Bon is an amazing person. He even helped with some request I had for him before I even made it there - he didn't have to do it but he went the extra mile and then some. The guesthouse is beautiful. The neighborhood is far from the hustle and bustle of Kyoto, so be aware that if it's your first time, maybe you want to stay somewhere more centrally. Personally I can guarantee you I will be visiting Bon every time, and if you want to experience an authentic side of Kyoto, you should too.

Bathrooms and toilets are shared and in an external space (still in the house). If you have issues with that just keep in mind. The house is beautiful though, and you can meet other people in its common areas.

The owner was extremely helpful. We arrived in the evening after most restaurants closed, and he went out of his way to tell us about possible food in the area. He also offered to drive us to the train station when we checked out. The guest house is a nice traditional Japanese house out of the main city. It was overall a great experience and definitely worth the money.

It wasn't a dealbreaker for us but know that the bathroom, sinks, and shower are outside. There are space heaters (we went in early March) that warm the area, though, so it wasn't overly cold. Be aware that there is also a 200 yen tax per person per night on top of the original room cost.

If you want to experience true local life in Kyoto, this is the place to stay! While you might need a bit more travel time to reach some attractions, you can still easily explore the city—and there are several fantastic attractions nearby. The host is incredible—super friendly, helpful, and always ready to answer any questions you have. The local bars and restaurants are amazing too; I had unforgettable nights with the locals. Staying here was hands down the highlight of my trip. Thank you for the fantastic memories! I highly recommend it to solo travelers and backpackers.

The host is very friendly and welcoming. As a female single traveler you want to feel safe and welcome and this place is perfect in that sens. Also I personally like the neighbourhood. This much more local and quiet residential neighbourhood might not be everyone's cup of the but I prefer it over the busy touristy part of town.

The walls and doors are very thin, it was not a problem most nights as all the other guests were quiet too but its an issue when you have drunk young guests talking and drinking until late in the night which only happened once that week and which was solved when i asked them to go to bed!

I used the kitchen a lot, which was a great help for me (being vegetarian in Japan implies a lot of self-cooking and less restaurants options). The host was very friendly and welcoming, he is that kind of guy connected to the place he lives in, knowing typical japanese people and places that are still true to their tradition/craft/specialty and not too influenced by the west and that is great, as I wanted to get in touch with that aspect while in Japan. The best: he got me in touch with a Hari expert called Hirata who gave me Hari treatment (Japanese meridian massage and acupuncture) which restored my vitality fast and got me over the jetlag effects after the first session, while the second session got me more stable in this direction. Now I know what kind of masseur to look for during the rest of my stay in Japan ;) The host also gave me a ride to the station at the end of my stay, and he was generally a very pleasant presence. Definitelly recommending him and his place and will be back here next time I'm in Kyoto!

I have dust alergy, so I could feel it within the first 3 minutes of entering the house, but it was alright, I was concerned about sleeping, but I slept very well during the night

Thanks Taniguchi-san for driving from the house to the Kamo Riverside when i was messaging him a good location to meet up, as well as dropping off at Kitaoji Station. Really enjoyed my moment talking to him. Loved his recommendations of food and quiet places to go in Kyoto when crowds are everywhere is Kyoto. The guesthouse has its own historical charms and the very authentic japanese house experience. The Tatami Bed is so comfy. Amenities are awesome ! You can cook if you want after buying ingredients from Supermarket. Will bring my friend to experience Kyoto again while staying here !

For a big guy (186 cm), The toilet and shower can be a bit restrictive space for me to move around. But the facilities are top notch.

I had the loveliest time at Guesthouse Bon! The twin room was traditional with a futon and sitting pillows, and beautiful rice paper doors to a small terrace. The common area was a nice place to have breakfast, and the kitchen had all the needed amenities. Shower and toilets outside worked very well and gave you privacy. In addition, I loved the location: the neighborhood was quiet and beautiful and it was easy to get around the city with bus and metro. I went to a nearby sento a couple times and enjoyed it a lot!

The location is good and quiet. There are temples, public baths, delicious soba noodles and udon noodles nearby. It is more convenient to take the bus than the subway. The host is very enthusiastic to introduce the traffic and help plan the route. 711 is not far away. The accommodation is very Japanese. I like it very much.

Nothing

Bon San was very helpful from beginning to the end of my trip in Kyoto. Mine was a short trip and Bon San helped me with organizing my itinerary. I really appreciate all of his advice and help. Bon san really goes out of his way to make your Kyoto experience memorable.

It’s not a fancy hotel. It’s a clean house, and everything you need is there. Bedroom is in the second floor, and it’s a little bit of trip to go to bathroom and shower room that’s on the first floor terrace area.

We really enjoyed our stay here; unfortunately, we only stayed for one night, so we couldn’t fully experience everything. We loved the atmosphere and the tatami in the rooms—it felt very traditional and gave us an incredible experience. It’s also very quiet around, and there’s a bus stop nearby.

The only downside is that the bathroom is located outside, but there are heaters inside. It was fine for me, but it might be an issue for some people.