Ishigaki Guesthouse HIVE

Cheap and central

Scary lineway and stairs to get there

Clean, great price, helpful staff members who know the Yaeyama islands and transportation stuff to get around and usually like to mingle in the evening, more space than expected in my sleeping box, shower&toilet always clean and refilled (body soap + shampoo provided free), good wi-fi, constant pleasant air-conditioning with no daytime stoppage, nice common room with a view, rooftop access for drying clothes / smoking 👍👍👍 The common room has an 11pm "closing time" because the staff is sleeping literally next to it, but it's not a hard locked door closing time. You can still get to the common fridge for a snack, or cook quietly, if you're careful. Oh, and they've got this thing where you have your own shoebox with slippers tied to your room number, so you'll keep the same familiar slippers and won't have to fight for shoebox space when the place gets crowded * the bicycle you can rent there is only for the city, you should go get one at some rental shop if you want to go far along the coast or up the hills and mountains in the countryside

Simple and clean

Smell got bad often due to people airing out clothes and towels right by the beds.

The location is around the corner from the bus terminal and the port terminal in Ishigaki and the facilities were quite clean. Messages online were responded to rather quickly which was nice! The kitchen and shared space is clean and well air conditioned. Also there is a rooftop area where you can dry your clothes after your wash them - or you can use the drying machine.

It was quite hot. The main room with all of the beds only has one big AC unit and pipes are connected to it to go to various parts of the room. I woke up every night due to the heat. I think if you stay here in winter it's fine, but in my option it is not a comfortable temperature to sleep at unless you like to be warm before sleeping. I think there needs to be at least another ac unit. Also there is an izakaya next door that has their trash in front on the stairwell to the hostel. To put it frankly, it smells like hot garbage so I had to hold my breath going up the stairs. It isn't the hostel's fault but.. it was unpleasant.