What kind of guesthouse “ Pongyi ” ?
*** A hostel that touches your heart ***
First hostel in Kanazawa
Pongyi is a guesthouse (it is called hostel as well) that welcomes the people who want to enjoy communicating with other guests and staff
Pongyi opened in 2009, as the first hostel in Kanazawa. It is run by “Masaki” (representative) and “Nina” (manager).
A lot of new hostels opened since 2015 when the Hokuriku shinkansen line (bullet train) came to Kanazawa. However, Pongyi is not a stylish hostel like them.
Pongyi is about 140 old, a traditional Japanese old renovated kimono shop. It is an ordinary small house, but we love it.
You will always hear “Have a good day !”, “Welcome back !” at Pongyi. That will make you feel at ease as if you were at your house.
At Pongyi, the guests and the staff naturally get talking. We hope Pongyi will be a place you can be relaxed like at home.
Pongyi is located beside a mini canal, so you can hear the sound of water when you are in the common room.
There are only 3 rooms and capacity for only 10 people
2 of 3 the rooms are dormitories. The dormitories are on the 1st and 2nd floor in what used to be the kura (storehouse).
Pongyi means ”Buddhist monk” in Burmese.
This name is based on Masaki’s experience as a Buddhist monk in Myanmar. Pongyi donates a part of the accommodation fee to economically disadvantaged people in Asia who want to be independent.
Pongyi cherishes “the spirit of people” and conversations between guests and staff.
Even if it’s your first time staying at a guesthouse you van be at ease.
Not only the experienced travelers but also many people who travel alone and stay in a guesthouse stayed in Pongyi since we opened.
The staff stay in a hostel at night as well and we keep the house clean.
We are happy if you can feel at home.
Attractive points of Pongyi
Nostalgic old Japanese house
A 10 minutes-walk from JR Kanazawa station. A small house along the mini canal is Pongyi.
The house is about 140 years old and it is not stylish like modern hotels, but it is filled with the nostalgic atmosphere that makes people feel at ease.
Please enjoy seeing fireflies and small fish sitting a deck facing the canal and say hello to the people on the road.
A clean room, comfy bed and fresh sheets make us happy! Cleanliness and how comfortable the bed is are the most important things at a guesthouse (hostel).
We clean the house thoroughly every day, air the futon and mattress outside on a sunny day to make them fluffy. On a rainy day, we air futon inside.
We often disinfect the entire house to keep you safe and healthy during your stay at Pongyi.
The dormitories (shared rooms) are in the Kura (vintage kimono storehouse). The building used to a kimono shop before it became a guesthouse .
The mixed dormitory is on the 1st floor and the female dormitory is on the 2nd floor.
Because the the dormitory rooms are in what used to be a storeroom there are no windows however, the warmth of wood and plaster make the rooms quiet and comfortable. People who have stayed in the dormitories often say, “I slept well.”
The entrance of kura is a curtain, nor a door.
Pongyi is an old Japanese house, so the wall is very thin. Please be quiet after 10:00 p.m. (The light in the common rooms will be turned off at 10:30 p.m.)
The Japanese Style private room is on the 2nd floor. It faced a mini canal.
(This room is not in the kura.)
About the amenities
Sheets and pillowcase are included in the accommodation fee.
Towels and yukata (pijama) are rental.
There are not many amenities like in a hotel, but shampoo, hair conditioner and body soap are provided in the shower room.
A 140 years old Japanese style townhouse which was used as a kimono shop
Pongyi is a relaxing place as if you were at your home.
Since it is along the canal, you can hear the sound of flowing water in the common room.
Pongyi is close to Kanazawa station (10 min. walk) a convenience store and a drug store are located right in front of it.
In the canal that flows beside Pongyi you can often see fireflies, small fish, and spot-billed ducks.
What should I bring when I stay at Pongyi ?
We will answer your questions and requests.
QWhat amenities and equipments do you have ?
Free
Shampoo, conditioner, body soap
Hair dryer
Wi-Fi
Rental (not included in the accommodation fee)
Towel (bath towel 100 yen / face towel 50 yen)
Tooth brush and tooth paste (50 yen)
Yukata (pajamas) 200 yen
Washing machine (100 yen 1 time / soap 50 yen)
＊There is no clothes dryer. There is a coin -operated laundrette in about 5 minutes away on foot.
QDo you serve meals ?
We don’t serve meals.
However, there are many restaurants near our guesthouse (near Kanazawa station area). Please feel free to ask at the front desk.
QDo you have any parking lots?
No, we don’t have our own parking lots. We are happy to show you the coin parkings near our guesthouse when you check in（the coin parkings near our guesthouse）
You cannot park a motorcycle.
If you are coming by motorcycle please use the motorcycle park near Kanazawa station.
自転車でお越しの方は、一台であれば当館の玄関前の橋の上をご利用いただけます。 （屋根はありません）
QDo you have a curfew?
No, we don’t have curfew. The main entrance is closed at 22:00, however, you can use the backdoor from 22:00 - 8:00 next day. (We will tell you the password of the backdoor when you check in.)
* Please quietly go in and go out at night so as not to disturb other sleeping guests.
QDo you have the lights-out time ?
Yes. We put the lights of the common rooms out at 22:30. Since our wooden building is old, the house echoes much with sounds. Please keep quiet after 22:00.
QCan I stay with children?
Yes, but please check the age below.
Dormitories (shared room): 12 years old (first grade in junior high school) or older can stay.
Japanese Style Room (private): 6 years old (first grade in elementary school) or older can stay.
QAre the rooms equipped with an air conditioner ?
Female dormitory (shared)
There is an air conditioner.
Mixed dormitory (shared)
This room is not equipped with an air conditioner, but it is heated and cooled by an air conditioner on the 2nd floor of same kura (storehouse) and another air conditioner right in front of the entrance of the room. (Each bed is equipped with a small electric fan in summer.)
Japanese style room (private)
There is an air conditioner.
QDo you have a bathtub in the shower room ?
No, there is no bathtub. We have only shared shower rooms. There is a shower room for only women near the female dormitory. For the guests staying at the mixed dormitory and the Japanese style room, there is one more shared shower room on the 1st floor. (Ladies can use the female only shower room as well.)
We hope Pongyi will keep being a place where people feel the connected with others
Pongyi is run by representative “Masaki” and manager “Nina”
Add a “one-in-a-lifetime encounter” to the charm of your “trip”
Pongyi was opened by Masaki after having an experience as a monk in Myanmar for a short time.
We think the word of “trip” includes the meaning of facing ourselves, deepening our understanding and broadening our view by meeting people and new cultures.
We like Pongyi to be a guesthouse for people who want to meet and connect with other people during their “trip”.
The staff change frequently in many other guesthouses. You may not be able to see the same staff again. We would like to be a guesthouse which is always with our guests and would like to welcome whenever they come back.
The attractive points of guesthouses are not only the reasonable price ! The experience staying at a guesthouse may change your life !
Things in common of guesthouses
1. There are some shared rooms called “dormitory” 2. Meals are not included 3. Bathrooms and shower rooms are shared 4. Various amenities like a hotel are not equipped 5. Usually, self-service
However, the rules are different depending on the guesthouses, so it is better to check before you stay. Some are including meals and others have a lot of amenities.
Recently, many guesthouses started to rent a whole building. In that case. the guests only see a host when they get a key.
Consideration to other guests are required
Since there are many places such as dormitories, common room and washrooms are shared, being “considerate” and “tolerant” to others are required in a guesthouse.
Talking in a loud voice near the sleeping people in a shared room, or leaving what you used dirty (thinking “someone might clean it later !”) are not accepted.
You might sometimes hear the snoring of others, get confused by the temperature of the shared room, etc. If you are a woman, you might be seen your face without makeup.
Precious experience from the communication with travelers
However, there are some opportunities to talk to various people you do not usually talk to.。
Those opportunities will broaden your horizons, will take you to the answer to what you are
We think the word of “trip” includes the meaning of facing ourselves, deepening our understanding and broadening our view by meeting people and new culture.
You may find a best friend you can keep in touch with after the trip.
One of the attractive points of staying at a guesthouse is not only the reasonable price, but also the communication with people which is difficult to experience in a hotel.
Kanazawa is not that big city. Main sightseeing spots (Kenrokuen garden, 21st century museum of contemporary art. Kanazawa, Higashi Chaya district, Nagamachi Samurai district and Omicho market) are in 30 minutes distance on foot from each other.
Pongyi is in a great location to visit all those places.
