessibility that suits your needs.
Cleanliness and Safety (The Biggie in These Times!):
Here’s where Morinoki actually shines – big time. Anti-viral cleaning products? Check. Daily disinfection in common areas? Absolutely. They’re taking things seriously. I saw staff constantly wiping down surfaces, and the whole place smelled clean, not like the chemical warfare that some places try to pass off as "sanitized." Staff trained in safety protocol? Yep, they knew their stuff. The hand sanitizer was plentiful and readily available. And that, my friends, is a huge comfort. Even I, the hardened traveler, appreciated the effort. They even had Hygiene certification posted!
Did They Have the Essentials? (The "Must-Haves" You Know You Need):
- Internet? Free Wi-Fi in all rooms! (And it actually worked, which is a blessing.)
- Air Conditioning? Yup, thankfully! Especially crucial, and you know the places that say they do? Nope, Morinoki delivers.
- Hot Water? Endless. Glorious, scalding hot water. Perfect for washing away a day of exploring.
Rooms – Cozy, Not Cramped (Mostly):
My room? Clean, simple, and functional. Think non-smoking rooms (thank heavens), a desk to work on, and a window that opens (essential for fresh air, and sanity). The blackout curtains are a godsend, essential for catching those extra Zzz's. The bed? Comfortable. The pillows? Okay-ish (I'm a pillow snob, I admit it). Basic toiletries, no unnecessary clutter (which I like). It had the essentials – air conditioning, a refrigerator to keep my drinks cold, and a safe for my small treasures. Bonus points: A socket near the bed (bliss!)
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking – Let's Talk Food! (Because Duh!)
Okay, here’s where things get… interesting. The hostel has a restaurant with both International cuisine in restaurant and Asian cuisine in restaurant. And I made the mistake of not eating at their Vegetarian restaurant option! facepalm I did manage to snag a decent Coffee/tea in restaurant, and maybe a salad in restaurant. But a Asian breakfast or Breakfast [buffet] / Breakfast [takaeaway service]? I should have been there.
- Poolside bar? Unfortunately, no.
- Happy hour? No, nothing. Still, there are enough options to keep you satiated and happy.
Things to Do & Ways to Relax – Or, Finding Your Zen (Maybe):
Morinoki is not a spa. The lack of a Spa, Sauna, or even a Fitness center is a slight disappointment. However, there's plenty of Things to do in Otaru that'll keep you busy. This is a place for exploring, and for me, the simple pleasure of a hot shower after a long day of walking was enough to recharge the batteries.
Services and Conveniences – The Little Things That Matter:
- Daily housekeeping: Yes, and they’re wonderfully efficient.
- Laundry service: Available, which is a lifesaver for a backpacker like me!
- Luggage storage: Free and secure.
- Front desk [24-hour]: Absolutely, which is a must-have.
For the Kids? (Because, Why Not?):
Family/child friendly? Yes, but with a caveat. I didn't see any specific Kids facilities, but the atmosphere is relaxed and welcoming.
Getting Around – The Nitty-Gritty:
- Car park [free of charge]: HUGE win. Parking in Otaru can be a nightmare.
- Taxi service: Available, as is typical.
- Airport transfer: Check with the hostel. It might be available.
My Unfiltered Experience – The Good, the Quirky, and the "Hmm…"
Here's the deal: this isn't a five-star hotel. This is a backpacker's hostel, a place to unwind, recharge after a day of exploring Otaru. There are no fluff and frills. It has a charm, a certain "je ne sais quoi" that makes you feel welcome. It's not perfect, but it's real.
The Staff: Seriously, the staff were fantastic. Friendly, helpful, and patient, even when I was stumbling through my limited Japanese. They knew the best spots to eat, the most scenic routes, and the hidden gems of Otaru.
The Imperfections: The occasional creaky floorboard, the slightly dated decor, these things add to the charm. It is a safe place.
My Verdict: Would I Go Back?
Absolutely. For the location (killer!), the price (reasonable!), the cleanliness (a definite plus!), and the overall vibe (relaxed and friendly).
My Unbelievable Offer – Book Now & Get… Well, Just Book!
Ready to experience the Unbelievable Otaru Stay? Book your stay using the link below, and get ready to discover the magic of Otaru. (And hey, if you see me there, buy me a coffee - I'll tell you the really juicy stories.)
Click here to book your Unbelievable Otaru Stay at Otaornai Backpacker's Hostel Morinoki!
SEO-ified Points (Because, You Know, Google):
- Keywords: Otaru Hostel, Otaru Accommodation, Backpacker Hostel Otaru, Otaornai Backpacker's Hostel Morinoki, Otaru Japan, budget accommodation Otaru, affordable Otaru stay, clean hostel Otaru, Otaru travel, Otaru things to do
- Location: Otaru, Japan
- USP/Benefits: Cleanliness, friendly staff, free Wi-Fi, free parking, close to attractions.
- Call to Action: Book now and experience the magic of Otaru!
Alright, buckle up buttercups, because this isn’t your sanitized, Instagram-perfect travel itinerary. This is the messy, glorious, ramen-stained truth of my Otaru adventure, fueled by questionable decisions, a severe lack of sleep, and an unwavering belief in the power of cheap sake. Prepare to be… well, at least a little bit entertained. And maybe slightly horrified.
The Otaornai Backpacker's Hostel Morinoki Otaru - (OR, as I'll affectionately call it, “The Log Cabin of Dreams…and Questionable Odors”) - My Otaru Itinerary (AKA: My Descent Into Glorious Chaos):
Day 1: Arrival, Avalanche, and the Awkward Ramen Incident.
14:00: Arrive in Otaru. The train ride from the airport was…okay. Slept through most of it, woke up drooling on the window. The view of the snow-dusted mountains? Stunning. Made a mental note to find some decent gloves. My fingers were already turning a delightful shade of blue.
14:30: Check into Morinoki Hostel. Found out I'd booked the dorm room. Sigh. Praying my roommate isn’t a snorer. The hostel itself is charmingly rustic. Think "lumberjack chic" meets "slightly damp." The air smells vaguely of pine needles and… something else. Unidentifiable. Intriguing.
15:00: Explore the immediate vicinity. Found a 7-Eleven. Stocked up on onigiri (rice balls) and a questionable green tea flavored Kit Kat. Victory is mine! Seriously contemplating another Kit Kat as I type. Must. Resist.
16:00: THE AVALANCHE OF CHOCOLATE (and Other Sins) at Otaru Canal: So, the famous Otaru Canal. Yeah. It's beautiful. But the real story here? The chocolate. I wandered, a wide-eyed glutton, into a store that looked like Willy Wonka's less ethical cousin. Chocolates carved into tiny cars, animals, even… tiny, edible versions of the hostel. (Kidding. Mostly.) Purchased a frankly obscene amount of fudge. Ate three pieces before I’d even left the shop. Moral of the story: Otaru + Chocolate = Me in a sugar coma AND broke within 30 minutes.
18:00: Dinner: Attempting Ramen. Found a little local ramen shop. Beautiful atmosphere, I spoke a few words of Japanese I picked up, I was really confident! Asked for “Spicy Ramen, please.” What I got was… a nuclear-grade bowl of fire. My mouth still burns. I was sweating, tears streaming down my face. The elderly woman running the place just smiled serenely. Pretty sure she took one look at the foreigner and decided to test my limits. I somehow managed to finish the whole bowl. Pride, I guess. And a desperate need for water.
20:00: Collapse in hostel. Managed to stumble back to Morinoki. Showered, mostly to wash off the ramen sweat of doom. Praying for the snorer-free night.
Day 2: Music Boxes, the Terrarium, and the Sake Revelation.
09:00: Wake up. Surprisingly, no snorer. Success! A little groggy, thanks to the chocolate overload and the near-death experience at the ramen shop.
10:00: Music Box Museum. Okay, this was genuinely magical. The music boxes are gorgeous, intricate, delicate. I had a moment, gazing at a particularly elaborate one, started weeping. No idea why. Probably the chocolate. The sheer beauty got to me. Bought a tiny little cat music box playing "Fur Elise." Expensive. Worth it.
11:30: Lunch: Found a tiny sushi place. The sushi! OMG. Melt-in-your-mouth, fresh-off-the-boat deliciousness. Best sushi I've ever had. Worth every penny. (And I was eating rice balls all morning.)
13:00: The Mysterious "Terrarium Shop": Okay, this was weird. A shop that looked like a botanist's fever dream, filled with tiny, perfectly crafted terrariums. The owner, a woman with a perpetually serene expression and a cat perched on her shoulder, spent an hour explaining the intricacies of moss growth. Ended up buying a tiny terrarium with a miniature mushroom. (I swear, it’s not a drug reference. Okay, maybe a little.)
15:00: The Sake Enlightenment: Ventured into a sake brewery. Free tasting. Oh, dear god. I tried…everything. Started with the floral, light stuff. Progressed to the stuff that tasted like liquid fire. By the end, I was practically best friends with the brewery owner, who gave me an impromptu lesson in sake appreciation (apparently, I was very "enthusiastic"). I bought a bottle of the strong stuff. For research purposes, of course. (It’s currently 11:30 AM. Don't judge me.) My new friend, the brewery owner, made me try a shot, it tasted like heaven. Next thing I knew, I was in a full-blown conversation about the meaning of life with a group of locals. My meaning of life is apparently ramen, chocolate, and good sake.
18:00: Dinner: Another questionable ramen attempt. Avoided anything labeled "spicy." Found another tiny place I didn't quite understand the menu, but I ate the pork cutlet and it was awesome and cheap.
20:00: Back to Morinoki. Slowly contemplating the consequences of the sake revelation. Maybe I'll take a nap. Maybe I'll go find that Kit Kat…
Day 3: Farewell, Fudge, and the Promise of Laundry.
09:00: Woke up. Slight headache. Definitely should have drunk more water last night. (Or maybe less sake.)
10:00: Final chocolate shop pilgrimage. One last piece of fudge (the peanut butter this time, the best decision of my life). Tried not to buy anything else. Failed.
11:00: Packing. Regretting all my purchasing decisions. The tiny snow globe of a tiny otter is cute.
12:00: Laundry. Yes, FINALLY! My clothes are… well, let's just say they've seen better days. The hostel laundry is a lifesaver. The air from the laundry smelt like fresh laundry.
13:00: Final stroll along the canal. One last look at the beauty. Tears again. Not sure why anymore.
14:00: Departure. Otaru, you beautiful, slightly smelly, chocolate-and-sake-fueled paradise. I'm leaving a little bit broke, slightly tipsy, and with a definite craving for ramen. But I wouldn't trade this mess for anything.
Post-Trip Thoughts:
- Pro Tip: Don't underestimate the power of a well-placed onigiri.
- Lesson Learned: Try everything. Even the spicy ramen. Even if it nearly kills you. Especially the sake.
- Would I Return? In a heartbeat. And I'm bringing a bigger suitcase.
This, my friends, is how you do Otaru. Now go forth and make your own glorious, slightly chaotic memories. And maybe pack some extra underwear. You'll need it.
Magnolia Inn & Suites: Olive Branch, MS's #1 Hidden Gem!
1. So, what *is* this whole "FAQ" thing anyway? And why are *you* doing it?
Alright, alright, let's get the obligatory "Frequently Asked Questions" spiel out the way. Technically, an FAQ is supposed to answer common queries. But honestly? I'm pretty sure *no one's* been asking me anything that I'm about to spill. But hey, thought it'd be fun, and I was bored. Plus, I figure putting these vague, rambling thoughts into some semblance of structure might be therapeutic... or at least prevent me from endlessly staring into the void. And *you* are now unfortunate witnesses. Consider yourself warned.
2. What are you *really* trying to achieve with this? (Be brutally honest.)
Okay, honesty time. I really want to feel validated. Maybe someone will read this, nod, and think, "Yep, been there. Done that. Totally understand the existential dread of folding fitted sheets." Which, by the way, is a nightmare that deserves its own sub-FAQ. And maybe, just maybe, I'm hoping to connect with someone, *anyone*, who appreciates a good rant about the absurdity of modern life. I'm also probably trying to procrastinate on something I *should* be doing. Probably washing that aforementioned dishwasher.
3. Okay, but *what* is this *actually* about? Give me a topic!
Ugh, fine. It's about... life, I guess? It might be about trying to make sense of the world, or the very messy bits of it anyway. My world. It's about the victories, the epic fails, the moments of pure joy, and the times I wish I could crawl back into bed and stay there forever. It's about the little things that make up the big picture, and the big things that make me want to curl up in a ball and cry. Think of it as a chaotic mind dump. You've been warned, again.
4. Favorite color? (Gotta know the basics!)
This is a hard one! Okay, here's a weird answer: right now? Slightly-smudged-burnt-orange. I hate what that says about me, I probably have bad taste, and I will change my mind by the time I finish this sentence, maybe not even finish this sentence. But its a pretty color, right? It's like the sunset before a really good thunderstorm. Or maybe a perfectly-cooked butternut squash soup. God, I'm hungry. Okay, I'm changing it. Grey. The color of a rainy day, a good book, and perfectly clean concrete.
5. What's your biggest pet peeve?
People who chew with their mouths open. Ugh, it's like a personal assault on my sanity. I once had to sit next to a guy on a trans-Atlantic flight who practically *inhaled* his peanuts. I swear, the sound haunted my dreams for weeks. And then, the *other* biggest pet peeve: when the internet goes out. Ugh. The pure, unadulterated rage that washes over me is overwhelming.
6. Tell me about a time you completely messed up. Like, a *hilarious* mess up.
Oh, gosh, where do I even begin? I've got a whole *collection* of spectacular screw-ups. Okay, brace yourselves for a doozy. A few years ago, I decided to "bake" a cake for a friend's birthday. I'm not a baker. Like, at all. I even burn toast. Anyway, I followed the recipe (sort of), got the oven preheated (I think), and poured the batter into the pan (maybe). The smell was... interesting. It was a smell that mixed burning rubber and burnt sugar and *fear*. I pulled it out of the oven… and it was basically a dense, black brick. I swear, I could have built a small house with it. It was so bad, but it became a legend. My friend still brings that "cake" up to this day, and we *still* laugh about it. See? Sometimes failure truly is fun, even if it leaves a black brick of evidence in your kitchen.
7. What's something you're *proud* of?
This is a tough one, because I'm terrible at celebrating my own wins. But okay, I think I'm pretty proud of the times I've managed to get out of bed when I *really* didn't want to. Those days you just want to hide under the covers and pretend the world doesn't exist – and yet, you push through. Those are my little victories. Or maybe when I finally figured out how to (mostly!) fix that leaky faucet in the bathroom. It almost cost me an arm, and I was covered in gross water, but I did it myself. And it's been working! I'm also proud of not giving up, I think! Even if it constantly feels like I am.
8. What are you *most* afraid of?
Hmm, this is a big one, and honestly it changes from day to day. Besides the obvious: the death of loved one's, getting sick, falling off a cliff, nuclear annihilation... I think I'm most afraid of losing my sense of self. The fear of becoming something I'm not, or losing the parts of me that make me... me. That thought is a persistent buzzing in the back of my head, a constant reminder to stay true to myself, even when it's hard.
9. What is the one weirdest thing you own?
Oh, this is easy! I have a slightly-too-large collection of antique spoons. Seriously, hundreds of them. No, I don't know why. I just like the way they look; I love the patterns and the history. It started with one, from a trip I took as a kid, then it spiraled. Now I have spoons from all over the world. It's completely impractical, and my friends think I'm insane. Honestly? They're probably right. But I love them. So. many. spoons. Hotel Radar Map
