Pongyi opened in 2009 as Kanazawa’s first backpackers’ guesthouse and remains one of the city’s best-loved small guesthouses. A short walk south from Kanazawa Station, this hostel is compact, comfortable, and has a friendly, home-away-from-home atmosphere.
Guesthouse Pongyi is located in a quiet canal side area close to Kanazawa Station
Converted from a 150 year old former kimono shop beside the Kuratsuki Canal, the building is compact, super clean, and has just three guest rooms: a women-only dormitory, a mixed dormitory, and a private tatami room. The house has space for up to 10 guests, with shared facilities and a small common room where travelers naturally meet. Niina and founder Masaki host guests in a warm, family-like setting, and staff stay in the guesthouse at night. Pongyi means “monk” in the Burmese language, and was so named because Masaki spent time as a monk in Myanmar. At least 100 yen from each night’s stay is donated to NPOs that support self-reliance among people in poverty across Asia, including Myanmar. This is a great place to stay for short stay travelers looking for budget accommodation in Kanazawa, but it is a small old wooden house rather than a hotel-style property, so sound carries easily and guests are asked to be considerate.
Guest Rooms
Pongyi has two dormitories and one private Japanese style room. The women-only dormitory is on the 2nd floor of the old kura storehouse and has two bunk beds for up to four guests. The mixed dormitory is on the 1st floor of the kura and also has two bunk beds for up to four guests. Each bunk bed is supplied with bedding sheets, a pillow, and comforter, and has its own bed curtain for privacy, a reading light, and electric socket. Dormitory entrances have curtains rather than doors, and guests may hear sounds from other travelers.
Dormitory beds
The Japanese room
The private Japanese style room is a tatami room facing the Kuratsuki Canal. Guests sleep in futons on the tatami floor and use the shared bathroom and shower facilities. Exact private-room capacity should be checked when booking.
There are shared showers and bathrooms, including a women-only shower and bathroom near the women-only dormitory. Pongyi does not have a bathtub. Showers are supplied with shampoo, conditioner, body soap and hair dryers. Bath towel rental costs 200 yen and face towel rental costs 100 yen. Yukata can be rented for 500 yen.
Check Room Rates and Availability
Guesthouse Pongyi
Services & Facilities
Check-in is from 15:00 to 20:00 and check-out is by 10:00. The front desk is open from 8:00 to 12:00 and from 15:00 to 20:00. The guesthouse is closed from 12:00 to 15:00, when staff are not available and luggage drop-off or pick-up is not available. Before check-in, luggage can be left from 8:00 to 12:00 with prior notice. After check-out, luggage can be stored until 12:00 on the same day. There is no curfew, but the front entrance is locked at 22:00 and guests use the back door from 22:00 to 8:00 with a password. Guests are asked to keep quiet after 22:00, and common-room lights are turned off at 23:00.
The common room
High-speed Wi-Fi is available throughout the building, and small valuables lockers are available for free. Pongyi does not rent bicycles, but the Kanazawa City Machi-nori bike rental port is directly in front of the guesthouse.
The kitchen
Guests can use the refrigerator, microwave, and toaster. There is also a washing machine which guests can use for 200 yen between the hours of 9:00 and 21:00. There is no dryer, but a 24-hour coin laundry is about 3 minutes away on foot.
Founder Masaki at Guesthouse Pongyi
A variety of cultural events and activities are hosted at Guesthouse Pongyi for the benefit of the guests. These include origami, calligraphy, or tea ceremony activities, or dinner parties where all the guests and staff cook and eat typical Japanese foods together. The staff at Pongyi can also advise you on special events, festivals, and performances that are happening in Kanazawa during your stay.
Breakfast is available for an extra 600 yen and consists of hot sandwiches with coffee. Guests should order breakfast by the night before. Dinner is not provided, but there are many restaurants around Kanazawa Station.
Pongyi has no private car parking, so guests arriving by car should use nearby coin parking. Motorcycles cannot be parked at the guesthouse, but staff can direct riders to public motorcycle parking near Kanazawa Station. One bicycle can be parked on the bridge in front of the guesthouse, without a roof. Smoking is not allowed inside the building; guests who smoke should use the small deck outside along the canal when it is available.
Access
Guesthouse Pongyi is located at 2-22 Rokumaimachi, about a 10 minute walk south of Kanazawa Station’s Kenrokuen-guchi / East Gate, beside the Kuratsuki Canal.
Guesthouse Pongyi is about 10 minutes from Kanazawa Station and very easy to find
Article and original photos by Michael Lambe. All rights reserved. Last updated 07-Jun-2026.
