Youth Guest House Atoma in Fukushima

I apologize for sharing this story from over 10 years ago, but I stayed here once. I took the bus from Fukushima Station. It's close to the bus stop.

Since it's a youth hostel, you share a room, but I remember it was warm and comfortable, and the dinner was delicious. The friendly atmosphere among the guests was great. It felt like we were gathering at a friend's house. Since we stayed in winter, there were even snowmen outside. 😊☃️. I'm from Fukushima Prefecture (I've since moved to Mie Prefecture), but I never realized there was such a wonderful place. Come to think of it, there was a hot spring just beyond this point, crossed by a suspension bridge. (This hot spring is also at the base of the mountain, with a beautiful view.)

The best thing about this youth hostel is the 55cm telescope! Even in the cold air, you can clearly see Saturn 🪐 floating in the clear night sky. It doesn't look very big, but I was thrilled to see Saturn's rings clearly with my own eyes. Recommended for those who enjoy stargazing.

We stayed at this youth guesthouse while on a tour in late September 2006.
It's a higher-class youth guesthouse than the youth hostels we usually stay at, so the food was even better than we expected.

The starry sky was beautiful, and I enjoyed chatting with the owner.

I heard that there's a nearby ski resort with excellent snow that can be used like a private slope in the winter, so I'd like to go there with my family sometime, and although it's been a while, I thought I'd post this.

I stayed there in early August 2019. I was able to participate in the stargazing sessions held every night on clear days, and observed Saturn and the Moon through the third largest telescope in Tohoku. I could also see the Summer Triangle and Cygnus (the constellation Cygnus!) with the naked eye, making it a special memory of my trip. The owner, an astronomy enthusiast, was also very kind.

He generously gave us a Fukushima peach each, saying, "It's delicious, I wanted you to try it." It was delicious!

I highly recommend this place, but please consider it after understanding the basics of youth hostels.

This is an inn with a style that allows you to enjoy a variety of ways of spending your time, whether you want to have fun conversations with experienced guests or bring your own meals to save money. Although it is a youth hostel, it is a hostel that is constantly evolving, so it retains the good points of the old youth hostel while also incorporating the good parts of today. I highly recommend it if you're looking for a place to stay in Fukushima City.