Japan 2014: Hana Hostel Kyoto review

When I was researching for accommodations in Kyoto, the name Hana Hostel Hybrid Inn popped up a lot and after reading up reviews on the place and checking its prices, I was sold.

Whether you are traveling in a group, in pairs or alone through Japan and on a budget, Hana Hostel and its sister hostel, J-Hoppers have the dormitories and private rooms to suit your needs. For my group of four, I booked us a private bunk bed room that came up to about 8,400 yen (RM270) per person for three nights. 

Hana Hostel Kyoto was a five minutes walk from Kyoto Station and ten minutes from the Keihan line, making it ideal especially if you are lugging around huge luggage. It was also very close to a Lawson mart, the Kyoto Tower and multiple underground outlets that will leave you spoiled for choice in terms of food. Kyoto Station itself was a food haven but I'll get to that in another post.

 Their check in was at 3pm and as we arrived at 11am , the receptionist helped us store our luggage in their storeroom, allowing us to go about exploring Kyoto. When we came back, they helped us check-in to our room and gave us a quick tour of the hostel. The shared toilet and bathroom was right next to my room and the kitchen and common space was right across the toilet. Despite being close to a high traffic area, we hardly heard any noise from the other occupants. 

Our room was fairly cosy although the air-con/heater was located in a bad location as only the top bunkers got the heat. The bed was comfortable and actually big enough to fit two people. Like at Yume Nomad, we had to fit on our sheets.

My room came with no toilet or shower and we had to use the shared facilities on our floor.  But most of the time, we hardly came across anyone else in the toilet and bathroom despite being on the ground floor and sharing it with another room. And on the plus side, we could also use the upstairs shared bathrooms to avoid waiting on each other.

The hostel offers two sets of washing machine and dryer facilities at the entrance and unlike the dryer at Yume Nomad, the dryer at Hana Hostel worked wonders on our laundry. We put our clothes into the dryer before heading out for dinner around the corner and then we came back a hour later, they were all dried and toasty warm.

Also upon check-in, we were given a stamp card each. For every third night stayed at any Hana Hostel or J-Hoppers in Japan, guests were allowed to redeem either bicycle rental (500yen) or a set of Kyoto postcards (400yen) or 300yen off our entire stay. Naturally the whole-day-bicycle-rental was our option and we booked it the first thing in the morning on the day we needed it less another group got them first.

There was a hand-drawn board at the entrance that had all the sights of Kyoto listed down on a map, the estimated dates of cherry blossom blooming as well as places to eat. There was also a map showing the special kinds of Kit Kat Japan had to offer.

The staff at Hana Hostel was cheerful and helpful. In fact, during our cycling outing, I accidentally dropped the key to my bicycle's lock and when I informed the receptionist of it, she kindly assured me that it was okay and they will just duplicate a spare. I reckon this must happened often.

source: tripadvisor.com

I would stay at Hana Hostel Kyoto again given its ideal location especially if you are traveling to or from Osaka, its reasonable prices, good facilities and friendly true-Japanese hospitality. For more information, check out their website at http://kyoto.hanahostel.com/

Also read about:
Osaka on a Budget
Kobe: Yume Nomad Guesthouse review
Kobe Day 1: Kitano Ijinkan & Harbourland 
Kobe Day 2: Rokkosan Pasture, Mount Rokko & Sannomiya
Kyoto: Hana Hostel Hybrid Inn review 
Kyoto Day 3:Fushimi Inari Shrine
Kyoto Day 4: Imperial Palace, Kitano Shrine, Kinkaku-ji & Gion
Kyoto Day 5: Arashiyama & Cat Cafe Nekokaigi
Osaka: Namba guesthouse (NUL-Live.com House), Osaka Review
Osaka Day 6: Nara & Dotonbori
The Artistic Manhole Covers of Japan
Osaka Day 7:  Pokemon Center & Cherry Blossoms, Osaka Castle Park
The Flavours of Haagen Dazs Japan  
Osaka Day 8: Tsutenkaku Tower, Den Den Town & Umeda Floating Garden Observatory  
Osaka Day 9:  Ramen Museum, Kyoto Hanami & Kiyomizudera Night Illumination
Osaka Day 10: Bye Japan :(
Kobe, Kyoto, Nara & Osaka Itinerary (10-days)