The owners have a lot of experience in running a hostel (they owned one previously in China) and it shows - the place is spotlessly clean, they give good advice/recommendations about things around town, and there are lots of nice touches like free snacks/amenities in the lobby. It's also just a very comfortable, welcoming space, with a sociable eating/hanging out area downstairs.

The included breakfast is pretty basic - just fruit and toast (but honestly, for this price, in Kyoto, I was not expecting much more). It is a bit outside of the center of things, which can be good, because it's quieter, but if you're walking all day (and in Kyoto, you will be!), adding the 15-20 minutes from the nearest train station to your daily trek might be more than you're interested in doing at the start and finish of the day. There's also not really much in the way of food/shops nearby.

My partner and I really enjoyed our stay at Guesthouse Soi. We appreciated the ample morning breakfast (fruits, yogurt, toast, milk, tea, coffee, snacks) and hospitality of our hosts and the front desk - they provided good tips on getting around Kyoto. We were able to rent bikes from them, and biking around Kyoto was a highlight of the trip! Our room was a private twin, Japanese-styled suite - we had lots of space to relax and spread out, and the futon/bedding was thick and comfortable. Overall, the guesthouse and bathrooms were clean and relatively quiet. The location is great for exploring Kyoto, and there are nearby bus stops with access to many local buses. Wifi works well. We would be happy to stay at Guesthouse Soi during our next visit to Kyoto.

No complaints. My only consideration is that Guesthouse Soi is at the top of a large hill. If you have many or large luggages, it may be a challenging walk.

From the moment I walked through the door I felt like I was home. The owners and employees are some of the most charismatic and charming people I have met on my journey so far. They are so kind, that when I arrived early before check in they offered to share their lunch with me. The room was spacious by Japan standards and well appointed. Free breakfast was delicious and plentiful. The location was a short walk to a few beautiful temples, and a cheap cab ride to just about anywhere else. I truly enjoyed my time here and will be returning next year in the fall season.

It’s a truly minor gripe, but I wish their smoking area was away from the side windows. I walked out of my room only to be blasted by the noxious smell of cigarettes. Now, this isn’t entirely on them and more on disrespectful smokers puffing away next to three massive screen doors.

They posted relevant and changing things on a notice board, eg. a light show that was on for winter, a sale on clothing brand, a market. Everything a traveller and tourist might want! Breakfast was so nice, opportunity to have real coffee and fresh fruit and yoghurt. Every touch was great, like there's washing machines and places to hang clothes up on the roof. Always water and tea available to take, and nice areas to socialise and read if you want to, including travel books and novels in English, Japanese, and a few other languages. Our private room with ensuite was modern and clean. Maki our host was amazing, she and Sim seem like really interesting people. By chance realised I had stayed in one of their previous guesthouses in Chengdu, same peaceful and friendly vibes. Great beer and sake bar down the street called the Windmill, he had great music, and local recommendations for food also. Is clearly a guesthouse for made by travellers, for travellers. Best place we stayed out of 6 in Japan.

Mr. Sim, Miyoshi-San and his family (including members of the staff) were all knowledgeable and provided a “locals” way of getting around Kyoto! I’ve never had an experience staying in a guesthouse that was genuinely filled with so much warmth, love and care. It was undeniable infectious! The rooms were clean, spacious, and extremely comfortable. The location is great and easy to move around the East side of Kyoto. They also offer a daily traditional Japanese breakfast that can’t be missed (especially Miyoshi-san’s miso)! I look forward to my next visit with Guesthouse Soi! Thank you for all the memories!

I had an incredible stay at this charming guesthouse, which was perfectly located near all the major sightseeing spots. The convenience of being so close to everything made exploring the area so much easier. The breakfast was a delightful start to each day, with unlimited fresh fruits, yoghurt, coffee, juice, and breads with butter and a variety of jams—simple but delicious! What truly set this stay apart was the hospitality. The family running the guesthouse went above and beyond to make our visit memorable. They were not only kind and welcoming but also very helpful and informative, always offering great local tips. Throughout our time there, they treated us like part of their family, making us feel right at home. I couldn’t have asked for a better experience. Highly recommend this place for anyone looking for a warm, welcoming, and convenient stay!

Breakfast was delicious (great coffee!),rooms were lovely and comfortable and great location. Sam and Maki were so kind, helpful and you can tell they genuinely care about their guests and trips. They are very passionate about their guests having the best experience in Kyoto. They helped with our planning too. They have lots of tips a about current events and we saw brilliant fireworks because of their recommendations. Really friendly atmosphere for guests in the communal area. Beautiful family and their daughters were lovely. Highly recommend!! :)

Nothing

The staff here were wonderful. They were very friendly and spoke good English. They were very knowledgable about activities and other details like transport options. The guesthouse itself was very clean, and offered a great free breakfast of fresh fruit, toast, yogurt, coffee etc (with the option to have a paid for traditional Japanese breakfast) Our room was generously sized with good bedding and layout. The bathrooms and other facilities were clean and within easy access (there is also a small elevator for luggage if needed)

It is a little out of the way location wise if you want to get to downtown or to a bigger variety of eating options, but it is easily walkable to some Kyoto attractions such as Kiyomizu-dera or tother shrines / temples.

The staff are amazing - very nice and accommodating people who made my stay enjoyable. Clean and tidy facilities. The free breakfast is basic but really good, especially considering the price I paid. Free towels and toiletries. There's also fruits and items like heat pads available to pick up as needed.

Nothing to complain about.. The location is in a quiet area but it's somewhat out of the way and a bit far from the city centre. It's close to Kiyomizu-dera though.

This guesthouse is very professionally run and offers everything a traveller might need, at reasonable prices. Although set in a traditional Japanese house, everything looks modern and elegant in a simple way. My private room had generour shelving, space for luggage, and then a lovely tatami area with a little sofa, table and a futon. Everything was bright and very comfortable. The shared bathrooms were very clean. There is a little sitting area downstairs with coffee and tea, and in the mornings, a self serve (free) breakfast. As this is a relatively large guesthouse, it is usually staffed during the daytime. But the best thing was the bicycles for hire, directly from the guesthouse, at just 500 JPY per day, including a helmet! It is little advertised on their site, but I was delighted when I saw the bicycles and hired one right away, so I could start my sightseeing early and efficiently. They may not be fancy bikes, but my three-gear shopping bike was well-maintained and carried me many miles through Kyoto, much faster than the bus.

Nothing, really. It has more international guesthouse than traditional Japanese flavour, and clientele was younger when I stayed there. It was a little noisy in the evenings, but quiet after midnight. The area has a decent number of restaurants but is quite touristy - a mixed blessing. It is close to the approach road for Kiyomizudera. The buses at the local stop are almost always very full during the daytime as people visiting Kiyomizudera get on and off there.