Guesthouse Tohgetsu Kyoto

The guesthouse isn't close to Kyoto station, but there are bus stops all around it, so the distance isn't as inconvenient as it might sound. The staff were lovely and helpful. Each day included one free bowl of noodles, and the mornings came with toast, butter, and jam. Toiletries were free too, as was entry to the sento. Plenty of bus lines serve the guesthouse.

The staff were nice and tried their best with English, even though they weren't fully fluent. I liked the location and the free breakfast, and the bathhouse upstairs was pretty cool. But not having a kitchen was a big downside for me. They vacuum the rooms daily, though the hostel areas could use a better clean. The toilets and shower seemed to get missed.

The best part was free access to the public bath, including its sauna and thermal bath. The location worked really well too: Saiin station is about a 20-second walk away, with a connection to Kyoto station (a bit expensive) and an easy route to arashyiama. There's also a bus stop for getting around the city for 230 yen, and a 7eleven right across the street. The place was quiet and clean, and the beds were comfortable. There isn't a kitchen, but there's a microwave and free ramen. Breakfast is included, with toast and fruit jam, plus free tea and coffee. The toilet and shower were great, and soap and shampoo were provided.

The free public bath was nice, though I felt shy using a shared one and would've preferred a private bath. The free snack was the best part. It's an okay place for a cheap stay, and getting around is easy. It shouldn't be hard to find if you're smart about it, otherwise you could have trouble. ☺️☺️