R Star Hostel Kyoto Japan

Very clean room, friendly staff

Great hostel.

This hostel was really nice! The staff were super helpful. I appreciated how there was luggage storage before and after check in/check out. The location is also very nice, one subway stop from Kyoto station, and quite easy/accessible to major bus stations and attraction. I walked 25 mins from the hostel to Kiyomizu-dera temple and the famous alleyways nearby - very walkable distances to major sites (if you like to walk!). The breakfast had no vegan options, which is where I'd dock a star. Even if they offered fruit, that would have been nice but unfortunately no options. They do have a very nice cafeteria with lots of amenities so you can utilize this space. Would definitely recommend and return! Thank you!

Mixed Feelings About a Return Stay — Disappointed by Hospitality Standards We decided to book this accommodation again because of a previous one-night stay that was genuinely excellent. The bed was the most comfortable of our entire trip, and that positive memory made us return without hesitation. However, this second experience left us with a very different impression. The Good: The staff made some effort to communicate using Google Translate, which we appreciated. The Disappointing: The room we initially wanted was shown as unavailable during the entire planning period — despite checking several times. Yet upon arrival, it had 3 available rooms online, priced at HALF of what we had paid for, a different, less desirable room (capsule pods). We asked the staff if there was a way to switch rooms or find a middle ground, especially since the pricing difference was so stark. Despite understanding the booking clause (non-refundable), it was disappointing that there was no willingness whatsoever to offer any flexibility, refund, or adjustment — even though it was evident we were now paying DOUBLE the current rate. The staff’s response felt rigid and impersonal. Instead of hospitality, the encounter felt transactional. The staff member had to call someone to handle the situation, but still delivered a firm no — without offering other room alternatives (despite better and cheaper options being available, such as a private room with a private bathroom). What’s more troubling is