IchiEnSou is a sweet, small guest house with classy little touches that make it feel more like you are staying in someone's home (you kind of are) than in a hostel. Each bunk in the mixed-sex dorm room has its own little shelf and bamboo towel bar; the shower room is encased in pleasant wood; the common area is comfortable... More

I slept in the female dorm for 3 nights. Points to note: - Awesome location - Sociable host - Clean - Traditional house with a twist - Relaxing atmosphere I really can't find faults with this guesthouse. The location is superb, minutes from the station, right in Gion, walking distance to a few main temples. The host was very interactive,... More

Stayed here for 2 nights in August - very hot month :). Our airconditioned 4 bed japanese style room was perfect (just kept forgetting to take off our shoes). Communal room also great and the staff was very helpful and friendly, even leaving a note on the door saying they were out for drinks if anyone wanted to join :)... More

IchiEnSou has so much going for it it's hard to know where to start in the review. It's probably the loveliest budget accommodation I've ever stayed at. The decor is very nice and the whole place, rooms, common spaces, bathrooms, kitchen, are impeccably clean and comfortable. It's basically a large, beautiful old home that has been converted into a guesthouse... More

I only stayed one night but the hostel was great because it was clean, walking distance from a lot of temples and I even managed to see geisha walking in the back alley streets, and the owner was knowledgeable. Would recommend the nice atmosphere in the common room which had jazz playing in the background.

IchiEnSou is a charming little guesthouse located right by an impressive looking Japanese theatre. It is easy to find and a stone's throw away from Gion night life - close enough to be with all the action within a few minutes but tucked away in the quiet part. I found IchiEnSou to very clean, gorgeously decorated and accommodating. Yashi and... More

I visited here with a friend back in March 2009, and really enjoyed my stay at IchiEnSou. Yashi is a great host, he's in the business not to make money but just to enjoy meeting new people. Being a hostel, there were mainly young guests (like ourselves), but all were friendly and well behaved. There were Japanese guests as well... More

I was traveling with two female friends and we booked all four beds in the female dorm so we could have the room to ourselves. The rates were very reasonable so it was quite affordable to do so on our small budget. There's a share bathroom which is very clean and because the house only sleeps a small amount of... More

Run by a lovely couple, Yashi and Sunam, we were made to feel so welcome that it became like a second home. We liked it so much that we returned two weeks later! Located in gorgeous Gion, it was a magical experience, with free tours being given on some nights by the owners to the local highlights (e.g. Kiyomizu-dera, with... More