HI - Kyoto - Higashiyama YH Hostel is a large hostel with an ideal location in the beautiful city of Kyoto. It caters to a mix of international and domestic travelers as well as sports teams and traveling groups.
The Location
This hostel is ideally located in the Eastern Mountains (Higashiyama) area of Kyoto -- close to lots of shrines, temples, and the famous Gion geisha district. It is also a short walk to touristy shopping areas and a short bus ride from Kyoto Station. As well as being on or close to several bus routes, there is a subway station less than a block away. The hostel is visible from both bus and subway stations, easily found by the giant green hostel sign that adorns the side.
Rooms and Bathrooms
There are more than one hundred-fifty beds spread over dorm rooms with bunk beds, private rooms, and some traditional Japanese-style rooms. All are well kept and quite clean. Security is pretty slack for the number of people it accommodates -- there are no locks on dorm room doors, no in-room lockers (however there are a few on each floor that can be rented), and no one checking proof of accommodation at the front entrance. We get the feeling that anyone could walk in without any staff noticing. Each floor has a number of sinks with shower hoses attached and some toilets. For bathing, there is a small santo (bath house) on the ground floor with the ability to accommodate five or six at a time. The santo has strict hours and is only open twice a day (morning and evening) for a few hours at a time.
Common Spaces
The common spaces consist of a large eating area and a corner with two couches. There is also a small lobby with a few tables/chairs and computers on each floor. They charge a small fee for internet use. There is no public kitchen but breakfast and dinner are available each day between set hours. You are asked to leave the dining room if you overstay those hours. The hostel also has a closing time from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. each day for cleaning and you are expected to be out of your room between those times. Lights out/curfew is at 10:30 at night and you are asked not to leave the hostel after that time. As a result of the spread-out common areas, there does not seem to be much socializing and the lights out prevents long evenings of chatting or games.
Summary
The location of the hostel is ideal, however there are a lot of rules and restrictions. It is very clean and meals are good, however, there is no security. If you are simply looking for a bed and a roof over your head in a great location, this hostel fits the bill. If you are looking for a cultural experience, the hostel's institutional feel and rules do not lend themselves to that.
-- Exclusive Hostelz.com Review
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