96%IchiEnSou Guesthouse

The best hostel I ever stayed in. Stellar location in Kyoto's Gion district. Old Japanese house, recently renovated, nice wooded rooms. Super friendly owner. If you are a solo traveler this is the place to be, as Yashi organizes evening excursion/bars/restarant/cooking sessions for his guests.... more The best hostel I ever stayed in. Stellar location in Kyoto's Gion district. Old Japanese house, recently renovated, nice wooded rooms. Super friendly owner. If you are a solo traveler this is the place to be, as Yashi organizes evening excursion/bars/restarant/cooking sessions for his guests. After some time the hostel's guests feel like a temporary family. There were even people coming from other hostels for a drink b/c of the atmosphere.close

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by pmoltm – posted on Dec 17, 2008

1

one word to describe.. "The Best"

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by jungkilseo4301 – posted on Dec 15, 2008

3

Great place to stay, by far the best I have been to. The guys that work there make it so much fun and it is located really close to all the main stuff to do.

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by GREG89 – posted on Dec 14, 2008

2

Allthough the bedrooms were quite cold, the warmness of the staff made, not to feel it much (It was the coldest day of Kyoto). We enjoyed our stay very much with lots of fun and conveniences.

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by onurozgenc5325 – posted on Dec 14, 2008

4

Wow, what a place! I`ve stayed in a few hostels in my time but this is by far the best! The owner ,Yashi, is an absolute legend and will make sure you enjoy your stay! He cooked us some Japanese food one night and took us out for drinks. I`ll be back! Thanks also to Kenji for finding the Rolling...

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by joedarlaston – posted on Dec 13, 2008

3

Would stay here again! Great location and Japanese accommodation experience. Thanks for all your help Yashi :)

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by marienepanganiban57 – posted on Dec 13, 2008

2

A fantastic hostel and great staff! You really feel welcome.

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by Johann357 – posted on Dec 12, 2008

2

Awesome place and atmosphere! Very highly recommended! Staff are friendly and easy to approach; and the guest house is very clean and tidy! Two thumbs up!

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by proprokrstin86846 – posted on Dec 10, 2008

2

Great location, very clean and the owner and friends are very friendly. Only, no lockers nor anything like that.

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by Ayla-1005 – posted on Dec 1, 2008

2

On of the best places I have ever stayed. V Clean. full of charater and the people were great.

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by josiii – posted on Nov 30, 2008

1

Yashi is a friendly guy but his questions at times can be a bit rude and intrusive. He asked, for example, how much we paid for a night out drinking at a private club in Gion.

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by Enrique1 – posted on Nov 29, 2008

1

Fantastic! We loved it here! The location is excellent, Yashi & Co. were really friendly, the Guesthouse was clean and Yashi regularly organised evenings out or nights in. We stayed at a hotel for the next part of our trip and I can honestly say that we would much rather have stayed at... more Fantastic! We loved it here! The location is excellent, Yashi & Co. were really friendly, the Guesthouse was clean and Yashi regularly organised evenings out or nights in. We stayed at a hotel for the next part of our trip and I can honestly say that we would much rather have stayed at IchiEnSou. "Domo arigatou gozaimasu!"close

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by lily2n24538 – posted on Nov 27, 2008

1

We had an amazing time with Yashi and his friends. They cooked for us a couple of nights and showed us how to make a local dish -takoyaki- which was heaps of fun. Also the home made bread with breakfast was excellent. The accommodation was really close to bus and train, with a nice little suprise... more We had an amazing time with Yashi and his friends. They cooked for us a couple of nights and showed us how to make a local dish -takoyaki- which was heaps of fun. Also the home made bread with breakfast was excellent. The accommodation was really close to bus and train, with a nice little suprise veiw out our bedroom window. Our stay in kyoto would not have been as good if we stayed elsewhere! 10/10 Ja mata Craig and Samaraclose

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by samaraballington891 – posted on Nov 27, 2008

1

Yashi was really friendly and made us feel really welcome, even cooked us dinner one night which cost something like £2 each! Location was amazing, saw geishas 5 times in the area, twice in this hostel's back street. If you walk out of the hostel and turn left you get to a very pretty old... more Yashi was really friendly and made us feel really welcome, even cooked us dinner one night which cost something like £2 each! Location was amazing, saw geishas 5 times in the area, twice in this hostel's back street. If you walk out of the hostel and turn left you get to a very pretty old street in about 2 mins where we also saw geishas. It is very close to both downtown for nightlife and the tourist areas. Definitely recommend.close

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by adambbuc – posted on Nov 23, 2008

10

I recommand this house, it's really the best place to stay in kyoto !! Yashi is an exellent host and his friends are soo cool and helpful. I'll stay here more time for my next trip !!

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by silmarils9646 – posted on Nov 21, 2008

1

Yashi was the best. If you are looking for somewhere in a perfect location with great cahracter and FUN and great people then stay here!!! Dont go anywhere else!

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by alanayap4416 – posted on Nov 21, 2008

4

This place is awesome and Yashi is the man - definitely reommend it!

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by willjtho – posted on Nov 20, 2008

23

VERY nice hostel! will stay again.

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by usope – posted on Nov 18, 2008

3

The owner was very helpful, he even invited us all out for dinner.

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by soras-nightmare3388 – posted on Nov 17, 2008

3

it was great they are so friendly and so welcoming I would have stayed forever. it has a great location you can get anywere from ther on foot or on the tube. would recomend to anyone wanting a freindly homly atmosphere that only yashi with his staff can give. can not wait to come back.

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by rodtuff1716 – posted on Nov 16, 2008

2

Yashi was an excellent host! He invited many guests out to dinner. As someone who is traveling alone, it is really great to share a meal with others. Thanks for the hospitality!

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by Schapma – posted on Nov 11, 2008

1

Definitely a great place to stay. Unbeatable location with good character plus coziness, and best of all Yashi, the owner, is superb!! I would surely recommend it to everyone and do not hesitate to stay there again next time.

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by napaporn-saingern – posted on Nov 11, 2008

2

I love this place! Beautiful house, wonderful atmosphere (really comfortable, like being in your own home!), perfect location and ridiculously good value for money! Yashi (guy who runs it) is an amazing guy; really helpful and friendly and will even involve guests in his home cooking or take... more I love this place! Beautiful house, wonderful atmosphere (really comfortable, like being in your own home!), perfect location and ridiculously good value for money! Yashi (guy who runs it) is an amazing guy; really helpful and friendly and will even involve guests in his home cooking or take you out to the local bars if you fancy it. His friends seemed pretty cool too. Definitely recommend IchiEnSou; can't imagine anywhere I'd rather stay in Kyoto! :)close

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by beatrix1400 – posted on Nov 10, 2008

2

Simply the best.

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by Midian – posted on Nov 8, 2008

3

The people are great and it's overall a great place to stay.

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by lzdravkova8984 – posted on Nov 5, 2008

3

Yashi was always so helpful and friendly, and the place was meticulously clean. The little teahouse-like hostel had a great atmosphere and fit right into the backdrop of Gion. This was my first trip alone and I was able to meet a lot of fun, interesting people at Ichiensou. The location is great... more Yashi was always so helpful and friendly, and the place was meticulously clean. The little teahouse-like hostel had a great atmosphere and fit right into the backdrop of Gion. This was my first trip alone and I was able to meet a lot of fun, interesting people at Ichiensou. The location is great and I would stay there again in a heartbeat.close

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by mzkatyl1610 – posted on Nov 4, 2008

4

For me, the best place to stay in Kyoto if you want to experience the ryokan style, the traditional and modern area, the japanese welcoming, and getting good advice from Iachi! Easy to find and really convenient location. I'll book there again for my next trip to Kyoto.

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by gaeli6745 – posted on Oct 22, 2008

5

Wonderful staff and the place was very clean. Would certainly stay there again.

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by joeu – posted on Oct 22, 2008

2

IchiEnSou is the best hostel we stayed at during our trip. It's locations is perfect, 5 min walk from Gion Corner. Also Yashi (the owner) is very hospitable. He is very interactive with his guests and he is so much fun to hang out with.

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by dkpano6436 – posted on Oct 21, 2008

1

The night walks are a great thing to have, but it wud be perfect if there was some explaination from the guides about what we are seeing, or a short explaination of what we are seeing. But otherwise, a very very good place to stay - located just opp Gion.

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by blogvoyeur – posted on Oct 20, 2008

2

Everything about this hostel was really perfect.. the location in the Gion district, character (sleeping on the futons on the tatami mats in the female dorm).. it was kept impeccably clean.. on top of that, Yachi was so incredibly helpful.. When I made a mistake and booked only one night instead... more Everything about this hostel was really perfect.. the location in the Gion district, character (sleeping on the futons on the tatami mats in the female dorm).. it was kept impeccably clean.. on top of that, Yachi was so incredibly helpful.. When I made a mistake and booked only one night instead of two, he helped me find another hostel since there was no room.. he even helped carry my luggage! Things like that make this the best hostel I've ever stayed in..close

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by wsweet4901 – posted on Oct 20, 2008

1

This place has been the best place I've stayed at in Japan. It is very spacious and clean. The owner showed a lot of warmth and hospitality. As soon as I met the owner I was invited to dinner. A++ on my report card.

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by kevinwark – posted on Oct 19, 2008

2

Terrific, clean, great location, nice owner.... one of the best places I have stayed at by all criteria! :)

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by MinskBel – posted on Oct 18, 2008

22

Had a fantastic stay! Really clean and nice place, and everybody was so friendly. We went out to dinner one night and had dinner at home the next (very good if you`re travelling alone)! Great location too, right near loads of pretty streets in Gion and near the river! Plus the bus and train are...

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by eliseappleton2809 – posted on Oct 17, 2008

1

The best hostel I've ever stayed in. Location is excellent and Yashi-san & Kenji-san are so incredibly friendly, making everyone yakotaki and taking us out at night. And even inviting my friend (that wasn't staying at the hostel) to come hang out with them. They made Kyoto a memorable visit....

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by brax88 – posted on Oct 14, 2008

2

Absolute the best hostel/guesthouse i've stayed in the recent 5 years!! All thanks to Jashi

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by alexkeuken1992 – posted on Oct 13, 2008

1

Loved this hostel, had the best time eating takiyaki with Yashi-san and Kenji-san and the other guests. Felt safe the whole time i was there and the location couldn't have been better! Will definately stay here again!!!

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by sophiaagriffith4883 – posted on Oct 11, 2008

11

A charming place, more than a hostel.. Yashi, the owner, was overwhelming friendly. The hostel was more than just immaculately clean, it was endearingly decorated, spacious and incredibly comfortable. Overall, a hostel as quaint as Kyoto itself.

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by harrietlevenston2620 – posted on Oct 10, 2008

3

One of the best located hostels ever. Yoshi is a fantastic host, we all went out for Dinner together and had a great evening. Excellent hostel.

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by dan8493 – posted on Oct 9, 2008

14

seriously love yashi-san. cracks me up with his woolen hat (which is all the craze in japan). the night i stayed there, he organized a group dinner outing which was awesome to meet other people. stayed in the girls dorm which is old style...sleep on the bamboo floor with the paper sliding doors.... more seriously love yashi-san. cracks me up with his woolen hat (which is all the craze in japan). the night i stayed there, he organized a group dinner outing which was awesome to meet other people. stayed in the girls dorm which is old style...sleep on the bamboo floor with the paper sliding doors. it was awesome. kenji-san was also very helpful in explaining how to get to nara and things to do there. close to gion (geisha district) and shijo (shopping and food)close

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by michellejshin – posted on Oct 9, 2008

3