HARUYA Umekoji

It’s Kyoto old house. The floor is a bit unstable but I understand that’s how old houses in Kyoto are

The rooms and shared bathrooms were clean and well maintained. They provided free rice porridge in the morning. It is few mins 3-4mins walk to the bus stop and 15-20mins walk to Kyoto station. Check-in and check-out was smooth. They have a strict check-in time but let you keep your bags. Since they are old, the floors are creaky and walls are thin (we didn’t mind it). Just have to be cautious while walking and not talking too loud. This won’t be suitable for kids and elderly as the stairs are very steep.

A comfortable stay.

There is no indication of where to leave behind shoes. Room stank, maybe not enough airflow. Can’t wear inside slippers to restroom or bathroom? There is only one male washroom and shared shower room for all guests in the library building. Had to wait for turns. Some guy just went into ladies toilet because there wasn’t enough restrooms. Floor is dirty. Bathroom faucet needs to be fixed, it has the most annoying sound when you turn it on.

The location. It was easy to hop on the bus or walk over to the local train station. The bedding sucked. It was basically a barrier between the floor and yourself. The cushions we like 3 cm thick and honestly you flatten that out on the first night so you are on the floor mats. This isn't a ryokan, it's a hostel in the flesh of a ryokan. I was a dummy for falling for the pics and the price (admittedly great for the budget minded). The building is old so you will hear everything. The garden pic is highly exaggerated. Also the rice porridge is just watery rice for those that never had it. And is set to self cook/reheat in their cooker on a timer.

The traditional-style rooms with tatami mats and sliding doors were worth experiencing! We especially loved the kotatsu. For a Japanese hotel, the room was also quite large. We didn’t realize this was a hostel-style space with a shared bathroom. Trekking downstairs yo the separate bathroom was inconvenient. Towels were not expensive but were an added cost. The space was well-maintained, but it wasn’t what we preferred. We also found check-in confusing. We never encountered staff at all, but our fellow guests did help us out.

We loved the traditional style and feel of this ryokan. Facilities were super clean, and they had nice little extras like tea, porridge, and bikes or yukatas to rent.

Location was good for transit around Kyoto. House was interesting since it’s a 100 year old very traditional Japanese building. Lovely facilities with a beautiful room and shared bathroom which was cleaned daily and kept well. The problem with this hostel/hotel is that there’s NO insulation so you can hear EVERYTHING. Was fine for our first 2 nights because everyone was respectful but the last day there was a group who had NO respect and was talking loudly until 12:30am in their room. Finally around this time I yelled please be quiet and they seemed to get the message but then come 6:00 am you can hear everyone’s alarms going off. As well the heater is placed directly above the bed which completely dried out me and my partner each night!

The cozy environment and comfortable room The toilet locations are a little bit uncomfortable due to the cold during these winter months

It’s not located in the heart of the commercial area, but there are plenty of buses to the main attractions ( 3min walk to stops) , and it’s very close to Kyoto Station, making it easy to get to other parts of the city. If you enjoy walking, it’s also possible to walk here from the busier areas. The neighborhood itself is residential and quiet, but there are three convenience stores nearby and several restaurants. I’m comfortable sleeping on the floor, and since I’m not very tall, the attic space worked well for me. They do change the sheets if you stay for an extended period, and the heating runs 24/7, even if I turn it off in my room to save energy. The restroom is in the courtyard of the building where I stayed, so you need to step into a semi-outdoor area to get there, which can be a bit cold on winter nights.

It’s very traditional Japanese buildings. Amenities provided are good. Cozy and quiet lobbies. There are several buildings and you have to open a box at the principle building and find which building you’re staying in. You don’t talk to any staff. The rooms are not represented well in photos. They’re very small with showers only on the first floor and the doors are incredibly small to get in.

Can store luggage on day of arrival, clear guidance for self-check in. Love the traditional vibe. Bus stop to Gion is just by the street.

You need to pay an additional fee when you leave, the bad was very stiff, the air conditioning now working and no window in the shared dormitory. I wouldn’t recommend it for that price in that location

I like how authentic it is. Get a feel on how the Japanese lived in the past. It was kind of a struggle checking in. Self check in. No staff on site.

I liked the fact that you slept in a traditional Japanese house with stuff like tatami mats. It was also quite cheap and the check-in was flexible! I only slept here for one day for the experience and I'm glad I got it. But I'm also glad that I slept at another hostel for my remaining days. It wasn't always that clean, especially the showers which you share with too many people. I went outside in the cold to just shower in another building. If I wanted to go to the toilet in my own building I had to go outside, which is still fine in the fall, but it would be very uncomfortable in the winter cold. Also there was no staff present for the check-in, so it was rather confusing at first and I managed to do it and find my room with the help of other travelers.

The history of the house There is no management on the site

Please note that towels are not provided, but you can rent them at the reception, along with bikes. You also need to pay a city tax, which I did easily via a QR code. I had read previous reviews about noise, so I came prepared with my own earplugs. However, I didn’t end up using them, as I didn't find the noise level disturbing myself (I guess it depends on how considerate the other guests are). Great value overall Nothing really, everything was good

I love the the authenticity. The quality of the room and other facilities like the bath and complimentary refreshments are excellent. It is a few steps away from a bus stop taking you to Sannenzaka in less than 30 minutes and Kyoto station in 10 minutes. The sound-proofing could be better but considering it is an ancient house with flimsy walls and doors I won't complain much. Some of the confusing guesses may try to enter you room because they can't read the map?!

Great experience, good price and location.

the air conditioner in the room worked well, check-out was easy with a drop-off box, and there are a coin laundry and a 7-Eleven just two minutes away. The building is very old (advertised as a 100-year-old house), but the facilities are in very poor condition. The sliding doors had torn and stained paper, and in our room there was even a strange metal grid in the wall that felt more like a prison cell than a guesthouse. Above the sink, there is a wooden board placed so low that it’s impossible to wash your face properly without hitting your head — and all the water splashes directly onto the floor. The paper around the sink also looked dirty and unpleasant. The corridor leading from the sleeping area to the toilet felt dark and uncomfortable, again giving a “prison-like” impression. The futons were okay, but the duvet cover had a huge unnecessary opening that made the bedding fall out all the time. Walking on the second floor, every step creaked loudly. In the showers, there were no hooks for towels or clothes, and the tiles seemed to have black mold in the corners. The shared kitchen was very disappointing. The trash disposal system was unhygienic, with leftover noodles and food not being cleaned properly. The sponge looked very old and dirty. The freezer on the top shelf wasn’t working, so ice cream and frozen food melted. Amenities such as towels are not free here, unlike in most hostels in Japan, which felt unreasonable. There was only one kettle in the entire kitchen, and only two chairs — if the table is occupied, it’s very inconvenient. It’s also impossible to carry hot water upstairs since there are no cups or safe containers provided.