For travellers who like to use youth hostels, Kyoto’s Utano Youth Hostel gets a lot of praise for the thought that’s gone into its operation
Surprisingly, there’s only one youth hostel in Kyoto. Well, perhaps it’s not so surprising: Kyoto has hundreds of guesthouses and they’re much more relaxed than youth hostels, which tend to be very regimented in Japan.
Utano Youth Hostel does almost everything right: it’s got spotlessly clean rooms, free wifi, nice common areas, pleasant grounds and friendly staff. There are both private and shared rooms and the rates are very reasonable. The only problem is the location: it’s located way up in the northwest corner of the city, not too far from Kinkaku-ji and Ryoan-ji temples.
The hostel rents bicycles and you’ll need one of these to do much sightseeing if you’re based here (and don’t want to spend all your time on buses). Still, despite the inconvenient location, we really like this well-run youth hostel. For location map and more details, see our page on Utano Youth Hostel. You can book rooms at Utano Youth hostel online at Agoda.com.
For more excellent places to stay in Kyoto on a budget, see Best Kyoto Backpacker Hotels and Best Budget Hotels in Kyoto.
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.
