Sakuragawa no Kyoto Japan House

The area is quiet and doesn't have many places to eat, though we kept going back to a great okonomiyaki shop about five minutes away, beside a 7-11. Rooms were clean but a bit small, best for two people and three at most. Nishioji station is a 6-7 minute walk, including an overhead bridge, so don't bring very heavy luggage.

This is about the service, not the apartment I rented for a week through Airbnb. When I asked about extending my stay, they quoted much more than Airbnb. We negotiated and agreed on 3000Yen, but when I went to pay, they added a 1200 Yen cleaning fee for the one night I wouldn't be staying in the same room. I'd suggest booking through Airbnb only. The apartment had no windows that could be opened, and no daylight came in, so I'd only recommend it for a short stay.

The hosts were friendly, and the lodgings were comfortable. They provide an inexpensive bike rental for the day and a binder with laminated directions to popular sights and nearby restaurants. It's very close to a small train station, just one stop from Kyoto station, or about a 15-minute walk through a nice neighborhood.

This was our favorite place in Kyoto. The apartment was nicely divided up and had all the amenities, plus bikes you could borrow. The main downside was the walk from the train stations, though your calves will get a workout.