Guest House Gajyun

The breakfast is definitely a highlight with a lot of choices. The location is fantastic, right next to the east district but also for getting all around kyoto(you can walk to Sanjo station, which is a really convenient hub station in 12 minutes). Beds are comfy. Showers are big. The staff is always helpful and around almost all the time if you need them and of course Jiro is super cute. They had the 10th anniversary of the guesthouse and threw a party and invited everybody to drink and eat for free, really something else 👍.

The shower area could use a heater in winter. It's veryyyy cold when you go into the shower and exit. Note about the 4 bedroom mixed dormitory: This room is on the ground floor next to the common area which makes it very loud. Lights out is at 23:00 and breakfast starts at 07:00. So in the best case scenario you have an 8 hour sleeping window(usually less in reality). Unless you're a really deep sleeper it's impossible to sleep through the noise of the coffee machine in the morning right outside the door and people often stay up chatting in the common area as late as possible. So yeah it's very hard to get a good night's sleep in this room. I wish they would change lights out to 22:30, that would solve a lot of problems and let people get a better nights sleep.

Friendly host, kind guests! Delicious breakfast and an adorable dog. This place was safe, wonderfully located and a fantastic guest house. Definitely go here if you're staying in Kyoto. The place had such a cozy vibe and it was easy to get comfortable. I love how big the common area was, made it easy to work or hang out. I really enjoyed my stay here.

Getting a bit nitpicky that some of the light fixtures were very blue and harsh, some softer, warmer ambient light would have been nice. Also more hooks or places to hang your stuff (particularly in the top bunks) would have been great. There was also no hair conditioner, which is a very very minor inconvenience. Small details, but don't let them stop you from staying! I loved it here!

There’s a reason this place is so high up on Booking.com, and it’s not its phenomenal breakfast (although it’d be enough). No matter your expectations, this place is going to exceed them. 

The hostel is as homie as it can get, the hosts are often there hanging out and making conversation, Ichiro and Jiro are such characters that it is hard not wanting to know more about them. Spotless clean, with an inside little garden, a balcony, and a long common table, it is perfect to meet people and share stories. I crossed paths with 10+ people in my four days here, many I’d love to see again in the future. 

 Guest House Ga-Jyun influenced the way I see Japan and its people and it made me a little more grateful, which is one of the reasons I travel and never regret it. Thank you for hosting me, it's been beautiful!

This guesthouse definitely exceeded our expectations. Our room was very clean and cosy (AC also has heating for the chillier evenings), our beds were SO comfortable and the pillows/bedding felt brand new. Definitely try the massage chair after a long day of walking. The family that own the guesthouse also live there and they are so welcoming and helpful, service always with a smile. You remember people for the way they make you feel and we felt so at home during our 5 nights stay. Their dog Jiro is a character if a little timid :) Little touches include free umbrellas to borrow, hair dryer, torches and tea/coffee. You can cook in their fully kitted kitchen and also use the fridge. Laundry is also so cheap and the bathroom and showers are always so clean. Close to the nearest subway station and an easy walk to Gion. You should stay here just for the breakfast, the best we've ever had. We are vegan and there were plenty we could eat (6 diff fruits, wonderful miso soup, salad, natta, bamboo rice, juices) and plenty of other foods for omnivores! We wished we could have stayed longer.

Nothing :)

The property was very local and close to some big shrines and not to far from Higashiyama station. Which is about a 20 min ride to Kyoto station. The staff were very nice and heartwarming it felt like coming back home. The staff could also speak other languages like English and Portuguese as well. Also they had breakfast ready every morning which is nice since Japan doesn’t normally have breakfast places. Overall, for the price you can’t really complain and it was super nice.

I wouldn’t exactly say this is a negative, but for some it might. They do have an adorable dog there who is very well tamed and calm. But if you have allergies it might not be the place for you. So please be aware of that.

The bedroom was bright, clean, quiet, and well-ventilated, plus the bed itself was huge and very comfortable; and, with only 4 people to a room, it felt much more spacious that other hostels I’ve been in. There’s also a tatami room, so you can relax in a more traditional space if you feel like it (also, a massage chair!) The location is amazing- you can walk right to a bunch of the major temples and interesting areas. The staff are friendly and helpful, and can speak English! But that BREAKFAST- can’t say enough good things!! You have to try the miso soup, it’s amazing! And there was a huge variety of baked goods, fruits, savory things…so worth it.

No complaints at all.

Everything was great. The host was super nice, witty and funny. He speaks Portuguese and made me feel right at home. The breakfast was yummy. They have the CUTEST dog. The shared toilets were clean and nice. I arrived early morning and he gently offered me breakfast. Very close to the tube/metro station; nonetheless easier to take the bus to get to locations, which is totally fine.

Nothing at all.

Their hospitality was shone thru. They were very kind and generous. Breakfast was exceptional - lots of variety. This was also a good time to touch connect with other travellers. The Friday night party was fun, the spread amazing and it was good fun all around. I was one of the lucky ones to experience the sento. I had a great time, all around.

The bed mattress was a little thin for my liking.

Such a cute place ! The breakfast was so delicious with Japanese rice, soup, as well as pastries and fruit. Probably the most generous and delicious hostel breakfast I've ever had. The private room we stayed in had a loft bed making the place spacious for all our stuff. The common area was great to socialise and meet other friendly travellers. And the bathrooms and toilets were all clean and comfortable. Really great value place for staying in Kyoto.

There's only two showers but it's a small place so I never ended up needing to queue to use one.

Phenomenal breakfast cooked fresh by the owner every morning with tons of selection of breads, fruits, meats, and an incredible miso soup! The hostel itself is not very big and clearly family-run, very friendly vibe and easy to socialize with the owners / other guests, and an adorable white Shiba Inu there. Overall incredible value for money and well-located in Kyoto close to bus stop and short walk to metro!

Not very much privacy is the trade-off for the friendly vibe, you very much feel like part of the family being able to socialize easily with the owners and other hostel guests