Guesthouse Koiya in Kyoto

Koiya Guesthouse was a great stay! Wonderful way to experience a traditional Japanese machiya, and the staff was incredibly nice and helpful. It is about a 15 minute walk from the nearest subway and 3 minutes from the nearest bus stop. This is slightly inconvenient as you can't take large luggage on buses in Kyoto, but overall worth the experience.

I had such a truly unforgettable 3 days and 2 nights in Kyoto. Staying at Koiya Guesthouse felt like stepping into a dream — a perfect blend of culture, warmth, and nostalgia. The traditional Japanese house reminded me of the animes I grew up watching, and I couldn’t help but feel like I was part of one. The staff were incredibly kind and thoughtful, always going the extra mile to make me feel at home. I’ll definitely come back to Koiya the next time I’m in Kyoto — it’s a place that stays with your heart long after you leave. 💛

Guest house Koiya is an astonishing ryokan with antique furniture, great garden and very pleasant staff! Place is clean (cleaning is done every day), girls on reception speaking English and very kind, two pairs of mosquito repellent (you will need them in garden) at the reception and in the living room!
In Koiya you also can rent yokata and bicycles (they have 3). I had a ride with bike across the area and visited Fukuoka Onsen (by recommendations from the Koiya’s Guesthouse info book in your room!) with waterfall hot water bath outside of the building (it was unique experience and I happy to see that beautiful onsen).
Come to Guesthouse Koiya and you will definitely feel the real Japanese culture and customs!
I love this place and hope to visit it again!
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Very nice B&B, but I couldn't sleep at night because of Koreans and ********* using hair dryers and talking loudly.

It is suitable for experiencing the original Japanese life, and it is enough to experience it a little. If you want to live comfortably, it is not a particularly good choice. There are six or seven rooms on the upper and lower floors, only one bathroom, two shower rooms, one of which has a bathtub (made of cement bricks, it doesn't look like it is suitable for bathing) and is very cold in winter. The kitchen area has public dishes, bowls and cups, and simple food such as bread, butter, miso soup are provided in the morning. The wooden house, the creaking sound of walking also tells its sense of age. The stairs are steep, and the moving line is not very comfortable (but understandable), and it is also very noisy. If your neighbors come back late, they will definitely be disturbed repeatedly. In general, it is more suitable for literary men and women who travel alone and have more free time. The courtyard is very beautiful, and it feels good to sit in the corridor, although the wooden floor is not very clean.

It is a very Japanese-style house. It is very pleasant to sit in the small courtyard and rest.

Great experience!

If you’re looking for a luxury super comfortable hotel room, this is not a place for you. It is modified from a traditional Japanese house, which means you sleep on the floor (Japanese style), there is no private toilet nor shower in your room, (there is 2 shower rooms that everyone shares. If your question is “do I have to get naked in front of strangers” no, you don’t), and the walls are pretty thin, you can hear cars passing by or other guests walking in their room.

BUT if you are looking for a warm homey, friendly atmosphere, friendly staffs, beautiful garden-view living room that all guests share together, a chance to interact with other guests and make new friends, this IS the place to go.

The downside is it’s a bit far from Kyoto Station (20-30 mins bus/train ride), but I think it’s worth it.

There’s also a free breakfast station setup in the kitchen every morning.

The counter is open only until 9pm. So if you plan to check in later than that, make sure you let them know beforehand.

The route wasn't that difficult, and although it was an old facility overall, the staff was friendly. The shared terrace is especially pretty.

If you’re looking for a more authentic Kyoto experience, this place is it. This is a large (by Japanese measures) traditional residence that’s been turned into a guest house. This means you’ll get your own room with tatami floors and futons for sleeping, but you’ll share the bathrooms, kitchen, dining area, and garden with the other guests. Some rooms have their own private gardens, but we honestly preferred to use the main garden so we could chat with other visitors. A western style continental breakfast was provided, which is always a plus with kids. The staff was very friendly and helpful, but take note that they will charge extra if you have more guests than the room is meant to accommodate. Also, this may not be the best place if you have noisy kids. The staff was very gracious, but I think some of the other guests were annoyed by our kids. Overall, this place will make your visit more memorable!