Guesthouse Soi — Hotel in Kyoto

I traveled to Kyoto in the beginning of November 2019. I arrived at Kyoto later than I expected. By the time I got there it was darker than I would like and it was only 7 pm! The staffs had sent me a confirmation email for my stay when I booked the place and again on the day of my arrival. They were very clear on their instructions on how to get to the hostel from Kyoto Station to Umamachi using bus 206 on the D2 line. It was very easy to find. The location was conveniently close to several main sites such as Kyoto National Museum, Sanjusangen-do Temple and Kiyomizudera Temple. And depending on how fond you are with walking, hotspots like Gion, Nishiki Market, Kyoto Imperial Palace, Nijo Castle, and Toji Temple are either a brisk walk or a bus ride away.

The staffs were very friendly and accommodating. They were very kind to help me plan out my route. Google Maps are great, but unfortunately it isn't as developed for Japan yet. I had planned out and numbered my routes before I came, but as it turns out there were a few miscalculations. With the staffs' help, I was able to hit more than plenty of spots in one day. Mind you my daily count of steps averaged in the 30K. The staffs are usually busy preparing breakfast in the morning, but they were still extremely helpful with my questions. They are more available following breakfast if you need a more in-depth assistance.

I had a co-ed room of 4, which was simple and tidy. They clean your room once a week and you can even choose the day. I stayed there for 6 nights. Inside the room, there are individual tall lockers to store your luggage, a shoe rack, and a hairdryer. You can store your luggage for free, before check in and after check out. I had a medium sized luggage that fitted perfectly, with extra room to store souvenir. The bed was comfortable and the comforter was fluffy and warm. There is a very bright wall plug lamp, 2 electrical plugs, a metal rod and two hangers for each bunk. The rooms also have an air conditioner if needed. There are toilets on the first and second floor, 3 showers on the second floor, coin-operated laundry machines and dryers on the rooftop. They provide you with a body and face towel, free liquid body wash, shampoo, and conditioner. Their recommendation to first air-dry my clothes before putting them in the dryer was very helpful. It took me 60 minutes under high heat to dry my 5 clothes, 2 pants, 5 underwear, and 5 pairs of socks. If you make a mistake while following the instructions, let them know and they will be more than happy to assist you. The amenities did not end there!

They have laptops that you can borrow to do last minute searches in the common area, free tea and coffee, and free breakfast! The free breakfast consisted of bread, butter, jams, milk and cereal. They have toasters and a small kitchen that you can use. If you forget any necessities, they have items and food that you can purchase for a cheap price. They also serve American and Japanese style breakfast on certain days for a small extra cost, but you would have to let them know in advance.

There was only one small thing that came as a surprise. I had come thinking I had paid everything before the trip. When I checked in, the receptionist stated that I had to pay a small accommodation fee in cash. It turns out it was noted at the end of the bill in fine prints. I didn't mind it. I just prefer paying everything in advance, especially since I was trying to conserve my cash supply. However, even with the small accommodation fee, the total price was nothing in comparison to all the amenities they provided.

I couldn't rave enough about the amazing staffs! They are very friendly and helpful. Some are even trilingual! (Japanese, English, and Chinese) The owner, Maki-san and her husband, previously ran a 100+bed hostel in China called Sim's Cozy Guest House. And they are wonderful at what they do! Thank you for the mikan Maki-san!

There were so much to see in Kyoto that I didn't get to see them all. But if I were to return one day, I would definitely come...

This guesthouse felt like home away from home. Meticulously clean, comfortable, and affordable; yet offers all the comfort and convenience a traveller needs.

They really went WAY above and beyond any reasonable expectations in helping me figure out how to get my bicycle back to Narita from where I would be flying home. Together we considered all my options, then they suggested shipping it instead of carrying it in a bike bag in order to take the train, because at least one transfer would be required and I was new to and nervous about the train system in Japan. Miyoshi-san called up bike shops near and far to ask for a free bikebox, then he actually went to pick up the box for me. Wait, there’s more! When shipping time seemed too close for comfort, he again came in early at 7am(!) during his free time too(!!) in order to drop off the bike at the shipping company’s office. Extraordinary kindness and generosity! To call it excellent customer service is total understatement and doesn’t come close to how grateful I felt and still feel.

I also really enjoyed the free and good quality tea and coffee available all day long, as well as the simple but plentiful complementary breakfast with fresh, seasonal fruits! Also the rooftop laundry area is covered so even on rainy days, you don’t have to worry about your clothes on the line. The owners and staff have really thought about everything and paid great attention to every detail!

What also sets them apart from other places is that they operate almost like a travel agency than simply a guesthouse. They tailor their advice based on your individual needs and preferences, so you know you are not visiting the five most famous tourist spots everyone else goes to.

I will definitely stay at Guesthouse Soi again next time I visit Kyoto. It will be like going back to see...

I had a wonderful 3-night stay here. The staff are incredibly friendly and helpful. The owners clearly take pride in welcoming visitors to Kyoto. As the guesthouse is difficult to find on a small residential street, they sent detailed directions, including in Japanese that I could show to a taxi driver at the train station. ||My room had both a 'western' bed and a traditional matress on tatami mats. (Originally a friend was to join me, but then had to cancel.) There was also a private bathroom and air conditioning. I found it very comfortable and relaxing. The room was on the main floor, so there was some noise from the nearby common area during the day. Still, I slept great on the traditional mattress. The room was not overly large, but very functional. I didn't come to Kyoto to spend time in a room anyway!||The hotel offered some very good amenities. For one, they have guest laundry on the roof. That was fantastic. The common area had some nice tables and chairs. In the morning, they provided a basic breakfast: bread, fresh fruit and coffee/tea. They also have a communal refrgerator if you want to bring your own drinks or food, plus a space for preparing it. ||Location-wise, they are a bit removed from a lot of the big tourist areas. There are not many restaurants in the immediate area either. It's about a 15-minute walk (downhill) to the nearest train stop, Shichijo. For the more adventurous, you can walk from the guesthouse to, for example, Kiyomizu-dera or Yasaka Shrine...