The buildings themselves are gorgeous with dark wood and a really cosy feel and communal areas are well stocked and there's enough heaters to keep the living and sleeping spaces warm. I felt safe and comfortable, the sleeping cubical was spacious enough for me (I'm 5'11). Despite the house being old it's exeptionally clean. I didn't interact with any staff whilst I was there, I checked in and out independently, but still felt looked after.

I didn't realise that the hostel is spread over multiple buildings, so checking in and figuring out which section you're in can be a bit tricky but I figured it out myself eventually. There's also plenty of places to trip and bump your head and the stairs are quite difficult. The futon was also a bit more thin than I was used to. I didn't interact with/couldn't find any staff whilst I was staying there which wasn't an issue but I'm not sure what I would have done if I needed help from staff.

Located in a wonderful area, HARUYA Umekoji is just a 15-minute walk from Kyoto Station. If you’re arriving with luggage, I recommend taking a bus from Kyoto Station to HARUYA Umekoji; you can easily find directions on Google Maps. It’s a great place for travelers to meet people from different countries. I enjoyed talking to several guests and sharing life experiences. It met my expectations overall. However, be aware that it might take some time to get familiar with all the facilities upon arrival, especially if the washing machine is located in a different building. Additionally, it’s not ideal for parents with young children, as the rooms are shared with others and there is no extra space for child care. For parents, I would recommend booking a private room to ensure you have enough space to take care of your children.

However, there are several points for improvement: The availability of bikes is insufficient. Clear instructions on where to place luggage or bags are needed. I simply left mine in the room and wasn’t sure if that was correct. I didn’t know where to put the used towel.

Very nice and old property. the neighbourhood was very nice with a park only a couple minute walk away. the interactions with staff was very good. We asked for another mattress topper and they were put on our beds at no extra cost. would highly recommend.

not a criticism but the sign for where you could use the slippers could be worded a bit better as it was slightly confusing on where the provided slippers were ok to use and not ok to use, but the staff were very informative and nice to explain to us when we interacted with them.

Good location, in a very quiet secondary road. The apartment is 20 minutes walking from the Kyoto station, and very well connected to all main attractions by busses or nearby stations. The self check-in and check-out were easy and everything clear in the instructions. The traditional room was at first quite cold (we rented it during December), however between the heating system and the heated carpet, it quickly became cozy.

We stayed in the Annex building and the common spaces were a bit tight, especially the wc and entrance.

Nice to stay in an old structure not too far from the station. Good value if you take a look around Kyoto accomodations. Every step you take its going to be noisy no matter how hard you try, so in respect for others you have to keep in mind

Weird that theres no staff around but I had no problems

We loved the traditional style of the hotel. The atmosphere was very warm and inviting and the location was pretty good as well. Considerably close to the station. We weren't greeted by any of the stuff but an envelope was waiting for us right beside the main entrance, with directions and information. We found the whole process to be convenient and easy to follow. At the small lobby you could find some tea, towels, toothbrushes and a beautiful library. All in all it was a very pleasant stay! ☺️

Unfortunately along with the traditional style of the building came also the noise, as every step you took was easily heard by your neighbours next door and not only. The floors were very squeaky but it wasn't that big of a problem honestly. The most important concern though, was the dust that was on the bed furniture and it needed attention.

The location was convenient for the bus to gion and only 10 minutes walk from the train station next to the railway museum. The old building was traditional which was part of the experience. It was still comfortable as the ac/heating unit worker well (I was there in January). The shower had good pressure and plenty of hot water.

The wifi could lag at times inconsistently. The stairs to go up are very steep - not an issue for me but it would be for some people or with large suitcases rather than a backpack. The listing could give more warning about that.

The 100-years-old house is just incredible. The whole establishment is actually divided in three different little buildings so make sure you go to your assigned place. The self check in and out was very smooth. The place is clean as can be, hot showers function perfectly, and the whole environment is very beautiful. There is free green, Japanese and black tea bags, coffee and milk for everyone to use and they also provide free of charge rice porridge in the morning for those who wake up early. Little details make the difference. They have a very nice library with books to read, most of which tell Japanese history, culture or stories. It is very wonderful. We'd love to come back soon!

It was really special to be able to stay in an old machiya house. Mostly the guests are respectful, so despite thin walls it's not too noisy. I appreciated how much thought the staff put into the amenities, such as providing baskets with shampoo for anyone who wants to walk to the local bath house or providing rice porridge in the morning. We were happy to have the option of bikes, nearby bus stops, and Kyoto Station a 15 minutes walk away, and happy to sit in the park a few doors down.

This is not a good fit for anyone in a wheelchair due to steps and odd doorways and narrow halls. For me personally, the things I struggled with were the lack of bidets (super normal to have them in Japan so you miss them when they're gone) and the terrible clothes dryer. We ended up redoing our laundry at a local coin laundromat since 30 minutes in the provided dryer did almost nothing.

I loved to experience the traditional feel. It was extremely easy to access the property and the rooms. The amenities are all located at the main building. I stayed in the single room and it was very comfortable. I don’t think i’d enjoy it quite as much if i stayed in the quad like my friend did. The staff was amazing. After a couple days of not putting the indoor sandals back correctly i noticed they were placing it a certain way. I started to fix my habits of doing it backwards

Other guests were a little messy