When I come back to Kyoto, I will be checking this guesthouse for availability first! I booked the private double room and it was perfect! The futons were clean and comfortable. I also felt like I had enough space to stretch out and relax - which is welcome after being in hostels for most of my travels. This is a perfect place for solo or couples. The shared space is great to start conversations and make friends. There is laundry on premises. The washer takes 30 minutes, however, the dryer takes quite a bit of time (2 hours!). The host was absolutely wonderful. He showed me a map of things to do in Kyoto, and even when I said I wanted to avoid the crowds, like Kiyomizu-dera, he encouraged me by simply saying, "First time in Kyoto. No choice!" So, of course I went in the morning, and surprisingly, it was nice and peaceful. So, if you are going to Kyoto, and it will be your first time, stay at Guest House Hitsujan. No choice!

Hitsujian was one of my favorite places to stay during my trip. You can get to know your host and other travelers much better, which is part of why I prefer smaller and more personal guesthouses like this to large hostel facilities. The host here was extremely helpful whenever I needed to ask for it and went above and beyond. The guest house is also very close to Nijo Castle and train lines to carry you west or south for sightseeing, so it has a great central location.

The unheated bathrooms were a little chilly since I visited in February, but the heated toilets helped to alleviate that.

The place is old traditional Japanese house and feels very authentic. The staff is super nice and willing to help you with anything. You have non-stop access to the kitchen and mutual space, which was really nice and generally atmosphere even with other guests is calm and nice.

Location could be better. Yes, you are right in the center of Kyoto but that basically means close to almost nothing specific and also few streets away from nearest transports, so be prepared to walk a bit, but that's what you'll do in Japan anyway :D

Good location, not too far from the metro. The attentive host genuinely cares not only about the guests’ comfort in the hotel but also about helping them have the best possible experience in Kyoto. I had a unique room with its own small Japanese garden, which made for a very pleasant immersion into Japanese culture. Everything was very clean, neat, and clearly maintained with great care and love.

Honestly, I don’t have any complaints.

Great location for everything we wanted to do in Kyoto. Host was very nice and responsive on the app. Loved the little balcony in our room. If you are looking for a traditional tatami style sleep, this is a great spot.

The price compared to services offered by "traditional" hotels in the area that offer many more amenities was not so good. Our "private" room was not very sound insulated from the shared rooms next door.

Amazing ryokan guest house at an exceptional price. I stayed in the dormitory and it was excellent. A quiet guest house with an owner, Nori who keeps his facility pristine and is attentive to his guests needs. Location was away from the tourist hustle and bustle but everything you needed was located nearby. One of the best guesthouses I have stayed at in Japan.

Everything was perfect. Thanks!

If you are willing to spend time in a traditional Japanese housing atmosphere, here matches your needs. I remembered staying in my grandma's place thanks to this place haha Besides, it is in a good location to take major trains bound for every direction of Kyoto Prefecture, meaning that you can readily go to famous tourist spots.

It was a bit hard to look for restaurants nearby.

The location is very close to some of the main tourist spots (Nijo castle, Nishiki market, walkable distance to or from Pontocho as well!) Very cozy traditional style house - a great way to try living in one without spending lots of money. The host is very friendly and helpful: gave me an advice on the best way to get to the bamboo grove, and also recommended going to the Fushimi Inari Shrine in the evening because it was illuminated while I was staying in Kyoto (something you probably wouldn't have known as a tourist unless you specifically looked for it).

cosy and quaint guest house with a common area to talk and meet new people! our twin room was a little small for three so we hung out at the common area, which was great. i can't understate how unique it made our kyoto trip, meeting people from diverse backgrounds and i'd highly recommend a trip if just for the experience of meeting backpackers. be talkative, open, and be enriched! nori-san provided many amenities and conveniences.

location wise its within walking distance to grand stage (15 mins), kiyomizudera temple, (25 mins) pontocho (20 mins, nijo castle (20 mins) and other attractions, but my legs got tired. its also not super close to convenience stores for late night runs. its neither super near nor far from attractions. just something to take note of if you are the kind to like buses or metro connectivity, but a minor point. anyways, buses are a flat 230 yen regardless of the distance so people sometimes opt not to take it anyways, but my point is that the time taken to go to these attractions were pretty much the same as if you walked as compared to buses. also note that the toilet is a common toilet so sharing is caring, but its chill hanging out in common area and chatting while waiting.

The host of the Guesthouse is very friendly and helpful, you can ask him for recommandations any time. We also talked a lot about the japanese culture, which I really enjoyed :) The Guesthouse is very clean and cozy. AC was working well, lockers are in the room, you have two power outlets at your bed. A towel is included. The kitchen has everything you need (hot water, toaster, microwave, cooking plates, refridgerator). The other guests were also nice and you get to know them fast in the common room. Sometimes there are free snacks for the guests :) I really like the traditional look of the building and the beautiful small garden ^^ you can rent an umbrella (for free) when it's raining. You can get to Gion in about 25 minutes by foot, the next train station is about 10 minutes away, the Manga Museum 15 minutes, the next supermarket about 5 minutes and a sento (Tama-no-yu, tattoos allowed) about 15 minutes by foot. I really enjoyed staying at this Guesthouse and I hope that I get the chance to visit again! 100% recommend ❤️ Arigato! 🙏

Sometimes you have to wait if you want to shower/go to the restrooms (not a big deal)