Obuse no Kaze youth hostel

So we're torn on this hostel. It is probably the most immaculate, beautiful, well equipped hostel I've been to, but the absolutely bizarre behavior of the guy running it put a very sour taste in our mouth.

First of all the location- couldn't be better. The hostel is about a block away from the Hokusai museum, the main attraction in the town, and also two blocks off the main road. Its very accessible, and there are free bikes to rent to get around. Great!

Next the building- gorgeous!! All wood floors, exceptionally clean, we stayed in a gigantic tatami room with futons and it was wonderful. There is a legit Japanese bath- which means a huge sauna tub- you shower and get clean and then you go relax in the tub. Awesome. The common room has lots of books and games to play, and dinner and breakfast were a very cheap 15 dollar add on (to the relatively steep price of 5800 yen/person/night).

But then the owner/manager/who ever he was. First there was the bizarre policy of kicking you out from 10-4. You couldn't be in the hostel- you could leave your bags, but even if you had forgotten something- sorry, you've got to wait. Next was the interesting wake up call. Breakfast, if you opt in, is at 7:30 sharp, no exceptions. And to make sure you're not late, at 7:00 he blares a recorded rooster cock-a-doodle doing through the stereo stystem/intercom. We were apprehensive the second day when we opted out that he would rooster call again, but thank god he didn't, but he did start blaring a Queen album at 9:00 to make sure we were packed and out by 10:00. It didn't make you feel very welcome- lets just put it that way....