The guesthouse is within walking distance of a lot of the tourist sites as well as the downtown drinking area of Kanazawa. Service was great, the owner spent time in California so not only does he speak English he has a really laid back attitude and is easy to get along with. For their price point the rooms go above and beyond expectation, clean, well organized, standard rules, lockers present, separated showers, separated bathrooms. Downstairs is a bar/restaurant that serves at a fair price some great food. I had fries, chicken, edamame, fish, and a few too many beers there and they all tasted great. If I’m able to in the future I will visit again.

Stayed for a week. Owner is a dead set legend. Food is delicious, atmosphere is amazing, Beds were comfortable even for a 6"1' bloke and it was very clean. Hostel is walking distance from all the best stuff too. Make sure you do karaoke with Shaq. The pipes on that man...

I spent 2 weeks in the wonderful inn. It was an incredible enrichment. The rooms are clean and cosy. 2 showers with warm water and 2 toilets on the sleeping level. In the lower area is the isekai/bar. in addition to good food and cheap drinks, you can quickly get into conversation with different people. In my opinion, the long one is perfect for enjoying the great sights. Whether it's Kanazawa Castle or the Samurai District, everything is within easy walking distance

i loved shaq big house!!!! my boyfriend and i stayed for 2 nights and it was definitely the high light of our trip. shaq is a really awesome guy and he will make u feel right at home!! everything was clean and i really liked the lockers!! i really liked his izakaya on the first floor too. it’s nice to come back after a big day of sight seeing and grabbing a beer and chatting with shaq and others that are staying!! some locals stop by too!! will never forget the natto shaq offered us …. lol. also i loved the tomato slices haha if u are thinking of staying in kanazawa, give shaq a shot!!!!

A great hostel with a Izakaya on 1F. The owner is very friendly and a stay in the Izakaya is definitely worth. The rooms are very clean and the beds very comfortable. The only downside is that I didn't stayed longer.

Very good guesthouse. Professional, well-lit and cleanest that I've been to yet. Very affordable as well. The location is just a short walk from the castle park in the center of the city. There is a bar on the ground floor. But please be aware that this is Japan, so there is indoor smoking (bar only, not hostel) after 6:30 PM. I am very grateful I was able to get a reservation, especially on such short notice. My weekend for sakura in Tokyo was extremely rainy. But I was able to make it to Kanazawa, where the full blossom occurs a week later. Shaq's was a great place to stay for such a trip!

Shaq is a cool guy shook hands and showed me around the place. The dorms are new, and beds very comfortable. I fell asleep as soon as I hit it. Its located comfortably between places of interest and right besides a playground where you can kill time reading a book sipping a beer. Would come back for sure. Thanks for hosting Shaq:))

Shaq was an amazing host, always willing to help with a smile at his face. The place itself it's nice, cool and comfy doorms, well located, clean. Totally recommended

I was the sole guest at Shaq's after the recent earthquake in Ishikawa. Kanazawa is safely far away from the earthquake epicentre, the city itself doesn't show signs of damage and it was a delight to see the sights. Shaq was the perfect host, going above and beyond. He served me draft beer on tap and Sabre fish which he had caught himself. He even gave me a lift to the station in the morning to catch my bus when I'd had a few too many beers the night before!

Value for the money. The location is really convenient - not far from the main station and in a walking distance to Kanazawa Kenrokuen garden and Kanazawa castle site.

Nice and cozy hostel. Not the best hostel in Japan but the staffs are very friendly and helpful. Will stay there again next time.

Hot damn I loved this place. Probably the most "home-y" hostel I've stayed in. I stayed in one of the bunk dorms, and while they didn't really heat the upper floors too well, the comforter on the beds more than made up for it. They had a policy of taking your shoes off if you were going to the 2&3rd floors, but they provided slippers that you could wear anywhere in the hostel (which means my boots got some well needed rest) The location of the place is actually pretty wonderful. I'd say it's in the center of most things, with it being about a 10 minute walk to Kanazawa castle, downtown, and a few of the shrines. In 15- 20 minutes you could make your way to the Kanazawa gardens (don't remember the name) or the Geisha district. Overall, definitely would stay there again. 10/10 (also owned is super nice. Got to meet him and he's a chill guy)

Of every hostel I stayed at in Japan, Shaq Bighouse was the best. Shaq (real name: Saitoshi) started the hostel just under a year ago after returning from the states. He told me that his number one priority was his guests enjoyment, and it shows. The night I arrived, the hostel wasn't busy, so he moved me to a private room. He took me barhopping, and was generally an excellent host. The next night, when the hostel was much busier, he took a large group of us out. The hostel itself has comfortable beds, clean washrooms, and since the first floor of the building used to be a restaurant, there are very good kitchen facilities. If I am in Kanazawa again, there's no where else I would stay.

Without overdoing it. But Shaw Brighouse is the best Hostel in Japan. The owners are friendly and helpful. All speak very good English. But if you also want to speak Japanese, that is very welcome. Most visit for every tourist in Japan. The friendliness of the people is outstanding. Even if you are an inexperienced tourist, you will be helped with any problem. It was always clean and well maintained. There was also entertainment. All guests and the owners are always happy to have a great conversation. Conclusion: it is clean, it is cheap, there is always something going on in this house. You are never helpless. The best share house you can find in Japan.

シャックビッグハウスはとても楽しかった！ (^^) The place was clean and comfortable, incredibly value-for-money. The owner was extremely friendly and accommodating to our needs. We had such a wonderful stay I definitely look forward to returning! Thanks for being such an awesome host! :)

Great location and such a warm host at this hostel. Simple and clean beds, toilets and definitely value for money. Walking distance from all the nearby sights such as the market

Nice, simple hostel that's conveniently like cared in Kanazawa. It was an easy walk to a lot of the city's main attractions such as Kanazawa Castle, Kenrokuen, the 21st Century museum etc. The hostel owner was nice and attentive. He has very good English and gave us a lot of recommendations. There is a kitchen available for everyone to us. The rooms and common area were kept clean. Honestly no complaints. Definitely a good value for the price.

Great, clean, comfortable hostel in Kanazawa. Shaq is a brilliant host and provided lots of useful info about the town.

I stayed 2 nights here and the owner was very welcoming! I really enjoyed my stay here at this hostel as it's in a great location and the beds are very comfortable!

Shaq Bighouse is the best house! This hostel is a must if you want to experience the true Kanazawa; true Japan. I made life long friends here, and can not recommend it enough! I felt like family staying here, thank you Shaq and your beautiful wife!! I will be back soon!!<33

It's a good place. The location is excellent, being within walking distance of major attractions as well as the station. The beds are very close together, but they are reasonably sized and decently comfortable. The kitchen is well equipped. Overall the facilities are good, and I would recommend staying here.

We stayed in the hostel for 1 night and we were welcomed warmly. The rooms are in the ryokan style and were very comfortable ( 2 single mattresses, pretty thick). The owner Shaq is a nice guy and eager to help with any questions you might have. The showers are good and there is a bath. Location is okay.