Colours - Hostel

The calm of Toru's guesthouse was such a relief after long days out exploring Kyoto. I stayed in the smaller private room, which felt roomy, with tatami, a nicely made futon, heating and A/C, and sliding doors facing the little garden. It also had its own toilet. Showers, sinks, and a kitchen are shared. The area is quiet and residential, with an onsen across the street that locals use. Several bus stops and good restaurants are about 5-9 minutes away on foot, and there’s a coin laundry nearby too. Toru replied to messages incredibly quickly and had helpful ideas for things to do and places to eat. Being able to send my luggage there ahead of time was a real plus. I’d happily stay again if I’m back in Kyoto.

We spent 14 days in Japan, traveling from Osaka to Kyoto, and the owner kindly waited for our luggage to arrive. I know that wasn’t part of his job, but he did everything he could to help us. We’re a group of four and have now been to his area twice. He always makes us feel welcome, like it’s our own home, so we’ll come back to Kyoto again. We’d already eaten at restaurants in Osaka, but cooked every day in Kyoto. The kitchen was very clean, and there was free tea for us. We felt lucky to have that.

Colours gave us a quiet, simple stay in a residential neighborhood, and I really liked having an authentic tatami room. There are just two rooms in the house, plus a shared lounge and kitchen. Each room has its own toilet, while the common area has sinks and separate shower rooms. Although it’s called a hostel, it felt calm. The nearest bus stops are a 5-7 minute walk away, and buses are the easiest way to get around Kyoto. Nishiki Market is roughly 20-25 minutes away on foot. Gion has more hotels nearby, but this place suited us well. Toru, the owner, and his staff member Chris were quick to respond and helpful. They let us check in at about 1 p.m., right after we arrived from Tokyo on the bullet train. There’s an older washing machine on site, though the guesthouse itself suggests using a nearby 24-hour laundry. I recommend AQUA, only a few minutes away, with modern machines that wash and dry together. We stayed in October 2024.

We had a wonderful experience staying here.