Guesthouse Bon

The owner is very kind and helpful in giving information about traveling in Kyoto. Very comfortable environment to chill and relax. There are many onsen nearby; unfortunately, I didn't try them out. They have their own laundry machine (it's 200yen); however, if you want fast drying, then you have to go out to the nearby laundry shop. P.S. You can hang your wet clothes inside the house.

Nighttime needs to be considerate of neighbors. Cannot be too noisy or loud because the wall is thin; it might disturb others. The street is very quiet at night, and all the shops are closed early, except a few restaurants that are still open until 10/11pm.

I stayed in this guesthouse for about 2 weeks and I felt like I had real home in Kyoto. The location is great (in a very quiet area near Daitoku-ji temple where I had a great experience of very local tea ceremony and also there is an opportunity to go to a zen meditation every morning). The subway is 15 min walking, supermarket is just around the corner, 7/11 5 min walking. I took the bicycle and it was great. Bon-san helped me a lot with advises, support and even with my heavy baggage. I stayed in smallest room and it was good, the room is upstairs and you can dry your closes on the fresh air. It’s also the washing machine what is very comfortable. I really recommend this place to stay if you want to have quiet moments in Kyoto.

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Bon was a generous and helpful host, recommending places to go for food and a nearby onsen. The room was very neat and tidy. I very much enjoyed my stay and hope to come again one day.

We had a wonderful stay at Bon’s guesthouse in Kyoto and would absolutely recommend it! Bon was an amazing host from the moment we arrived. He took the time to show us the surrounding area on maps, gave us excellent recommendations for itineraries and restaurants, and was always happy to chat with us. My brother had some problems with his foot during the trip, and Bon was incredibly kind and helpful: he showed us the nearest pharmacy, explained what products to buy, and even gave him some balm he had at home to help soothe the inflammation. We were also able to rent bicycles for the day so my brother wouldn’t have to strain his foot too much. During our stay, the weather suddenly changed and a big storm started in the middle of the day. Bon even took the time to send me a message to check if we were okay and whether we had umbrellas with us, which we found very thoughtful and caring. The room itself was great: spacious, comfortable, and perfect for our 3-night stay. The towels were changed once during our stay, which we appreciated. The guesthouse is also very practical, with two bathrooms, toilets, and sinks (something that is actually quite rare in many guesthouses in Japan where there is often only one shower). The kitchen is well equipped, including a coffee machine. On our first night, we were the only guests staying there, which almost made it feel like we had our own private house! The shower and toilets are located outside the room area, which might not suit everyone, but personally we found that it actually added a sense of privacy and calm. Don’t hesitate to book with Bon, we had a lovely experience and would happily stay again!

The guesthouse is located a bit farther from Kyoto Station, so it’s good to organize your schedule accordingly if, like us, you plan to spend the day visiting Kyoto before leaving for another city in the evening. However, the metro station is not too far away and there are bus stops very close by, making it easy to get around. We also really appreciated the quiet neighborhood at night. Plus, several famous sites such as Kinkaku-ji (the Golden Pavilion) or Ryoan-ji and its beautiful Zen garden are all relatively nearby.