Kyoto Guesthouse

The rooms were clean and comfortable, and the host was lovely. There are plenty of places to eat and transport options nearby. Just be aware the stairs up to the room are steep.

The bedding was comfortable, but that was the only real positive for us. For what we paid, the service was astonishingly poor. We never met the owner, got only two tiny towels for three nights, and there was no help with luggage. That left us unable to collect our bags from Yamato until the final night, and the owner was extremely unhelpful about it. We also had to be back at the guesthouse by 11:30pm so we wouldn't “disturb other neighbours.” We understand the tatami floors and floorboards don't block sound well, but improving that should be the host's responsibility, not something guests are expected to work around. We would have booked somewhere else if we could have done so earlier.

The value for the price was poor, and the room wasn't well equipped: there was no kitchen or washing machine. Sound carries easily, too. We hadn't been told when booking that the Japanese-style room on the third floor had no private toilet or bathroom, so we had to share with the other rooms on that floor. Getting our big suitcases up there was difficult because the stairs are narrow and steep, and there's no elevator. A very uncomfortable stay.

The people working on site were friendly, attentive, and clearly tried hard to help guests. They work in exchange for lodging, without any salary, and deserve more understanding and credit for their dedication and eagerness to give good service. The owner, who handles online bookings, was a different experience. Communicating with them was difficult because they were inflexible and long-winded. We spent over an hour trying to sort out payment and came away frustrated and upset.