Gion Guesthouse Yururi

It’s a small, homelike guesthouse with friendly, helpful owners, near temples and gardens. Kyoto Station is about 25 minutes away by bus. The free breakfast is simple but good, toast with tea or coffee and a banana. Being in a small hostel made it easy to meet other travelers. Facilities were good too, with a large fridge for food, plus a washer and dryer. I stayed in the girls’ dorm, which was small, windowless, and a bit claustrophobic. The WiFi was poor in the room, and the walls were very thin. It was also hard to know I couldn’t return to the hostel between 10 and 4. Kyoto was incredibly hot in midsummer, and I wanted to come back to my room to relax.

This is budget accommodation, and I’d still give it five stars for that. The owners are nice, the rooms are good quality, and the price suits the location. Breakfast is included, with toast, jam, and bananas. Shared bathrooms and showers are normal for a guesthouse; the showers are divided into two areas so you still get some privacy. There’s a common room with a TV, coffee, and tea, where breakfast is served in the morning.

The owner welcomed us warmly just off Gion’s main street and spoke basic English. Our private room on the first floor had space for four, tatami mats and futons, an overhead heater and air conditioning, and a viewing garden. I didn’t see the size of the bunk room upstairs. The first-floor common area had a kitchen. Down the hall were one shared bathroom, two showers, and three sinks, all of which seemed clean and well kept. There’s coin laundry and a dryer, and you can rent clean towels, other basics, and bicycles. Breakfast was free, with toast and jams, butter, and so on. Would stay again!

The guesthouse is tucked down a side alley, but it’s a quick, easy walk to a subway station and Gion’s busy food, shopping, and entertainment streets. Yasaka Shrine is walkable, and Kiyomizu-dera is maybe a 20-minute walk, easy to fit in while exploring. My bed and the bathrooms were clean and well kept, and there was complimentary toast in the morning. It felt like home, and the hospitality made this my favorite stay during my two weeks in Japan as a young solo traveler. Kimie and Kouzou were the best part. I arrived early, feeling shy and worn out after having trouble finding the place, and they gave me a smile and help right away. They made me feel welcome, recommended food and things to do, helped with directions, and were good company when I wanted to chat. They even gave me a ticket for a geisha/maiko show for free. I enjoyed talking with Kouzou, asking about Kyoto and Japan and sharing things about our own countries. I missed the place and the people before I’d even left for my next destination, and would love to stay again.