We had a private room (western style) on the second (Am: first) floor. The room was perfect: great beds, well designed, plenty of space, balcony. The people are truly kind and extremely helpful,
and speak English pretty well. The very kind older lady, Kyoko, seems to know even all bus departure times by heart...
The guesthouse is located near the University, northeastern Kyoto. Most temples are within half an hour's reach by public transportation and, as said, reception is very helpful in planning your route and can provide bus tickets. The area around the guesthouse is alive, has quite a few cafes and restaurants.
It is a guesthouse: so the bathroom and toilet are shared. That is not so bad if you know what you get and it keeps the rooms reasonably priced. The whole guesthouse was specklessly clean at all times. Good to know: you leave your shoes downstairs, and people walk around barefoot (bring slippers if you don't want to).
On the downside: the toilet door was next to our room door, and you can hear people enter the toilet, flush, leave. If the users were only the guests in the other room on the same floor that would not be too bad-- only two guests fit there-- but since the communal room is adjacent, the whole evening (till 11 pm) people keep using the toilet, not so nice if you want to sleep early. The only other thing on the downside is that the washing basin is also in the communal room, next to the kitchen sink. A bit strange to put your lenses in or to brush your teeth in the midst of people having breakfast, dinner or drinks... Luckily the communal room is not at all times occupied.
If you stay in another, quieter room, and don't mind the washing basin being quite public, then this is the very best place you could wish for yourself!
cross: It is the facilities called the guest house to share time and space with various people. Then you can save the cost. If you mind it you have to choose a hotel.
“La habitacion está bien aunque algo pequeña y sin armarios. El sitio en bonito y está cuidado. Puedes hacer tus comidas en la cocina comunitaria.”
- No puedes llegar mas tarde las 11:00 de la noche (esto te quita poder salir por la noche por Kyoto). No hay armarios en la habitación. Y esta lejos de la estacion de trenes de Kyoto.
cross:There are many common use parts in the guest house. Someone come to lied early. The one that wants to enjoy till late has better hotel.
+Very clean place - Comfortable duvets and pillows - Very helpful and kind staff - Lively location - Beautiful decoration I would recommend this place without doubt.”
- Curfew at 11 pm :( I would suggest to install key cards. The area is lively with students and it is a pity to miss it. - Not towel included in the price of the room.
cross: Guest house is not a hotel. It has a lot of sher spaces. We are always hoping that all of our guests are comfortably with considerate of each other.
I chose this place on a whim after booking a trip to Kyoto on short notice, and I really hit the jackpot! Hyakumanben Cross was super clean and well-run; it had a really friendly atmosphere and
the owners spoke excellent English. The owners really went out of their way to make me feel welcome and to make sure that I enjoyed my stay. For example, they provide a free walking map of the
city and are happy to give suggestions for bus routes or sights to see in the area. I stayed in a shared mixed-gender room with three strangers, but I always felt safe, and I felt comfortable
leaving my things in the locker provided. The washrooms and the shared kitchen area were also clean and tidy.(Expedia ゲストレビュー)
cross: We were really glad to hear your phrase "I really hit the jackpot!"
+ “직원분들이 너무 친절하고 좋았습니다. 침대시트도 청결하고, 화장실과 욕실 상태도 정말 좋습니다. 아침 조식은 별도로 주문하고 1층 식당에서 먹는데, 깔끔하고 맛있습니다. 교토역이나 기온, 청수사 방면으로 바로 가는 버스도 있어서 조금 멀어도 버스로 커버 가능합니다.”
- 주말에는 1층 식당과 길에서 들려오는 소음이 크게 들립니다. 방음이 안되서 옆방이나 복도에서 들리는 소리도 크게 들립니다. 소리에 예민한 분들은 조금 힘들 수 있습니다. 하지만 다른 점이 너무 뛰어나서 이런 불편함은 무시할 수 있을 정도입니다. (Booking.com ゲストレビュー)
cross: It is sometimes noisy,because it faces the street. What can we do?
+“Good selection of books and guides. Excellent kitchen. Sparkling clean. A nice mixed group of guests, mainly young.”
- A single futon on a hard base was much too hard for a middle aged European like me. The management did give me a second mattress which was fine but charged which I thought was a bit penny pinching.(Booking.com ゲストレビュー)
cross: It is really difficult to fit futon for everybody. This is common futon in Japan.The opinion to be good for health has hard futon.
“En una zona muy bien comunicada que, además, es muy tranquila. Ambiente del hostel muy acogedor. La habitación estilo japonés bastante grande para los estándares de allí, sencilla pero muy agradable. El personal muy atento y facilitándote todo.”(Booking.com ゲストレビュー)
cross:Gracias. Sus palabras nos animan.