Let’s start by saying you’ve picked a wonderful destination. Allow us to show you the 3 best hostels in Kyoto to make choosing where to stay in Kyoto hassle free.
Kyoto is full of cultural wonder. Marvel at the traditional wooden houses, and experience Kaiseki dining.
But first! Book yourself into a wonderful hostel.
In this article, we’re targeting bookworms, solo travellers, couples and party hostel enthusiasts.
Looking for a fun time? Have a look at our chosen best party hostel in Kyoto.
This guide is perfect for YOU, when …
- tired of bad and crappy hostels
- want to avoid the “young party kids”
- happy to spend 1-2€ for a better experience
We condensed it all to the 3 coolest hostels in Kyoto.
Heck, these awesome hostels in Kyoto really aren’t setting many limits!
For those on a longer voyage: check out our 5 Star Hostels in Asia. We also created more best hostels guides to help you. Check out:
- all best hostels in Japan on a map (backpacking Japan Guide)
- our hostel recommendations for Tokyo
- the 3 best hostels in Seoul
- 3 cool hostels in Beijing and finally
- 3 top hostels in Hong Kong
A Quick Intro to the 3 Best Hostels in Kyoto
Sadly, we haven’t added a Kyoto hostel to our 5 Star Hostels.
Which is why we’ve strived to make this article informative, fun and useful. And if you think, this will be a boring guide, well, then get ready. This guide covers cool boutique hostels in Kyoto, a hostel for book-lovers, and social animals.
This is an unexpected guide!
Psst! Don’t forget to check out the best party hostel in Kyoto further down.
Without further ado, the 3 best hostels in Kyoto are:
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- Book And Bed Kyoto
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- Len Kyoto
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- Piece Hostel Kyoto
1. Book And Bed Tokyo-Kyoto (hidden beds in the bookshelf)
To stay at Book and Bed Tokyo-Kyoto it’s a prerequisite that:
- You love books
- You love cosy, private beds
Maybe the title gave that away already?
Regardless, this creative design hostel is truly impressive.
Read: 13 Creative Hostel Design Ideas to steal (or get inspired).
Compare prices and read reviews at: Booking.com | Hostelworld
At first glance, you may not notice the cute, compact beds tucked in amongst the bookshelves.
All of the rooms at this hostel are shared dorms. There is a choice between compact (3m²) and standard (4m²) beds.
Useful information for the tall people out there!
You’ll have your very own curtain to close yourself in, plus a light and plug.
What’s really cool is that pretty much everything you need is in the room.
This includes sofas, kettle, toaster, slippers and shared bathroom.
A perfect recipe for a lazy day inside with a book, don’t you think?
If you’re feeling in a sociable mood, then never fear.
There are a bar and lounge area that is open for all. The staff is also incredibly friendly, and is always on hand to help… or just to enjoy a chat.
The 24-hour reception means you’ll never be left questioning.
Bike hire is available – a wonderful way to explore the surrounding area.
Shinkyogoku shopping area is 500m away. The nearest train station is also just a few minutes walk.
Book And Bed Tokyo-Kyoto is a top pick for:
- Solo travellers
- Friends
Compare prices and read reviews at: Booking.com | Hostelworld
2. Len Kyoto (social heaven)
Len Kyoto is a beautifully designed hostel cum cafe-car, aimed to bring both locals and travellers together.
Carpenters from all over the country designed the wonderful lounge space.
The mix of rooms on offer supports the hostels want to include all kinds of adventurers.
Dorm rooms have either 6 or 8-beds. There is also a female-only dorm.
Read: Why female dorms?
Private rooms include twin, triple, queen and king doubles.
Compare prices and read reviews at: Booking.com | Hostelworld
Linen is included, alongside a privacy curtain, light and power socket on the sturdy, wooden beds.
It’s nice that the bunks are raised – plenty of room for storage and no worries about stumbling over a bag in the dark!
What else to expect:
- No curfew
- Fully equipped kitchen
- Free Wi-Fi
- Library w/ free tea + computer use
- Mini ‘essentials’ shop
There is a cafe slash bar and restaurant on the ground floor. This is open to locals and paying guests alike.
By day, enjoy a warm coffee and by night flick to a cocktail and a delicious home-cooked menu.
Note: groups are welcome at a maximum of 6 people.
Len Kyoto is just a few minutes from the Kamo River. The train station is a 15-minute bus ride.
Recommended for:
- Couples
- Small groups
- Female solo travellers
Compare prices and read reviews at: Booking.com | Hostelworld
3. Piece Hostel Kyoto (everyone welcome)
If you want to experience a trendy boutique hostel, Piece Hostel Kyoto is for you.
This hostel is built with active travellers in mind; those with an open heart to adventure, people and discovery.
Read: 28 hand-picked Boutique Hostels
If this is your style, let this hostel be a piece of your journey.
There is an extensive range of rooms available.
18-bed mixed dorm, mixed deluxe dorm, female deluxe dorm, and private single, double, twin and 6-bed rooms.
Did they miss anything…? I don’t think so!
Compare prices and read reviews at: Booking.com | Hostelworld
All rooms come with:
- Free Wi-fi
- Curtain, light + power socket
- Air-Con
- Memory foam mattress – luxury!
- Luggage storage
- Security locker
- Free linen + towel
Just make sure you peel yourself away from the memory foam mattress long enough to enjoy the FREE breakfast, alright?
The stylish communal space at Piece Hostel is super cosy.
The lounge, serving sake and Japanese cocktails is a great place to meet other travellers.
There is also a library, terrace filled with beautiful plants and a relaxing Tatami (woven-straw) garden. Here you can experience Japanese tea ceremonies!
If you like to keep expenses down, make use of the fully-fitted kitchen.
Note: there is no age restriction for the private rooms.
Piece Hostel Kyoto is basically on the doorstep of Kyoto Station. Nijo-jo Castle is also just a 10-minute drive away.
This comfortable hostel is recommended for, well, pretty much everyone!
Specially:
- Groups,
- families
- solo travelers looking for a quiet place
Compare prices and read reviews at: Booking.com | Hostelworld
What is the Best Party Hostel in Kyoto?
Are you looking for:
- Super social vibes
- Organised events/activities
- A bar w/ great craft beers
- Central location
Welcome to Mosaic Hostel Kyoto.
Not strictly advertised as a party hostel in Kyoto, yet it has all the necessary makings of one.
The large common area (plus rooftop) encourages socialising, and it’s where all the events are held.
Compare prices and read reviews at: Booking.com | Hostelworld
Any Discounts or Promo Codes?
Currently, we have no special hostel discounts or Promo Codes for hostels in Kyoto. Subscribe to our newsletter. Here we share our newest promo codes for hostels and hotels in Kyoto first.
You can always get the 15€ discount for Airbnb here.
Map of Best Hostels in Kyoto Location + Sights
Once you’ve pinpointed your chosen hostel on the map, everything begins to fall into place.
Alongside the top sights – also on the map – there are many activities and tours to consider.
We’ve gone to the liberty of searching for you. Here are some pretty great ideas:
- Join a full day UNESCO + Historical Sights Tour
- Go for a Night Walk in Gion
- Experience a Kyoto Tea Ceremony
- Take a long Walk with the Last Samurai
- Cycle tour your way around Kyoto
The sights we highlighted in this map are:
- Nijō Castle
- Kinkaku-ji
- Kyoto Imperial Palace
- Arashiyama
- Fushimi Inari Taisha
- Gion
- Nishiki Market
Flights to Kyoto?
We enjoy Kiwi.com to find cheap flights all over Asia including Kyoto. This new website has super cool features like a so-called radius search. Just draw a circle over Asia and find the cheapest rates for the area.
Here is our review of Kiwi.
More Hostels in Japan and Asia
For those on a longer voyage: check out our 5 Star Hostels in Asia. We also created more best hostels guides to help you. Check out:
- Complete guide to BEST Hostels in Japan + Map
- Our complete guide to best hostels in Tokyo
Other countries and cities outside of Japan:
- complete guide to best hostels in Taiwan (Backpacking Taiwan + Map)
- the 3 best hostels in Seoul
- 3 cool hostels in Beijing and finally
- 3 top hostels in Hong Kong
Over to you
So there you have it: super cool hostels in Kyoto, their locations and top sights to see all rolled into one.
By now we hope you’ve decided on where to stay in Kyoto. If you are still not sure, you can never go wrong with Book and Bed Kyoto.
Do you have any questions? Anything not clear?
Please please bother us with your question(s) and leave a comment below.
We want to make this guide to hostels in Kyoto, Japan as useful and detailed as possible. Your question(s) actually help us to improve and helps you to get your travels sorted out.
Last note: Our commitment
This is a genuine article to help you travel a bit smarter and find the best place on a budget! We ONLY recommend places we know you will enjoy, no matter what.
Here you will never find any place we haven’t evaluated or are not convinced by. We only share with you places we also recommend to our best friends and family!
Enjoy this fine hostel selection and all 5 Star Hostels.
Safe travels!
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Your Smart Packing List
It is time to see what you should pack in your backpack or suitcase. Make sure you always pick a quality hostel, it totally reduces the things you need to pack. Here is our ultimate hostel packing list. It features 23 items you should really throw in your backpack.
The most important things to pack are:- earplugs
- eye mask
- key chain flashlight
- the right backpack, the Nomatic (our review of Nomatic here) or Lowe Alpine Lightflite 45 Pack
- packing cubes
- generic padlock (fitting all locker types)
- quick-dry travel towel
- universal power adapter
- travel-sized toiletries
