We absolutely loved our stay at Yadoya Aoi. The space is surprisingly spacious, with a full kitchen, a cozy living room, a tatami area with a tea kettle, and a bedroom with a clever partition—finally, some privacy for our daughter! And not just one, but two baths: an indoor one and a beautiful outdoor bath for soaking under the sky. Our host Hiro was fantastic—great communication, thoughtful, and kind without being overbearing. He welcomed us with matcha and marshmallows (a huge hit with our 10-year-old), brought us a delicious Japanese-style breakfast each morning, and even surprised us with a birthday cake when he found out we were celebrating. Truly above and beyond. The location is ideal—just outside the city center, offering a more peaceful, residential vibe that feels like real Kyoto. Still, it’s close to everything you need: we closed out a lively local izakaya one night, then hit up a popular ramen joint down the street (highly recommend—worth the wait). All within walking distance. There’s also a nearby konbini (7-Eleven) and a local grocery store, perfect for stocking the fridge. The space itself has a funky, Japanese-kitsch charm in all the right ways. We felt truly welcomed and at home here. Highly recommended—a perfect Kyoto hideaway with a truly memorable host.

It's a little pricey.

This guesthouse was as great as all the other reviews said. Hiro-san, the owner, met us on arrival, explained patiently everything and was extremely helpful to recommend restaurants, etc. The property is clean, beautiful with a lot of thought for detail and comfort. It has very modern equipment, a beautiful private Japanese bath on the terrace which was great after lots of walking around in Kyoto. It is located in a more residential area, but there is a bus stop a few minutes away, so getting to places was not difficult. We appreciated that it was a bit away from the crowds. There were restaurants and shops in the area. We liked our Japanese breakfasts as well. Truly, it was a gem.

We really liked everything. No complaints whatsoever.

Hiro was an amazing host! He met us on arrival and treated us to a traditional tea ceremony with marshmallows, which the kids loved. He has created a unique experience that marries the traditional and cultural elements of Japan with the comforts of modern western living. Being able to sleep on traditional Japanese beds, experience the outdoor bath, and eat the wonderful Japanese breakfasts were a highlight of our trip. While the location is residential, it is within easy reach of transport links (5 minute walk to the closest bus stop), convenience stores, and restaurants. We wouldn't hesitate to recommend a stay here, and would love to visit again! Thank you, Hiro!

Nothing - it was a perfect stay and one of the highlights of our trip to Japan

Honestly, this stay was the highlight of our holiday; staying in this house was a dream. Hiro, the owner, is the kindest person in the world and adds a special touch to everything. Our stay was simply perfect, and I cannot recommend this place enough. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience, truly the best. I also loved the area of the house, the neighborhood is authentic and so beautiful.

Nothing, everything was perfect.

The home was beautiful and had a lot of traditional elements mixed in with modern day conveniences. This place has an amazing outdoor bath! The host was very kind and greeted my group with a matcha tea. He also cleaned the house while we were gone and made us delicious traditional bento boxes for breakfast. My fiancé mentioned that we had got engaged during our travels and the host surprised us with a congratulations cake. Overall an amazing stay at a wonderful place!

Upon arriving, I wanted to give 5 stars immediately. We had a bit of trouble with transportation, but Hiro (the owner) he waited for us. He was very welcoming and charismatic. This place is absolutely 1000% GORGEOUS. It's a must stay. I will now always stay here. It's like I am immediately immersed in a traditional machiya style house with an outdoor bath with such great decorative taste. He even introduced us with a tea ceremony. The entirety of the house is so methodically thought out for comfort and convenience. I'm over the moon happy.

It’s a stunning, amazing, authentic traditional Japanese house yet with all the bells and whistles of a modern living. Think of it as a VIP one of a kind experience. Hiro was an amazing host. Whatever we asked for he delivered including delicious breakfast and desserts. We loved every minute of our stay there

Everything was perfect

Hiro, the host, was incredible, just as the reviews described. He met us when we arrived, made matcha tea and taught us how to make it, and provided a wonderful Japanese breakfast. Not only that, since it was raining when we checked out, he drove us to our hotel in Kyoto! Truly wonderful hospitality.

It was amazing! Decor was very cool. Host met us at the door, made us tea, and made sure we were settled. We had a couple packages sent to us which he hand delivered. He had a traditional breakfast for us every morning and a hot bath ready every night. The onsen was nice after a long day sight seeing. Easy walk to subway to subway and several restaurants. Would stay here again.

The house and its facilities were beautiful. Hiro was a very accommodating host who had great communication and went above and beyond to give us a comfortable stay. The traditional foods provided for breakfast were delicious and filling. The Shimogamo Shrine is within easy walking distance and is absolutely gorgeous. I honestly have nothing bad to say about this location and would absolutely stay here again.