Kyoto is loaded with cheap, well-run hostels and guesthouses, making the city a natural choice for backpackers. Here’s a list of the best hostels and guesthouses in Kyoto, all of which I’ve personally inspected.
Len Kyoto Kawaramachi lobby © Chris Rowthorn.
Len Kyoto Kawaramachi
(View on Booking.com or Agoda.com)
If you want to meet other travelers, this is the place for you. It’s a hip hostel/hotel with both private and dorm rooms and a lounge on the first floor where you’ll want to hang out. Every time we walk by this place, we just want to duck in and chill for a while.
Len Kyoto Kawaramachi bar © Chris Rowthorn.
K’s House Kyoto
(View on Booking.com or Agoda.com)
K’s House is a popular budget guesthouse/hotel near Kyoto Station. There are private and dorm rooms and a nice common area. There’s also a rooftop terrace and a bar. It’s a great place to meet people.
K’s House Kyoto exterior
Gojo Guesthouse
(View on Booking.com or Agoda.com)
This old school guesthouse reminds us of the first place we stayed in Kyoto way back in ’92. It’s friendly, funky and full-on Kyoto style. It’s a great place to meet other travelers.
Gojo Guesthouse room
Kyoto Utano Youth Hostel
(View on Booking.com or Agoda.com)
If you don’t mind being way up north (not far from Kinkaku-ji) and you want a real youth hostel experience, you’ll love Utano Youth Hostel. It’s the best youth hostel in the city and the prices are very reasonable.
Utano Youth Hostel
More Kyoto Hotels info:
- Kyoto Hotels Overview
- Check availability and pricing for Kyoto hotels at Booking.com and Agoda.com
- The Best Places To Stay In Kyoto
- Where To Stay In Kyoto
- Best New Kyoto Hotels
- The Most Romantic Hotels and Ryokan in Kyoto
- Best Value Hotels In Kyoto
- Kyoto Vacation Rentals
- Best Luxury Hotels in Kyoto
- Best Boutique Hotels in Kyoto
- Best Small Hotels in Kyoto
- Best Mid-Range Hotels in Kyoto
- Best Budget Hotels in Kyoto
- Best Kyoto Hostels and Guesthouses
- Best Kyoto Hotels For Families
- Best Japanese Hotel Chains
- Should You Stay In A Ryokan, Hotel, Machiya, Or Airbnb In Kyoto?
- Best Ryokan In Kyoto
- Kyoto Machiya
Kyoto Vacation Checklist
- ESSENTIALS – For all the essentials in a brief overview, see my First Time In Kyoto guide
- HOTELS – Check Kyoto accommodation availability on Booking.com and Agoda.com - often you can book with no upfront payment and free cancellation
- BULLET TRAIN – You can buy shinkansen (bullet train) tickets online from Klook - popular routes include Tokyo to Kyoto, Kyoto to Osaka and Kyoto to Tokyo
- WHERE TO STAY – Need tips on where to stay? See my one page guide Where To Stay In Kyoto
- PACKING LIST – See my comprehensive Packing List For Japan
- SIM CARDS – You can buy an eSim to activate in Japan or buy a data-only SIM card online for collection when you arrive at Tokyo's Narita or Haneda Airports or Kansai International Airport. You can also rent an unlimited data pocket wifi router
- FLIGHTS – Compare Japan flight prices and timings to find the best deals
- JAPAN RAIL PASS – If you're making frequent train journeys during your visit, you might save money with Japan Rail Pass – see if it's worth it for you
- TRAVEL INSURANCE – World Nomads offers simple and flexible travel insurance. Buy at home or while traveling and claim online from anywhere in the world
- WANT HELP? – Do you want help planning your trip? Chris Rowthorn and his team of Japan experts at Japan Travel Consulting can help
Kyoto District Map
Click a Kyoto District for detailed info on attractions, places to eat and accommodation
About InsideKyoto.com and Chris Rowthorn
- Chris Rowthorn is the co-founder of InsideKyoto.com and has an unparalleled travel knowledge of Kyoto spanning three decades. Chris has written or commissioned and edited every page on the Inside Kyoto website.
- A former author of Lonely Planet Kyoto and Lonely Planet Japan guidebooks, Chris is also the director of the Kyoto walking tour company Chris Rowthorn Tours, and Japan Travel Consulting, where you can get bespoke travel advice for your Japan trip.
- InsideKyoto.com has been cited by the New York Times and The Times of London, among many other publications and websites.
