Kyoto Utano Youth Hostel

This is definitely one of the best hostels I've ever stayed at! The location is very peaceful, and there are two huge cherry blossom trees right outside the hostel. It was so lovely to sit in the dining room and watch the cherry blossoms through the floor-to-ceiling windows. The room was also very comfortable, with excellent privacy. There's a free onsen, and even though it's not real natural hot spring water, soaking in it after a long day of walking is still incredibly relaxing. The paid breakfast was decent; while I expected more variety for the price, there aren't many restaurants or convenience stores nearby, so it's a good option. All in all, it was a very comfortable stay, and I would definitely choose this hostel again next time I'm in Kyoto!

The room was quite clean, and there's a hot spring you can soak in (though it's actually just a pool). However, after checking out, even though I returned the key, I still received an email saying I hadn't. That made me worry for a while, but thankfully it turned out to be a misunderstanding.