We left 10 days ago and we have been missing Kyoto Compass and Mama & Papa ever since. My family and I visited for the 2. time in May 2024(first time Nov. 2022) and we love everything about Kyoto Compass. Would go back in a heartbeat if we could. We stayed in the beautiful Japanese room and enjoyed sleeping on the very comfortable futons. There are lovely gardens on both sides of the room. I could go on and on about how great Kyoto Compass is, but shortly spoken: If you want a magical guesthouse experience and if you are so lucky it’s available on your dates: Don’t hesitate, just go ahead and book it, you wont regret. Thank you Mama and Papa for having us. Thank you for the wonderful conversations, your perfect advice on where to eat, where to go and how to get there. Thank you for speaking Japanese with our 9-year-old son and helping him with his homework. Thank you for all the love, care and effort you put into Kyoto Compass, making it such a unique, warm and beautiful place to stay. Hope to see you again soon.

Mama and Papa were great. They really made it feel homey and safe and they created a really welcoming environment. I ended up making friends with all the people staying there because Mama and Papa invited everyone to drink some homemade chai Papa made.

Nothing. It was perfect. I was really sad when I went to my next hostel and it wasn’t the same.

Everything was perfect. Friendly people, relaxed atmosphere. I'm getting unforgettable memories for a lifetime! Next time come to Kyoto again, I will not hesitate to choose this place! Thanks, Mama and Papa!

The hosts, mama and papa were exceptional in creating a warm and friendly environment, a home away from home.

Nothing I can think of.

If you are looking for a cozy place to stay in Kyoto, this heartwarming couple (Mama and Papa), with great humor and just pure joy, will make your stay AMAZING. It is really rare to find a place like this one. The atmosphere was just OUTSTANDING. Mama and Papa support you wherever they can: with reservations in local restaurants, recommendations for public transportation and spots of sightseeing, delivery services, (food for hangry people like me), yummy breakfast with everything you need, etc.,. The building is amazing too, since it is a really old house Japanese style. Don’t miss Papa’s calligraphy lessons and a tea/coffee and a chit cat with Mama or cuddling with the cats. Totally recommend this place !! Had tears in my eyes when leaving. See you soon!

I am a rather critic person but honestly like everything, I went there when they opened in 2014 for the first time and now in 2025 it is my second time and it is still amazing. The hosts of the guesthouse are extremely nice and generous, social and try their best to connect and create a beautiful moment for each guest and giving all their attention to help them. I highly recommend to book the room that is for a couple, it is extremely charming Japanese traditional room and has a beautiful Japanese garden on both sides of it.

Our stay at Kyoto Compass is a highlight of our trip to Japan. Mama and Papa welcomed us to their guesthouse, explained how everything worked and made sure we had a perfect stay. Our room was large and opened onto 2 gardens. The bed was extremely comfortable and the breakfast amazing. It is located in a quiet neighbour with many buses close by. It was nice to return home after the crazy tourist filled Kyoto. Mama is the perfect host and her and Papa go to great lengths to make everyone comfortable. I travel a lot and this is one of the best experiences I’ve had. Stay here, you won’t be disappointed. I would rate it higher than 10 if I could.

Nothing

The owners are super nice and welcoming, they do everything to make you at ease,it feels like home away from home. Thanks to Mama and Papa, we can share precious moments with local people and learn a lot, Mama's English is perfect so we can discuss and share a lot. "Guesthouse" has a real meaning there. And the house looks like a real Japanese house. It is very clean. And the breakfast is very good and we also get a nice welcoming present! There is a convenient bus stop 4 minutes away from the house, same for the supermarket. Thank you so much Mama and Papa!!

Guest Compass was the first accommodation we had in our Japan trip, also the most memorable. The guesthouse was managed by a Japanese couple, Mama and Papa, in a very old original wood structured Japanese house. Rooms were separated by sliding doors, therefore sound proofing wasn’t the best. Showers and toilets were shared between rooms. However, Mama and Papa took good care of us, with Papa even making handmade souvenir cards for us. Everyday when we got back to the house, we always felt so warm and comfy. Most of the time there were activities in the living room. Sometimes it was Papa who was leading a traditional calligraphy practice, or Mama would prepare yummy Japanese tea and introduce us to each other (Mama speaks perfect English). And sometimes the guests were just relaxing and chatting together. My kid tried calligraphy, while I chatted with a Japanese gentleman who came for a reunion party and a young Chinese girl who was taking a weekend trip, both from Tokyo. The room we stayed in for 3 nights was also very lovely. It was at the back of the house, very spacious, with huge glass sliding doors / windows, and a very pretty Japanese garden at each side of the room. I almost felt like we could’ve just stayed in this room a whole day to appreciate the gardens. The breakfasts in the morning were delicious and healthy. There was yogurt, salad, boiled egg, fruits and toast. One of the days when we stayed there, was my kid’s birthday. Mama bought us a birthday cake and threw a party with all the guests. It was so kind of her and we all had lots of fun. I feel like Mama and Papa were taking care of us like their own kids, and they were definitely enjoying making this a part of their life. Overall, we had a fabulous experience of authentic Japanese living. Definitely going back next time! :)

I had a truly wonderful stay! The hospitality of the hosts was exceptional — warm, kind, and always willing to help. They made me feel welcome from the moment I arrived. The entire experience was unforgettable, full of care and attention to detail. I would absolutely recommend this place to anyone looking for a special and memorable stay. Thank you so much for everything!

I can't say anything bad about my stay there