Kyoto Globetrotters Hostel

Horrible place
This is a horrible place. They couldn't check us in on time and promised to place our bags in our room. Eight hours later they were still sitting in the public lobby with no protection. My private room didn't even lock. It didn't even have a normal door it had a screen door. One wall wasn't even a wall it was a screen with rice paper on top. I could hear every word from the surrounding rooms and even when the neighbors moved around at night. Light filtered in from the other rooms too. The bathrooms were gross and unsanitary. Plus it was just two toilets for the whole house. Plus our room was not attached to the main house and we had to walk through a yard and garage to use the bathroom. The owner was mean to us. We complained about the room because of the above and woke up to find out we had to leave. Please note that I was not rude, did not even raise my voice, just had asked to be transferred to a more private room in the main house. He said "If you are unhappy here then go." I reminded him we were happy to stay but had merely requested a new room. That did not fly and he made it clear that we were being kicked out within the half hour. In conclusion, do not stay here. I have no idea how this place is still open considering the way the owner keeps it and treats his customers.

Stay away! Not worth it!
This is not a hostel. Its someone's private house that he has crammed full of bunks without the adequate facilities to cater for international backpackers. It is difficult to know exactly where to begin to describe how horrible our stay was, and the disgusting service we were given. Kyoto Globetrotters Hostel and Osaka Downtown Hostel and Olivers International Hostel are all run by the same person -- expect the same standard of service in each. There are no positives. Our experience is no exception! Oliver has a smile on his face when you first arrive, and a seemingly welcome persona -- this is a facade! Oliver will only be polite until you hand over your yen. After this, the service slips to a disgusting level. He offers no help, assistance with the area, guidance, or friendly advice. He prefers to remain out of the way and out of the building. There are times when there is actually no one running the hostel and all you have are a series of hastily written directions to follow left on the front desk for you to find -- if you are lucky. The facilities available are ridiculous. The common room can only be described as a shoe-box not catering for more than five people comfortably. There are only two showers and two toilets to cater for a maximum capacity of thirty-five. The showers/toilets were not cleaned during the three days we stayed. Also you could only reach them by going through the common room. We were on the top level -- three floors up -- so there were not easily accessible for us. The rooms had bunks that reached almost to the roof. I was unlucky enough to be given a top bunk and could not even sit on my bed without having to crouch down and duck. I was only a foot and a half from the ceiling and the lights. These rooms are a safety hazard and are not comfortable. Internet is not always accessible and is expensive. We were trying to book another trip out of Kyoto when the hostel lost power for a few minutes. After this Oliver refused to credit us the remaining time owed, even though we had paid for it. His manner was arrogant, confronting, and unnecessary. There is only a small bar fridge and a jug and no kitchen/bar/vending machines or convenience store close by. As we were leaving early in the morning, we wanted to order a taxi as the buses werent running. He initially refused until we pushed the issue. After this he told us that he tried to call, but that all of the taxi numbers were engaged. Because of this, we had to walk almost eight kilometers to the bus station and left the hostel in disgust at midnight to walk through the night to get there in time. As someone who is opening a hostel in the near future, I was given a perfect example of everything not to do. This is not a good hostel. Do not stay here, or in his other hostels in Osaka. Oliver's manner and work ethic are well below standard and especially as an avid traveler seeing a lot of hostels, he is by far the worst i have stayed in around the world. Disgusting Oliver, absolutely disgusting!