Wise Owl Hostels Kyoto

The room was clean, the bed VERY comfortable, and the staff were friendly and available. Several convenience stores are within walking distance, and at $19 a night it was really affordable. The shower room is in the basement, though that wasn’t a big deal to me, and there isn’t much to do nearby. Kyoto station is a short walk away, so getting public transport to anywhere else is easy. I’d definitely stay again.

The first-floor common room was a great spot to hang out, and we met a lot of cool people there. The staff were friendly and helpful, and the rooms and bathrooms were tidy and clean. It felt like they cared. The hostel is secure, with key cards for your floor and room access limited to your own floor. It’s near Kyoto station, with lots to do around here, a mall across the street, and a bus stop 500 feet from the door. I’d gladly stay again.

For the price, this is good value. The beds are comfortable, the staff are incredibly friendly, and they’ll store your bags before check-in. The facilities are good too, though having the bathrooms on the bottom floor was a minor inconvenience for me. There are a lot of beds in each dorm, so it gets loud and crowded. The space is extremely tight, especially in a top bunk, where getting in and out is hard if you’re not nimble. My dorm was also very hot, with little ventilation and a really bad smell the whole time. It’s a good hostel for a night, but I couldn’t stay much longer.

The location is a huge plus, and the building has an elevator. My room had 10 beds, each pretty wide and long enough for an average person. A plastic card unlocks both the elevator and your room, which is convenient. The first floor has reception, a lounge area, tables, and a fully equipped kitchen where you can cook if you bring your own food. The basement has shower stalls, laundry, and toilets, with more toilets on every floor. The other floors are rooms. It was very crowded. I know that’s a consequence of staying somewhere with lots of people, rather than the hostel’s fault, but someone snored like crazy, and in the middle of the night a drunk girl started talking on her phone as if she were alone.