We have new tools

Recently we have had some of new items.
Name cards, standing name board and Neighbourhood map.

The last one will help guests walk around Hana Hostel.
The hostel staff ourselves walked and found what is near the hostel and put some of the useful places like money exchange, ATMs for foreign currencies, good local restaurants or market places on a hand-writing map.

When you arrive in Hana Hostel, please ask for this.
And if you find something interesting that is not on the map, please let us know. We think about using the information!

Colored leaves :)

What a beautiful season!!

I took my parents to Hikimi gorge in Shimane prefecture yesterday.
It takes about two hours from Hiroshima city to get there by car.

It was great weather!! No cloud, no wind, just warm sunshine pours in my face!



We dropped at a big ginkgo tree place in Tsutsuga town in Hiroshima.
Girth of the tree trunk is 8.5m, 48m high and it is 1100 years old tree!!


I am impressed the atmosphere of the tree.
It has been here for years and years...


I was trying to take a picture of the whole tree but I couldn't.
Because it is too high and wide.








Then we drove to Hikimi gorge to see colored mountains.

Actually the color was almost brown...

It was a bit late to visit there but we took a spa and got a creamy skin by the benefits of a hot spring bath ;)

There is a nice walking course so I am sure that I will go there in the summer for a ramble through the woods.

Saijo, sake town

One of the sake breweries in Saijo Town

There is a small town called Saijo in Hiroshima Prefecture. It is about 30 minutes by JR train.

This small town is one of the most famous places for sake making.

There are more that 10 Sake breweries and each breweries make full-flavoured unique sake.

The other day I went to “Saijo Sake Festival” with some of J-Hoppers Hostel and Hana Hostel staff.

You can enjoy standing tasting in every corner of the town

The breweries open temporary outdoor restaurants or standing bars.

We can taste a variety of sake at low prices (sometimes free !).

They also serve their local special pot dish (Bishu Nabe).

In the mail park, if you can enjoy all-sake-you-can-drink with 1500 yen ticket. You can drink not only Saijo local sakes, but also every kind of good sakes from all over Japan.

The Sake Festival is in early October every year. However, you could enjoy Saijo any time. Some sakagura (breweries) have free tasting service and if you like one, you can buy the bottles at a cheap price (without through wholesalers).

Saijo Sake is one of the best places for sake making in Japan

Locker for computers

We have a security locker for guest computers and valuables.

The locker is designed especially to fit 15-inch size laptop computers.

Each cell has a dial lock and you can set your personal PIN number.

Please feel free to use it !

Karcher cleaner

We bought a Karcher steam cleaner by internet shopping.

It was around 29000 yen.

Before we started the hostel 2 month ago, the building was used as a "business hotel" for 20 years.

As we succeeded the building right after they quit running, we couldn't have enough time to do a large scale cleaning.

Of course the cleanliness condition was not very bad because it was running. However, we thought we must clean more.

Today we cleaned the wall and the banisterin the stair hall.

Surely it is powerful.

We tried the jet nozzle when cleaning the banister.

It was too strong to do it and some parts made by stone got scraped a little.

Very strong and dengerous.

We will try to clean carpet in western style rooms to remove persistent bad smell by  ciggalet tar.

Futon cover

We have new futon (Japanese style bedding) covers now.

It is light brownish two-tone colour and I expect they make atmosphere of the guest rooms more relaxing.

By the way, the comforters are down quilt.

We look forward to welcome you with the comfortable nights in Hana Hostel.

Curry marathon Day

Last weekend, we cooked a lot of curry and served for guests.

The choices were:

Japanese style mild Chicken curry

Seafood (shrimp and squid) curry

Vegetarian hot curry

The event started at noon and ended at the next noon for 24 hours.

So it is curry marathon.

 

When we serve meal for foreign guest, we have to mind something.

Some guests don 't like hot food.

Some guests are vegetarians.

Some guests don't beef, pork or some of particular meat for religious reason.

Considering about those things, we ended up cooking the 3 curries.

We will have another food event soon.

Hope to share home made taste with you.

Hana folks

This is Hanas workfellows.

Our staff is composed of Receptionists, cleaning staff and night-watch staff.

(From left) Yasu, Yukorin, Rie, Miyoung, Yaoko, Tabi, aki.

Even receptionists have cleaning work. Every staff take care of cleanliness of the hostel. 

We all looke forward to seeing you in Peace town Hiroshima !

Welcome to Hana Journal

It has been for nearly 1 month since Hana Hostel started business. Somehow we made it into having small opening party.
We didn’t have many guests on the day, so we enjoyed the party with friendly atmosphere.
We are going to have this kind of home party sometimes. Please join us next time!




For reference, write ingredients of Tempura on the party.
Some sort of mashrooms (Shitake, maitake, shimeji, eringi)
Lotus root
Japanese ginger
Pork
Squid
Shrimp
Eggplant
Paprika
Carrot
Burdock root
Onion
Sausage