Kyoto Uraraka Guest House

Great staff and an amazing location. The rooms are simple and clean. I definitely recommend renting bicycles from them, the bikes are good and cheap.

The free bike rental is a real plus in Kyoto, where tourist bike hire can get expensive. This place also gives you a taste of everyday local life, right by Nijo Castle in a residential area rather than the loud, crowded tourist spots. I’ve enjoyed walking or running nearby when the weather’s good, and there are bus stops outside, with a 711, pharmacy, LIFE supermarket, and several restaurants close by. I’ve found good food by checking Google map reviews. I’m here for about three months and it feels like home. The room is simple and practical for a reasonable price. There’s self-service laundry downstairs, which I prefer to the pricey laundry bills at five-star hotels, or the risk of clothes being ruined or lost, which has happened to me. It has a clean, quiet, organized college dorm feel that brings back memories, and it’s better than my experience in a US college dorm. The front desk staff are nice and speak English well. The shower height and tub are on the small side, as you’d expect for Japanese sizing. I’m a petite Asian woman, so it’s fine for me, but larger American guests should keep that in mind.

We were close to most of the places we planned to visit, and the host suggested some great food spots and sights away from the usual crowds. They were incredibly helpful throughout our trip. The guest house was also kept immaculately.

The staff were really friendly, and getting around from here was convenient. I liked it a lot, and the room we had was pretty spacious.