Guesthouse Soi

Japan , Kyoto
KYOTO, 509 2 Shimouma Machi Higashiyama Ku
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100 reviews shown

10/10

Exceptional

25 Mar 2026

Marina

Enjoyed our stay a lot: perfect japanese breakfast every morning, rental bikes and everything needed to relax after busy days of sightseeing. Loundry on the site was available as well. Owners and staff were very helpful and accommodating.

Family

10/10

Exceptional

13 Jan 2026

Tim

This was a great stay, the hosts were amazing, gave me a route to see some temples that were close enough to walk to.
They lent me a jacket and gloves for my walk.
The room was nice, quiet, the bed was comfy and stocked with tea.
The breakfast they prepare for you is also fantastic, can't recommend enough!
Feel at ease booking here.
I will be staying again!

Leisure Self

10/10

Exceptional

24 Dec 2025

Sophie

The owners are so lovely and helpful. The rooms are spotless and comfortable. The location is great. Some lovely restaurants close by and easy public transit. The perfect guesthouse. Would have stayed longer.

Friends_and_family Family

10/10

Exceptional

15 Sep 2025

Amanda

Staff were so lovely and it’s in a good area close to the main sights.

Leisure Self

10/10

Exceptional

14 Apr 2025

Paul Arden

Great service and excellent customer support staff are all very helpful and easily to communicate English speaking and knowledgeable about the area will give you tips on how to avoid crowds and have a great time doing your tours in the area

Friends_and_family Family

10/10

Exceptional

09 Nov 2024

Chan-min

The property and the room has very good vibe of japanese. Staffs are kind and location is perfect tonvisit kiyomizudera.

Leisure Self

10/10

Exceptional

12 Oct 2024

Ke Jie

Amazing place to stay! Traditional, and our room was huge compared to Japanese standards. Very quiet and clean, despite shared amenities. Did not try the breakfast. Owners were lovely and friendly and super accommodating! Would stay again.

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

18 Aug 2024

Amy

Quiet nice people

Leisure Friends

10/10

Exceptional

22 Sep 2023

Ariane

The owners are the sweetest. The hostel owner would give me snacks whenever I was working the common area, called taxis for me, and even directed me to a local festival happening in the area. The staff can speak english very well, and there was also many forgeiners in the guesthouse which was very reassuring.

The room was very cozy, and it was fun to stay in a traditional style japanese room. I liked the futon, but others who do not fancy firmer beds may be a little uncomfortable. Overall, an amazing value and experience!

Leisure Self

10/10

Exceptional

06 Sep 2023

Dianne

The hosts were very friendly and helpful. They helped us figure out the bus system, helped us to choose sites to visit, and they were very welcoming. The room was close to the bathrooms which were private and very clean. I like having a small western breakfast available each morning.

Leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

08 Jul 2023

Maribel

Wonderful hotel run by a lovely family. Very clean and nice looking. Warm welcoming environment. Walking distance to several area attractions. I highly recommend this lodging. Would stay again.

Leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

30 May 2023

Malinda

While it is a bit of a walk to the nearest station, there are convenient buses nearby. The guesthouse staff are incredibly friendly and helpful and the rooms and bathroom were clean. Loved it here.

Leisure Friends

10/10

Exceptional

01 May 2023

Hephzibah

Guesthouse Soi was adorable with really unique, artistic decor in the shared spaces. The staff was so welcoming. We stayed in a Japanese style room that had 2 futons but could accomodate a 3rd in neccesary. Our room was spacious, clean with an air conditioner that worked super well. There was a hot pot, tea cups and tea bags in our room which was a nice touch.

Of all the "shared bathroom" stays we did on our trip to Japan, this one really got it right: the shared bathroom was a whole area -- kind of like an old school dorm-- but it had three fully enclosed toilet "rooms", three fully enclosed shower "rooms" (with a small dry) area where you could get dressed, and a row of sinks and mirrors.

We did walk to Kiyumizudera, but for the most part, vehicular transport was needed to get to most of the sights and the station. There is a bis stop down the street!

Leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

27 Apr 2023

Melissa

The staff were so kind and took time to give us advice about travel tips and answer our questions. My husband also really enjoyed the traditional Japanese breakfast that was offered and was a very affordable price for the quality.

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

25 Mar 2023

WIlliam

Me and a friend stayed for a night on a two day trip to Kyoto from Tokyo and the guesthouse was perfect! Easy to check in, the staff were extremely helpful giving great local recommendations and the guesthouse facilities were great and clean. Overall a great stay, thank you!

Leisure Friends

10/10

Exceptional

17 Mar 2023

Michael

Very personable and willing to help and was very attentive. So very hospitable and I wish I could have stayed longer. Very cozy and quaint which made me feel relaxed. Spacious room was a great change from the small accommodation I had prior.

Leisure Self

10/10

Exceptional

02 Jan 2023

Harriet

The staff, Maki-san and her family, were so incredibly considerate and accommodating. I really appreciated them. We had several hiccups in our plans and they made sure we still had a clean room, gave us medicine and soup for the one of us when she got sick, and invited us to celebrate Christmas and New Year’s with them and fed us cake and traditional soba. I doubt we could’ve had better accommodations anywhere else. Even though it was a bit of a walk to get to a bus and there weren’t many restaurants open near the guesthouse, I wouldn’t change anything about our stay. I highly recommend staying at Guesthouse Soi, and I am planning to send a thank you package to Maki-san and her family to express my gratitude for their hospitality that went above and beyond what was expected.

Leisure Friends

8/10

Excellent

26 May 2022

Kristen

Everything was loverly :-)

10/10

Exceptional

06 Apr 2020

Eliot

Nice Place to Stay

Soi is located close to Kiyomizu-dera and not far from anywhere in Kyoto. JIll, the host was very helpful in every aspect that we needed. The room was cozy and very "Large" in Japan's standard. The hostel is accessible by bus from Kyoto station and to all the tourist spot that you may want to go to. My wife and I stayed two nights there in February and will definitely return to stay there again in the future. Thank you Jill.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

10 Mar 2020

Eliot

Budget Stay

Good location, easily accessible by public transportation. Good service by Jill.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

21 Dec 2019

Verified traveler

This is a very good place to stay for both short and longer visits to Kyoto! It was very easy to find - the signage was very clear. The hosts were nice and helpful and could speak both English and Chinese. The location is close to the Gion district and the nearest JR station is a 25 minute walk. The one downside was the communal bathrooms. I would definitely recommend to everyone, and would choose to stay here again if I ever return to Kyoto.

Friends_and_family Friends

10/10

Exceptional

21 Nov 2019

Verified traveler

Lovely staff, go above and beyond to help and make sure you're comfortable

Leisure Friends

10/10

Exceptional

07 Nov 2019

Verified traveler

Great guest house good value and nice people. The service was also very good. I had a late check in and there was no stress about that.
You do have to do your breakfast dishes which must be the first time I’ve ever seen that but maybe I do not stay at hostels and guest houses much.

Leisure Self

10/10

Exceptional

03 Oct 2019

Verified traveler

Loved our time here - great balance of room types - free breakfast and most important lovely staff. Thank you

10/10

Exceptional

01 Jul 2019

This is a truly unique accommodation: budget dorm-room like, but we secured a "family room" all to ourselves, with own bathroom and shower. The bunk beds were fun!

Leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

24 Nov 2018

Verified traveler

Wonderful stay at the guesthouse with extremely friendly owners who provided us travel and shopping tips to travel in Kyoto. The guesthouse is located at a peaceful neighbourhood and yet near many places of attractions. We enjoy the daily short walk to the bus stop or main road to catch a taxi to Kyoto station. We will come back again.

Family

10/10

Exceptional

30 May 2018

Patricia

Kyoto guesthouse - comfy and handy to many sites!

Our stay at Guesthouse Soi was great! The staff were helpful and knowledgeable, sharing ideas on where to go and what to see within our limited time. There are some amazing sites within walking distance and handy bus service to the train station or other destinations. We would enjoy staying there again.

8/10

Excellent

16 May 2018

Verified traveler

Wonderful guesthouse

Being in Kyoto for the first time and staying in this guesthouse was such a nice experience. In my opinion it was quite clean, the rooms are reasonable sized and sleeping on the floor with Japanese mattress was an amazing feeling! I was well rested :) A pity it’s a bit far away from the city centre but you can get a bus to everywhere.

6/10

Pleasant

01 May 2018

Agata

Nice hotel close to few attraction's

Staff very friendly, will explain to you where to go and what to visit.

8/10

Excellent

23 Apr 2018

Giselle

Lovely stay!

The staff was very friendly, the place was cool and clean. It has bikes to rent which is very useful as it's located pretty far from downtown but it's a good distance to do by bike.

Partner

8/10

Excellent

24 Dec 2017

Ken shunji

Big breakfast!

It was a great breakfast. We were three of us and we’ve slept well.

Family

10/10

Exceptional

20 Nov 2017

Aldina

Excellent stay great hosts convienent location.

The guesthouse ids clean and comfortable. Excellent facilities. The hosts have great knowledge of the area. Lots of good advice on where to eat . We hired the bikes and we were able to easily ride to numerous temples and shrines. Highly recommend the guesthouse.

10/10

Exceptional

06 Nov 2017

Antonio

Perfect for hiking the Higashiyama District

It was my first time staying in a guesthouse and I enjoyed the experience. I was a solo traveler from Canada and I got to meet people from France, Scotland, Shanghai, and Japan. The reason I chose Guesthouse Soi was its affordability and that it was located in the Higashiyama District where I was going to do the entire day historic hike to the Silver Pavilion.

With that said, if you don't enjoy hiking/walking or your health is questionable, I would suggest a different accommodation closer to a JR station. The closest JR station is the kyoto station, approximately 25 mins of walking. Otherwise, the location was perfect as I dined in the Gion district often.

Maki and her staff were pleasant to talk to. Their cooking skills for breakfast were great. The room I stayed in was a Japanese-style room with a tatami mat and it was clean and comfortable.

My reason for the cleanliness rating was that some of the shared facilities such as the washroom & showers could be better, but that wasn't the fault of the guesthouse or staff. It has more to do with the behaviour of the other guests you'll be sharing with. Other than that, you'll always have a nice hot shower.

I would book again.

10/10

Exceptional

14 Sep 2017

Aida & Mustafa

Hospitable,charming Guest House!

We enjoyed our stay at this charming Guest House, owned by a truly lovely couple. Clean, traditional, and near to Kyoto station, Gion and many 'must see' sites. The hospitality and travel tips from the owners are off the charts! Without doubt, their guidance made our ambitious sight seeing experiences in Kyoto, Nara, Osaka, Arashiama and Inari possible. Btw, breakfast is generous & delicious at a great value!

10/10

Exceptional

25 Aug 2017

Tilleisha

Absolutely amazing! Authentic Japanese experience.

Brilliant! The staff were super nice and helped us gather our bearings! Beautiful tatami room which gives it an authentic Japanese vibe! Would stop again 100%!

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

02 Aug 2017

Venessa

Extremely hospitable and very friendly.

A wonderful stay. All staff were very hospitable and extremely helpful. We were made to feel very welcome and given lots of very informative and relevant tips on the best places to to see, according to our specific interests in gardens, art and temples.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

25 May 2017

Angela

Special place

It is a really nice place for stay. I bit difficult to find it ..but after that it is really near to all main place.
The people are really polite in particular Maki, she helps a lot in organize our days in Kyoto without spend a lot of money.
Definitely racommended

Family

10/10

Exceptional

09 Jan 2017

Verified traveler

Location is meh but great value!

Location was a bit far away from the rest of the action. The rooms were very comfortable though, and defnitely recommend the Japanese style breakfast.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

12 Nov 2016

yuki

Great hostel in Kyoto.

We stayed in Guest house Soi for 1 night when we stayed in Kyoto.
The hotel is very well decorated and all of the stuff are very helpful and friendly.
The hotel was located in heart of Higashiyama area and very easy to travel everywhere by walk or bicycle.
We have rented the bicycle from there for 500 yen all day and when to everywhere by bike.
We stayed in the smallest room and the room was Abi small but for the value you will have everything you need and everything was very clean so we were happy to stay there.
Also you can pay 500 yen and they offer you very good breakfast everyday as well.

10/10

Exceptional

23 Oct 2016

Jordan

Awesome place to stay in Kyoto!

This place was the best place we stayed in during out time in Japan. The family who own/run it are super friendly and helpful (everyone speaks decent English). The room was very cosy and clean. Breakfast was pretty decent for the price.

The only thing to consider is the location, as you might need to walk 5 minutes or so to get on the buses, but for us that was not an issue.

If I ever went back to Kyoto, I would definitely stay here again, which I can't say I've ever really said for many of the places I've ever traveled.

10/10

Exceptional

06 Oct 2016

Kim-An

Great value

Staying at Guesthouse Soi for the Kyoto portion of our trip was a great decision. From Kyoto station it was a short ride on bus 206 to get to this guesthouse, so it was easy to find. It was clean with friendly staff. Room and bathroom was small, but that's to be expected in Japan. Would stay here again if we ever go back to Kyoto. Bonus: Kiyomizu dera temple was close by.

Family

10/10

Exceptional

03 Oct 2016

Ben

hotel walking distance to Kiyomizu Temple

Myself and 2x boys (8yo & 11yo) stayed at Guesthouse Soi.
We arrived from Osaka via Shinkansen, followed the instructions and caught the bus. It was very easy. the bus has a screen indicating the next stops. (later we went to nearest train station, it would be too far to walk with luggage and kids).
When we arrived at Soi, it was early and our room not ready. We dropped of our luggage and went out to explore.
On returning, our luggage were in our room, the girl showed us our room and explained the guesthouse facilities.
The room is good size, modern, clean and well equipped.

8/10

Excellent

11 Sep 2016

Verified traveler

very nice guest house in kyoto

We stayed here for 4 nights and we were very happy. we had the small room with the japanese style bed in a small loft area. very cozy room.
the staff is very nice and friendly. they also help with directions and getting around which is very useful.
the japanese breakfast was very nice.
the owner invited us for dinner with the family which was a lot of fun. we were initially going to skip fuku-ji but went there on the recommendation of the owner and were very happy we did!

8/10

Excellent

25 Jul 2016

Verified traveler

First time in Kyoto

I traveled from US with my 3 daughters (ages 16-21). Location is good, can walk to major sites or take a short taxi ride. Owners are extremely friendly and speak good English. Place is clean. We had a loft with a private bathroom. A very pleasant stay.

Family

10/10

Exceptional

01 Jul 2016

Jose

Great location with the nicest, finest hosts

Sim and Maki made us feel at home. The Japanese breakfast is delicious. The place spotless, comfy, well-sized loft-style room. We are a family, traveling with three kids. the place has toys for them to play. I really feel sad to be leaving and look forward to some day come back to this very pleasant gust house with a fantastic staff and great location.

Family

6/10

Pleasant

29 Jun 2016

Anne-Marie

a pleasant stay in Kyoto

We enjoyed our time at Soi, even though our room had an unusual smell about it. Had Tatami mats and a nice Japanese vibe. Brekky was good and staff were very helpful.

Family

10/10

Exceptional

24 Jun 2016

Vivian

A hidden gem close to major tourist attractions

- very helpful and hospitable staff
- great breakfast for the price paid
- convenient location
- well-equipped rooms with everything you need on a trip

10/10

Exceptional

01 May 2016

Angel

Home

Great experience!! I will visit again. They made me feel at home.

10/10

Exceptional

22 Apr 2016

Anton

Like a second home

Lovely hostel with a nice homely feel. The staff are friendly and helpful. It is great to have the family live downstairs and see how well they interact. Would definitely recommend it to family and friends.

10/10

Exceptional

29 Feb 2016

Shawna

Completely satisfied

Great stay! The hostess is lovely! Everything you need is there. The place is spotless.

Partner

8/10

Excellent

13 Jan 2016

Rachelle

Nice host and good location

The host is good and caring. They are able to give you guidance for traveling around Kyoto. Maps are provided and 1-day bus passes can be bought there.
The guesthouse is located at Umamachi, basically only a few bus stop away from the Kiyomizu Temple, Gion and the Nishiki market.
The room is not too big but ok for us since we only have 1 piece of baggage. There are a common room and a simple kitchen. You can talk to other travelers when you share the resources. Overall the experience is good.

10/10

Exceptional

09 Jan 2016

Lin

We stayed at a private room. it's clean and very comfy. Love the deco. Perfect location with close proximity to the famous temple. Staff is very friendly and knowledgeable. Highly recommend!

Family

10/10

Exceptional

06 Jan 2016

PhuaCS

A warm & cozy loft holiday stay!

Pleasant experience! Safe & comfortable! Kids love the home-coming feeling.

10/10

Exceptional

22 Dec 2015

Verified traveler

Enjoyed my time there

Very friendly owners, gave us great tips while we're traveling around town. I would recommend this place to anyone. Hoping to come back to Kyoto soon and will stay here again.

Family

10/10

Exceptional

26 Nov 2015

Verified traveler

Great and comfy

Really enjoy our stay. Convenient - bus access to many places.

10/10

Exceptional

12 Nov 2015

vickie

Awesome location close to everything.

The owners were an absolute star. They gave us a map and pointed out all the excellent spots to see and do. They even had bikes we could hire for the day! This guesthouse is beautiful and extremely close to all things in Kyoto. We had an excellent time in Kyoto, thank you to Guesthouse Soi!

8/10

Excellent

27 Oct 2015

kamini

Nice and clean

Family

10/10

Exceptional

11 Sep 2015

Patricia

Would recommend...

Had a really nice stay for three nights. Easy to find your way around town from this location. Staff were friendly.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

28 Aug 2015

michele

Delightful Rokan in convenient neighborhood

The staff went out of their way to insure that my stay was lovely from beginning to end.

The place is new, immaculately clean and wonderfully equipped especially in the bathroom/ shower areas.

Loved the main sitting area with beautifully upholstered eating areas and picturesque Japanese garden to enjoy from the sitting area.

10/10

Exceptional

16 Aug 2015

Verified traveler

A welcoming place in beautiful Kyoto

We stayed in the traditional Japanese room with futons and tatmi. The staff were very friendly and helpful. They told us about events in the city and provided a lovely (and good value) breakfast. Laundry facilities were useful.

10/10

Exceptional

06 Aug 2015

Verified traveler

It was very pleasant. The staffs were very friendly.

10/10

Exceptional

31 Jul 2015

Jonathan

Wondeful stay

Lovely loft style suite both cozy in comfort and cute with the japanese guesthouse flooring.

The suite was very clean and well prepared overall. TWO air condition units plus wall mounted fan helped to cool and circulate the air quickly. The rooms not only had all the usual hotel toiletries, but there was even a powerbar that had universal outlets! There is a washer for common use, but we did not have the opportunity to use it during our stay.

The staff are extremely helpful and friendly. The lady is also fluent in English. The guesthouse is a cross between a hotel and hostel where there is a common area for eating or entertainment. No kitchen for the guests to use however, but they provide home cooked breakfast daily - alternating between japanese and western breakfasts every other day for a nominal amount. If you are lucky to be on a Monday night they do a "family dinner night" where they provide a home cooked meal and everyone can eat and share travel stories. They also sell the transit day passes.

The only downside was the location. It is not accessible by train and is about a 25 min bus ride from kyoto station plus nother 7 min walk to the stop. If you have lots of luggage you'll wanr to taxi back, as the kyoto busses are genearlly very crowded. However, that being said, the location is close to some of the sites we wanted to check out and is safe.

Overall, the stay itself was wondeful. Would certainly stay here again, and for more days next time.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

25 Jul 2015

Ben

Breakfast is excellent

I really enjoyed the guesthouse, mainly because most of the time I was in Japan I was staying in hotel rooms but in this hostel I meet a lot of people and I enjoyed their company

8/10

Excellent

23 Jul 2015

Verified traveler

it's value for money

Nice and cozy

Family

8/10

Excellent

14 Jul 2015

Verified traveler

Nice hostel for the money

Considering the very affordable price, this is a nice place to stay while you are in Kyoto, with convenient location, friendly staff that will answer your questions.

8/10

Excellent

14 Jul 2015

ursula

Close to food and ATM. Nearby amazing local sites!

Lovely people working at this guesthouse and we met some other cool travelera. Clean and tidy. Quiet location.

10/10

Exceptional

09 Jul 2015

Evelyn

Convenient. Home away from home.

Walking distance to Kiyomizudera temple and the Higashiyama walk- which is lined by several more temples.
Easy to take the bus to go back and forth to Kyoto station.
Easy to take bus or train to get to Nijo castle , Kyoto Imperial palace, Manga international museum and other temples.
Took the bullet train to Osaka (20 mins only).
Nara, Uji, Fushimi inari and Kobe are also accessible by JR train.
Hiroshima is only 2 hours one way by bullet train. Tokyo is 3 hours one way by bullet train.

10/10

Exceptional

31 May 2015

Maria Corazon

Super clean, friendly owners

Hotel staff/owners were pleasant and accomodating. However, breakfast choices wasn't much. The laundry facility was a plus. Going there though was quite difficult by bus as we had several luggages with us. I suggest taking a taxi upon arrival, you can take the bus when you go sight seeing. Very clean.

Family

8/10

Excellent

27 May 2015

Verified traveler

very pleasant

Overall, it was a very pleasant stay. The location of this place is great. It is close to most of the sights. People here are very friendly. Room and bathrooms are very clean.

Family

10/10

Exceptional

06 May 2015

Verified traveler

Top Recommendation

Traveling with husband and French friends. All of the staff at Soi are wonderful--so kind and helpful in multiple languages! One of our group needed emergency dental treatment and the staff made an appointment with an English-speaking dentist. We enjoyed our stay at Soi more than the high-end hotels in Tokyo and Fukuoka.

Family

8/10

Excellent

05 May 2015

Verified traveler

Comfortable guesthouse to stay

Value for money, the Room is a bit crumpy for 3 people but still comfortable. Comfortable Futon. Kind and helpful guesthouse Manager. Clean guesthouse. Good location, close to Kyoto station. Overall, i'll stay there again for sure.

Family

8/10

Excellent

27 Apr 2015

Saranpas

Comfortable room with clean place

clean place with good bed but must walk around 7 minuted from bus station, overall is acceptable.

Family

6/10

Pleasant

25 Apr 2015

lucia

You get what you paid for

The hostel is easy to get to from Kyoto train station.take the bus 206 on d2 and stop on umamachi bus stop which is the 6 th stop from the station.it tells you on the screen on the bus.as you get off the bus carry on left to the traffic lights cross the road and carry on walking for about 5 minutes.there is a sign outside the hostel soi guest house.hostel itself is ok the room is bit small but comfortable enough.the lady of the house is very helpful and friendly

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

19 Apr 2015

Verified traveler

A Home Away From Home ;)

The room was spacious for a family of four. The staff was very welcoming. Since there were only several rooms at this guesthouse, the place felt like home.

Family

10/10

Exceptional

01 Apr 2015

Kylie

Beautiful Guesthouse in beautiful Kyoto

Guesthouse Soi was the best place we stayed in, in Japan. Impeccably clean, beautiful rooms, great facilities, like laundry, delicious and affordable breakfast and wonderful staff. Walking distance to many sights, and just near a bus stop. I highly, highly recommend this property. You will not be disappointed.

Family

10/10

Exceptional

20 Mar 2015

Crystal

great value & service - highly recommend

staff are very helpful & are actually happy to help. they have maps, books etc. my first night i wasnt feeling well & they offered to make udon for my medicine as i needed to eat before i could have the meds. its quite close to transport, (15mins or so from Kyoto station by bus) & close to the temples. if you go on their website they have good directions on how to get to the guesthouse. its easy to find. really enjoyed my stay. service is big to me & they definitely went above & beyond. cannot recommend enough!

8/10

Excellent

25 Jan 2015

see man

comfortable and quiet, staffs are nice!

This is not close to shopping area but i like this guesthouse! Price is reasonable and the environment is so comfortable. Cleanliness is not bad even the washrooms have to be shared...It's really a good place for backpackers.

Family

10/10

Exceptional

06 Jan 2015

Gemma

Amazing

Lovely stay! Hosts were overly friendly, helpful and welcoming.
We loved the bikes for rent and family dinner:)
Thanks everyone for making kyoto very special :)

Family

10/10

Exceptional

06 Jan 2015

Verified traveler

Cozy place in Kyoto

Stayed for 3 nights at the standard traditional small room.
The place is clean with good facilities and very professionally managed.
Maki was very friendly and attentive towards the guests.
The Japanese breakfast was delicious.
Will definitely choose this place if we ever visit Kyoto again.

10/10

Exceptional

05 Jan 2015

Ming Z

Very good stay

Good location, very easy to catch the bus to various attractions. Room is decent size, was able to fit 3 futons and 3 luggages. Shared bathroom facilities were well maintained and clean. The hosts were very nice and offered good advice. Overall very good stay.

Family

10/10

Exceptional

04 Jan 2015

catherine

Excellent!

This is a really lovely family-run guesthouse. The owners go to great lengths to make everyone feel comfortable, for example offering heated blankets when sitting in the open area and on New Year's day the family and staff were making mochi for the guests. The evening meal (optional) was really good and hearty.

8/10

Excellent

21 Dec 2014

Florence

Cosy and clean guest house.

We stayed a night here. The room is a bit small for 3 of us. Hotel located about 7-10 mins walk (uphill) from bus stop. But is within walking distance to the main attractions.

8/10

Excellent

09 Dec 2014

yong

Small comfy hostel

A value for money small hostel. Not many hostels in Japan has 4-dorm bed. If you looking for one in Kyoto, this will be your good bet. Location is in a quiet Neighbourhood of Kyoto while not too far away from all.

10/10

Exceptional

05 Dec 2014

Verified traveler

Fantastic Place!

Had a wonderful time staying here. Place is well maintained by Mr. Sim and Maki. They provided good advise on where to visit given our short time frame there. Will definitely recommend friends who are visiting Kyoto to stay at Sim's Cozy Guesthouse.

Family

8/10

Excellent

24 Nov 2014

Verified traveler

A nice stay

The staff was very friendly and spoke good english. Very welcoming. The bathroom and toilet facilities are brand new and very clean. I never had to wait to use them. The room was not big but it is usual in Japan. It had an odd tatami smell but we got used to it. Beds were a bit hard to sleep on and walls are pretty thin. Other guests were not very considerate when coming back late so if you're a light sleeper you may struggle (this is to be expected in a guesthouse though). A bit out of the way but all in all we were happy with our stay.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

20 Nov 2014

Debbie

A positive experience

We stayed 3 nights in a split level family suite for 4 people. The guest house is newly renovated with updated bathroom facilities, heating, ventilation and air conditioning. Kept very clean and tidy. Both the lower level western bed and the upper level futon are wide and comfortable. Thoughtful details were incorporated in the design, such as the open roof top laundry area has a heater to provide warm air on cold days. No doubt our host Mr.Sim is an excellent cook, we were invited to try his dishes. On a rainy day while we were out, our hostess helped relocated our hangers to under a sheltered cloth line. Gestures like these make you feel you are a guest at someone's house, not just a pay customer. The guest house is located on a quiet street/neighborhood, 5 minutes walking distance to the bus stop. Buses come frequent so not a problem for getting around. On the day of arrival, we took a taxi from Kyoto station with our luggage it costed about 1000 yen. For the subsequent 2 days, each morning we purchased bus passes at the front desk before we head out. This is another example of their thoughtful service. We will stay there again if/when we revisit Kyoto.

Family

8/10

Excellent

18 Nov 2014

Verified traveler

Nice stay. Pleasant Experience,

We booked 2 rooms with Sim's Cozy guesthouse. It is located in a quiet area in Kyoto. Walking distance to Kiyomizudera and Gion, Nishiki Market. We have an enjoyable stay here and the guesthouse owners are very helpful and kind. We will come back and stay here again in our next visit.

10/10

Exceptional

18 Nov 2014

haydeek

Cozy and clean hotel near Gion and Kyoto station

The staff was excellent. The owners and the staff went out of their way for their guests' convenience. They always accommodated our requests and helped us with directions and questions about Kyoto. Sim and Maki were really friendly and warm. They welcomed all their guests with open arms. I definitely would be coming to Sim's next time I travel to Kyoto.

10/10

Exceptional

13 Nov 2014

chris

Family run guest house filled with love.

My original intention was to stay just 3 nights at this guest house, I ended up staying 6 nights! The entire guest house is constantly being cleaned. The family that runs the guest house always greeted me with a warm smile and even invited me to dinner with them for a couple nights of my stay. I wish I could have stayed longer.

10/10

Exceptional

13 Nov 2014

chris

Cleanest hotel I've ever been in.

Wonderful stay in this incredibly clean, comfortable, inviting guest house. The location was perfect for me to visit all of the local temples and shrines. The family that owns and operates this guest house are warm and gracious hosts. They treated me like a member of the family. My stay was unforgettable.

10/10

Exceptional

13 Nov 2014

chris

A perfect 10!

This is easily the cleanest, friendliest, most comfortable place in Kyoto. The family that runs the guest house is absolutely superb. By the 3rd day of my week long stay, I was invited to have dinner with the family. They treated me like a member of the family.

8/10

Excellent

07 Nov 2014

Verified traveler

Nice hostel

Good

Family

10/10

Exceptional

16 Oct 2014

Rita

Quiet residential neighborhood

Newly renovated - lovely spot with modest buffet breakfast for 500 yen. Staff are friendly and helpful and speak English. Very clean and rooms are of decent size by Japanese standards - ours had a small couch! 5 min walk to bus stop.

10/10

Exceptional

23 Sep 2014

kommunic8

Great experience

Staff is amazingly kind and understanding (we had a minor misunderstanding through booking and they made the impossible to accommodate our needs). The staff is always helpful and available with tips and advice. We took the breakfast option several times: it's great value for money (one day we were also treated with the 'special green tea pancake'). The rooms are nice and clean. The shared bathrooms are sparkling clean and brand new, with nice, funky taps etc. We loved our stay! Thank you!

10/10

Exceptional

11 Oct 2025

Markus

Very good

6/10

Pleasant

06 Oct 2025

ONODERA

朝から清水寺まで朝一番で参拝してきました。
自転車も貸してくださるそうで、とても快適そうです😃

10/10

Exceptional

12 Apr 2025

Alejandra

Fue una gran elección de hospedaje, fácil acceso, cerca de lugares a visitar, zona bonita y tranquila. Transporte cercano y sobre todo calidez y mucha amabilidad por parte del personal sin duda es un gran opción de hospedaje.

Leisure Self

10/10

Exceptional

02 Jan 2025

Atsushi

すばらしかったです

２段ベット２つの共用バスの部屋に家族で２泊しましたが最高の滞在になりました。
部屋は静かで清潔で、フロントではお茶やコーヒーなどのドリンクの他に朝食の提供もあり、共用のシャワールームも清潔なタオルが豊富に用意されていて、24h使用可能でした。
機会があればまた利用させていただきたいと思います

Friends_and_family Family

10/10

Exceptional

05 Nov 2024

Déborah

Chambre triple plutôt confortable, style traditionnel, très pratique pour les rangements. Insonorisation médiocre mais on s’y fait. Hôtes adorables, bus à proximité mais avec des temps de trajet plus ou moins longs sauf pour la gare : à 10 min en bus / taxi. Service de laverie très pratique pour une modique somme!

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

27 May 2024

Philipp

Tolles Guesthouse mit sehr hilfsbereiten und freundlichen Betreibern. Wir haben u s sehr wohl gefühlt. Einziger Nachteil ist die nicht ganz zentrale Lage.

Leisure Partner