The Hostelz.com Review
The J-Hoppers house in Kyoto is located a short walking distance from Kyoto station. The hostel is in the less "happening" direction from the station, but it's very close to the main subway line into central Kyoto, and a late-night ramen shop. Then thin building may not look like large hostel you're trying to find, so keep your eyes peeled for this tall, slender building. A cab ride might be needed if coming back late from the bar areas.
The reception is very helpful, with all sorts of information about things to do in Kyoto, and good language skills. The building itself, a very narrow, five-story box, may be bothersome to those who don't like stairs. The kitchen is nice and spacious though, with plenty of refrigerator space and kitchen utensils to cook up anything. They also have a couple internet terminals -- not quite enough, but they charge by the minute so there's motivation to keep sessions short.
The hostel is used by Japanese travelers, international travelers, and foreigners who live elsewhere in Japan (often teaching English), so it's a good place to trade stories and hear a lot of interesting information. The third floor common lounge is usually abuzz, especially in the evening, and has four comfy couches and a table with a window onto the street below. There is an inexpensive beer machine there which saves trips to the convenience store. Hostelers often meet here and chat before going out to see one of Kyoto's hundreds of attractions or hitting the nightlife.
Bedrooms are a good size and the beds are reasonably comfortable. The pillows are of quite good quality. They have heating and AC in all of the rooms, and plenty of bathrooms and showers so that there should rarely be a wait -- just a little squeezing through narrow hallways.
The reception is very helpful, with all sorts of information about things to do in Kyoto, and good language skills. The building itself, a very narrow, five-story box, may be bothersome to those who don't like stairs. The kitchen is nice and spacious though, with plenty of refrigerator space and kitchen utensils to cook up anything. They also have a couple internet terminals -- not quite enough, but they charge by the minute so there's motivation to keep sessions short.
The hostel is used by Japanese travelers, international travelers, and foreigners who live elsewhere in Japan (often teaching English), so it's a good place to trade stories and hear a lot of interesting information. The third floor common lounge is usually abuzz, especially in the evening, and has four comfy couches and a table with a window onto the street below. There is an inexpensive beer machine there which saves trips to the convenience store. Hostelers often meet here and chat before going out to see one of Kyoto's hundreds of attractions or hitting the nightlife.
Bedrooms are a good size and the beds are reasonably comfortable. The pillows are of quite good quality. They have heating and AC in all of the rooms, and plenty of bathrooms and showers so that there should rarely be a wait -- just a little squeezing through narrow hallways.
— Exclusive Hostelz.com Review
May 2007
Their Description
J-Hoppers Kyoto Guest House Details
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J-Hoppers Kyoto Guest House Reviews on Other WebsitesHostelz.com Guest Reviews
Excellent location, wonderful staff, and clean accommodation I lived in Kyoto J-Hoppers for three nights in December 2008. This should be one of the best hostel for backpacker. Very convenient location is one of its ignored advantages. Not only just ten minutes to Kyoto station by walk, in actuality it locates on the very convenient place for the bus traffic, which is more convenient than subways in Kyoto. The 202 bus, circle line of Kyoto bus, will stop just outside the guesthouse. So you can even get to the door of guesthouse from Kinkakuji, where cross the whole city away. Clean and nice clerk. They also consider very details for guests. For instance, they provide free curtains to help dorm's guest to keep privacy. I am glad to choose J-hoppers as I traveled Kyoto. — JG , Taiwan (2008-12-14) Everything you could possibly need! This hostel was pretty amazing! I visited at the end of nov. '08. It is quite small which is what I prefer. It literally has everything you could possibly need from acoustic guitar in the lounge room to hair dryers and straighteners for use (free). Free wireless along with internet in the lobby for 100yen for thirty minutes. You can rent (or place a deposit on) almost anything at the front desk from bikes to plug adapters. I booked an eight-bed dorm and had more privacy in this space than any other dorm I've been in. You are given a sheet to put up around your bed (whether it is the top or bottom bunk) so you have complete privacy. You have a bed light and if you are lucky, a little shelf space in the wall for whatever you may need at an arms reach. The hostel kitchen is quite small but I rarely used it. Showers are very clean. Hostel staff are friendly and have maps in both english and japanese. There is a big information board in english showing markets, onsens, temples, shrines -- how to get there/back and costs. They have free luggage storage in the lobby and in the dorm rooms. Towel rentals. Free laundry soap. Free tea/coffeesugar/general spices. And it's two blocks from Kyoto Station so you can catch transport so easily! Plus its a later 11 a.m. check out -- what more could you ask for? J-Hoppers knows what it's like to be a traveler -- they supply you with everything imaginable! — RJ , Canadian (2008-12-08) Excellent! We stayed here May 2008, arriving via Shinkansen. This is a great hostel! Friendly staff, good amenities, clean rooms. However, what really made it for us was the photos that line the walls of previous guests at different locations. Last, but not least, you have to visit Fushimi-Inari. We wouldn't have known about it if it wasn't for J-Hoppers and it made our trip to Japan. — Owenzy , Scotland (2008-08-05) Reasonable It is close enough to the Kyoto Station, and seems to be in a quiet neighborhood. The staff is friendly, speaks English. Nothing special. — Ingrid (2008-01-13) I love this hostel, not only for its cleanliness and convenience but also met great partners here. the owner is cool as well. I got everything I need here except it takes sometime with the clothing dryer. Yet, still five stars and great! Travellers would feel immediately that this hostel is considerate for them once they got in! — itching (2006-07-22) We stayed three nights at the J-Hoppers and it was perfectly acceptable. Clean, the people who worked there were helpful and spoke pretty decent English, and our roommates were friendly and nice. The location is great, two blocks from Kujo subway station and about five from the JR station. The rooms are a little crowded, but hey, it's a hostel. Beware the stairs, though -- we were on the fourth floor and usually already tired by the time we got back. — Gia (2006-05-30) What a nice hostel! Staff were very friendly and helpful, one of them even toted my heavy backpack all the way up the stairs for me. Everyone staying there was pretty nice and it was very close to Kyoto central station.
It had a lovely cozy lounge area and a cute service of letting you dress up in a kimono and take a picture. The only minor downfalls would be all the stairs (lots) and also we couldn't work the air conditioning. — Emma (2005-07-07) J-Hoppers was excellent. The first place I stayed in Japan, it set the bar for comfort and cleanliness. It was also my first meeting with a heated toilet seat... actually it's worth staying just for the toilet! Other than that, the kitchen and living room were great, nice people, the whole shebang. Pretty near the train station. — Katy (2005-06-06) I stayed two nights in Sept 04. Very friendly staff and clean facilities. Easy to find and not too far a walk from the train station. I would definitely recommend this hostel. — Sally (2005-04-02) I stayed here in September 2003. It was a very enjoyable experience in what is quite a puzzling country. The hostel was friendly, clean and comfortable. Aki and his staff were very helpful, and they were happy to chat with us and give advice. — Lucy (2004-09-12) This place is just perfect for a two-night stay in Kyoto! It has friendly staff, spacious rooms, and great facilities. There's only one problem - the windows were too thin. I felt like I was sleeping outside on the footpath! Everything else was fine! — Anonymous (2004-05-25) Aki speaks good English and is a really nice guy who has travelled extensively himself. Surroundings are neat and clean with excellent facilities. Location is good. Thoroughly recommended. — Richard - Adelaide Australia (2003-09-18)