We stayed at Earth Hostel for a long weekend in September and it was one of the best weekends we’ve had in a long time. The owner is incredibly friendly and looked after us like family. The facilities are very well maintained, with beautiful large showers and comfortable beds. The food menu is delicious and nutritious, giving you plenty of energy to burn. The location is picturesque, with a river right next to the hostel that you can swim in and soak up some sun from the smooth rocks. The trees everywhere bathe everything in a beautiful green. We went up with a group of friends and were able to put on a disco themed dance party and even had some live bands play. The hostel is completely child friendly and has a lot of nature activities around. We are already planning our next trip back.

Scout was amazing! I went here for a festival that my friends were hosting We live in Tokyo, and it was so surprising how close it was from Tokyo! AND the location was beautiful! If you are somebody who are thinking of hosting an event and retreats, this is a place to go because it is so convenient; there is the river literally right next to the hostel, and there are the eating space (event space) and the bed . It was so perfect! ALSO, SCOUT was amazing! His hospitality was WOW. He made sure everybody felt comfortable (not once, but through out the time we were there, he was very devoted to us! I felt very cared in his presence. Thank you so much Scout!

This hostel is hidden in the mountain next to a river. The place is just WOW. Rooms are clean and you can shower in an actual onsen (which serves that sole purpose, but it's a nice touch). The owner/manager Scout is super helpful and super friendly and is a great chef! Breakfast and dinner are delicious! A must is swimming in the river late at night when the water is warm!

Earth Hostel is one of my two favourite places I've ever stayed. The surrounding scenery is absolutely stunning and peaceful, and the sound of the river flowing behind gave me some of the most blissful sleep. Waking up in the mornings and just sitting outside with a cup of coffee enjoying the view remains one of my fondest memories on my trip to Japan. The proprietor, Scout, is a really nice dude, and prepares some excellent food. He goes to great lengths to make sure the remote location doesn't keep you from enjoying the sights of Nikko with the daily shuttles and vast amount of local knowledge. The energy of the place is really nice, too. It felt like it brought me and the other guests together in a way not many hostels these days can. The social experience here is just top-notch. I'll be staying here again when I come back to Japan. Thanks Scout!

So this is for sure a special place. If you're looking for easy access to shops and town and whatever, while travelling without car, or if you're not very keen on people, or expect a hotel-like experience - probably not your place tbh. This said - it feels more like an open house than a hostel, which I personally loved. Scout, the owner, is always there to help, and he would overstretch himself to make the guests comfortable and taken care of. You do need a ride to get down to Nikko, but this is all arranged, easy peasy. While I stayed there, the other guests happened to be all peaceful hikers, so no loud parties but yes plenty of good company for evening chats and daytime trips. The hostel is housed in an old onsen - a beautiful old building, with mind-blowing showers. The surroundings are great, and the neighbour river is always humming, making it even cosier. Good place for independent travellers.

Perfect place for a weekend getaway. The host was super friendly and gave us a ride from the hostel to the nearby train station. The adjacent river is beautiful and provided some relaxing white noise while reading and sleeping. Will be back again!

The location of this hostel by the river is just perfect! There's a solid pine deck overlooking the river and it's blanketed by beautiful maple trees. We were able to enjoy hanging here despite the rain because the deck is entirely covered. I love the fresh breeze from the river and all the wooden tables. There seems to be some work in the books for the hostel, but there's so much to appreciate here. The host is very kind and he's quite a chef. He bakes bread and cooks hearty soups for your soul.

The venue was beautiful and divine!! The host was amazing and felt very safe and warm being around his presence. The river nearby is magnificent and the sound is healing. Highly recommended!!

I stayed back in August and absolutely loved every part of the place. The private riverside room is so worth it– it's tidy, quiet, and has the most beautiful view right onto the river. I actually can't believe how nice the scenery was. The outside seating area is a great place to hang out or work, nicely maintained, and meant I could enjoy being outside whether or not it was raining. I 100% recommend adding dinner and breakfast! they were tasty and came with lots of local veggies (blueberry pancakes for the win). Great place to escape Tokyo/busy, touristy Nikko, while still being close to the heritage area. Overall, the place wouldn't be the way it is without Scout running it– thanks for the awesome stay, I look forward to coming by again in future!

Amazing place to stay! Would definitely recommened staying at Earth Hostel when you're in Nikko. I loved the location: very peaceful, surrounded by mountains, trees and a river to swim in. the owner goes out of his way to ensure that his guests are looked after: from driving back and forth between the hostel in the town, to giving good advise about hikes and stuff to do in the area, to cooking AMAZING breakfast (best we had in Japan). We stayed in the annex room and it was great; waking up with a view of the river, sound of the birds. Thank you Scout for making our stay one of the best we had in Japan.

I absolutely loved my stay at this hostel! One of my favoriete places that I've been in Japan 🍁 The location is just so peaceful and beautiful, perfect if you want to relax and have a good time with the other guests. Scout, the hostel owner, was very kind to us. He is very friendly and knows a lot about Nikko and will happily help you with everything you want to know about the area, and will make you delicious meals for a reasonable price 😋 There are free shuttles from the hostel to the nikko stations at the morning, and back to the hostel at the evening that are very useful. The place is quite far from any supermarket/restaurants so you do have to take that into consideration. I have to be frank, the place is a bit old so if you're looking for a high standard hotel and you are afraid of some spiderwebs, a few bugs and a bit of dust - it might not be the place for you. Nevertheless, I would absolutely come back if I'll have the chance ❤️

This hostel is a must stay if you are in Nikko! I've never stayed at a hostel with a location so beautiful. The hostel is converted from an onsen which makes for an awesome atmosphere. There is a river running right by the Hostel which is stunning and worth a swim in. Scout who runs the Hostel is a legend and does everything he can to ensure you enjoy yourself staying here. This includes offering a shuttle service and dinner/drinks on site which is delicious. Next time I am in Japan I will make sure to come back!!!

Very nice, social athmosphere. The food is great. I never had such good scrambled eggs for breakfast. Scout does the best he can to make your wishes come true. I would come back for sure!

Stayed here about a month ago, and it was one of my most memorable hostels in Japan. Scout was extremely welcoming and did his absolute best to make sure everyone's experience was comfortable. His cooking was excellent and would be very flexible in terms of shuttling people around. It's rustic and relatively rural, but you are still within reasonable distance from Nikko and it's attractions! The location is part of the charm, and I'll definitely be back next time I'm in Japan. Couldn't recommend it enough! P.s. Thanks for putting up with the "bad" trip 😁

The rooms are big and clean. The futons are actually pretty comfy, and with the rushing rapids outside i slept like a baby. Scout was great and cooks up some good food and pizza, and plenty of coffee! This is a true hidden gem.

I have just finished my 8 night stay at this hostel, so I think I am in a good position to give a comprehensive review of this place, and I have to say it is probably the best hostel I have ever stayed in for the following reasons: - Unique location with stunning scenery (including a river running through the property which you can swim in, amazing to wake up to in the morning). - Incredible home cooked food (see pictures attached) with affordable vegetarian/vegan options available for breakfast, dinner and lunch. - Very accommodating host. Scout (the owner) is an eccentric character but who is very knowledgeable, friendly and will go out of his way to help you out with pick-ups/drop off's to Nikko's stations and tourism area (free of charge!). He even lent me his camera so I could do some wildlife photography while out on the trails which was great as I did not have one with me. Much appreciated. - Japanese style aesthetics/rooms. It was great to relax on low floor seating in a Japanese style living room and enjoy the aesthetics of this authentic property. Makes a change from generic western-style hostels. - Social vibe. Very easy to meet people here as it is quite an intimate setting with communal dining area during dinner and breakfast. Had some great conversations and met people from all over the world. More social than many places I've stayed at, though it may be quieter during the week. To conclude, I would say if you manage your expectations and understand this is a affordable hostel in a rural area and therefore do not expect the usual amenities in the immediate vicinity and hotel-style luxuries (though there is a shop in cycling distance, bikes can be rented), and are looking for somewhere beautiful, unique and very accommodating then you will have an incredible time here. If you want complete freedom to come and go to the Nikko tourism area or nearby towns and cities then it would be advisable to rent a car, however, I found Scout's pick up and drop off shuttle service to serve me fine and was much appreciated! 5 stars!

A great place to stay a bit out of town but the free shuttle is very convenient. Food was great and Scout went out of his way with everyone to make the experience as enjoyable as possible.

The earth hostel is truly the most magical place we have discovered on our Japan travels. This location feels like a nature refuge from the hectic japanese city life and the sound of the river at night gives you the best sleep you can imagine. Scout the host is doing his best to make your stay as comfortable as it can be, offering fresh (self grown) vegan food and a free shuttle service. It's my third time here and I will always return. Even tough you might think it's impracticable to stay in such a secluded area have in mind that being surrounded by nature with no people around is what makes this place and the experience so special. There is no second place like this so please support it so it can thrive and I can come back a forth time on my next Japan travel. 😉

A good and spacious place if you are traveling with friends. The view of the river is great. The guy maintaining the place is supportive. Recommended! (Minor con: toilets are not Japanese style. No washlets)

5 out of 5 easily! Perfect get a way from Tokyo (not too far). Scout (Host) is amazing and friendly. Easy access to the river to freshen up from the heat!

Perfect little getaway, very accessible by car from Tokyo! Right on the river for some swims and chills, and Scout was super helpful in making sure we had everything we needed during our time there!

Stayed for a festival a friend was hosting and had the best time! Scout is super hospitable and the food he makes is really good as well 😊 especially his blueberry pancakes hehe. Excited to return!

The place is great. My family and i enjoyed every single moment. This is where you could relax and forget all your troubles. Scout(the man who own and runs the place) was so helpful and hospitable you would feel at home once you get there.

Visited this place for the first time in mid-August 2019 and then again exactly three years later. Both times, I can say with confidence, were extremely memorable. There's easy access to a beautiful river with crystal clear waters, good vegetarian/vegan food (with the option to bring your own food or do a meat barbecue), and an overall chill vibe at this place. Scout, the American owner, picks you up from the station, makes all the food himself (recommended: the vegetarian soup and the NY Style pizza), and does his best to ensure that all guests are having a good and safe time. It's a bit far from the actual Nikko city and kinda in the middle of nowhere so driving here yourself is also a pretty good option; although Scout does provide a shuttle service to places nearby. There are mixed dorms and a couple of private rooms which, while basic, are pretty well-maintained. The WiFi is strong, which is good because some mobile networks do not provide coverage in this area (you get a pretty strong signal even out in the river). If you're on a budget and want to spend a couple of days next to a gorgeous river just reading, relaxing, listening to chill music and meeting interesting people -- this is the place!

This place is truly amazing. Great location, views, and most importantly super nice host. Our experience staying at earth hostel was 10/10. I will definitely repeat it!

Beautiful place. Amazing river, literally in the backyard. An absolute epic place and location for a wide range of possible fun activities, may it be as simple as a weekend away from the city reconnecting with nature, or as it was my experience, to join a 3 day creative event full of dj music, yoga, amazing food and occasional swims in the crystal clear waters of the river. Even if it rains the outside area of the hostel has a great space with a roof, transforming the scene into a cozy experience to chill, chat, or dance while featuring the sound of raindrops and the scent of wet forest in your surroundings. To top it off, the owner is chill AF! Which compliments the whole staying experience. 100% recommended 🤙🏼 Relevant note: Best to come by car, or prepared with your supplies for the stay as convenience stores are not that nearby.

Amazing, comfortable stay at a beautiful location. I stayed for 5 nights and had some of the best breakfasts and dinners of my whole trip made by the host. Shuttle bus runs all morning and all afternoon to go into Nikko town and explore national park.

Probably the best spot to stay nearby the Nikko National Park. The location within the forest and nearby the river is exceptional and despite being a bit remote to the Nikko city ; the free drives to and from the stations make it a great place to be in. You can either buy your stuff beforehand in a konbini, prepare food there or there are several options for lunchs that are homemade. Had a lovely stay here, definitely would have stayed longer if I had the time to do so. Met some great people and had good times together. Scout is a very nice person and you should feel free to contact him if you have any uncertainties about anything; is he will surely help you as best as he can.