Pension Kitashirakawa

The owner was very friendly and often downstairs in the large living area watching Japanese soap operas. She was always around to get ice, look after our key, or take care of rubbish. It felt like staying in a family home, but without feeling cramped. This is a very cosy Pension, with clean, spacious rooms and clean bathrooms, though not all the bathrooms are Western-style. The beds were comfy, for Japan. There’s a 22:30 curfew, so it won’t suit people who like to party. It’s well placed for eastern city temples, including Philosopher's Walk and Ginkaku-ji temple.

Getting into downtown Kyoto takes some time. There’s no train station nearby, and the bus ride to everything else in the city is 30+ minutes. The place is close to Philosopher's Walk and Ginkakuji temple, though. We stayed four nights with our family. It was quiet and clean, the beds were comfortable, and the owners were kind and helpful. The shared bathrooms are traditional Japanese style, so showering is only allowed from 6:30pm to 10:00pm. There’s also a 10:30pm curfew, and the owners lock the front door afterward. That can be difficult when you’re staying this far from downtown.

The curfew felt unnecessary, and we had to be back by 10:00PM. The old lady was impolite to us.

The owner is kind and helpful, and the Kita Shirakawa Daidocho bus stops are nearby. It was a good stay.