HARUYA Umekoji

Nice character. Convenient for a quick overnight backpacking stay.

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

I really enjoyed my stay here. If you come expecting this is an old, historical building, you won’t be disappointed or caught off guard.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.

Maybe the single room experience is different

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.

I'm so happy I booked my accommodation at this hostel! It was truly memorable to experience living in a traditional old Japanese house for such an affordable price. The location is great—it's easily walkable from Kyoto Station, and there's a convenience store just a few minutes away. For amenities, there's a small kitchen with cooking facilities in the main building, and every building has a kettle and fridge to store your food.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?!

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.

- Traditional design- space of bed is just night- cozy shared space - toilets are clean

- someone in my room kept snoozing. I suggest providing of selling earplugs(at a low price like 100yen) to help with sleep- There was a slight urine smell at first somewhere in my bunk bed but it went off after a while- the tax collection during the stay is a bit tedious so if it could be charged together with the room fee since I prefer paying by card? Overall it is still manageable though

I recently stayed at this beautiful ryokan in Kyoto and absolutely loved the experience. What I enjoyed the most was the traditional atmosphere — from the tatami mats to the sliding doors and futon bedding, everything stayed true to authentic Japanese style. It felt like stepping into another time, yet with all the comforts I needed. The staff were incredibly kind and welcoming, and the peaceful ambiance made it the perfect place to relax after a day of exploring the city. Highly recommend it if you’re looking for a true Kyoto experience!

Na

Cosy room with comfortable beds. It was quite close to the railway station. The price was good.

The room was a bit too small - when we set up our 2 beds, there was hardly any space on the floor. It was also quite loud, so I recommend taking earplugs with you.

The library is nice and I met some nice people. The house is nice as being an old house.

I travel to meet locals and first points of contact are the staff. There was no staff. I do not like self check in accomodation. Also I could not have a shower because I only found out when I checked out where the towels were. No explanations for the people who are not staying in the main building. My room had a skylight. And I could not "close" it or use a curtain which means that I had to wake up with the sunrise as I am one that can only sleep in the dark.

Good position and big room.

Not clean at all, uncomfortable bed. Very small spaces in the corridors, not much light. All the furniture is very old and dirty.

Amazing room! Beautiful. Small, but as expected for a 100-year-old building. Staff was great, very pleasant and helpful.