Hokutosei was a great transportation from Tokyo to Hokkaido. Source: wikipedia

Unique Hostel in Tokyo: Train Hostel HOKUTOSEI (NOTE: not train!)

When we were little, we took the night train Hokutosei from Ueno station to Hakodate. 

It was not a fast way of transportation and also not a 5 star hotel style train as the major train lines promoted these days. The beds were not that soft and there was no door but curtain to separate you from your bed and the corridor. And It was slow. Yet, it was a great night train.  It was a wonderful 15 hour trip.

Inside the hostel. Source: Asahi news, photo: Mr. Shiro Nishihata

The train started its operation from 1988. 

You depart Tokyo (Ueno) at night and arrive Hokkaido (Sapporo as its final destination) in the morning. The travel distance is more than 1200km. 

There is one of the longest tunnels in the world called Seikan tunnel connecting the main island and Hokkaido island (over 53km). We still remember the sight of snow on Hokkaido land after we passed the tunnel.

August, 2015. Hokutosei line was cancelled. As it was very popular train in Japan, many train fans in Japan had a sad day.

Reusing the equipment of the Hokutosei train, a new hostel in Tokyo opens on 15 Dec, 2016. 

Name: Train Hostel Hokutosei (トレインホステル北斗星 in Japanese), Tokyo

Click here to book this hotel!

One night costs starting from 2500JPY(23UDS)

There are shared rooms, private rooms. You can also use a shared kitchen.

Address: 1 Chome-10-12 Nihonbashibakurocho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo

How to get there:

It is the centre of Tokyo area. There are several ways.

1) Direct connection from #4 exit of “Bakurocho station 馬喰町駅” of JR Sobu Line (Rapid),

2) 3 minutes walk from B4 exit of “Higashi Nihonbashi station　東日本橋駅” of Toei Asakusa Line,

4) 3 minutes walk from A1 exit of “Bakurocho station　馬喰町駅” of Toei Shinjuku Line or

5) About 5 minutes of train ride from Tokyo station to “Bakurocho station　馬喰町駅” of JR Sobu Line

Do you know also other unique hotels in Japan? Do you know there is a match making hot spring hotel in Japan?  Or robot hotels where 140 robots working in Japan?

And...when you stay at the robot hotel, please let us know how it was!! Contact us here!

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And...when you stay at this hotel, please let us know how it was!! Contact us here!

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