Hotel
Four Seasons Hotel Kyoto
A luxury hotel in southern Higashiyama built around Shakusui-en, a pond garden of about 800 years old, with a spa, pool and several restaurants.
Len Kyoto Kawaramachi
A hostel on Kawaramachi-dori south of Shijo with dormitory and private rooms and a ground-level lounge that runs as a café by day and a bar from 17:00.
At a glance
- Type
- Hostel
- Area
- Kawaramachi, Kyoto, Japan
- Price
- $ · Budget
- Official site
- backpackersjapan.co.jp
Good to know
- Dorms and private rooms
- Café by day
- Bar by night
Why we recommend it
Len Kyoto Kawaramachi is a hostel run by Backpackers' Japan, a Japanese company known for design-led hostels that double as neighbourhood gathering places. It stands on Kawaramachi-dori south of Matsubara-dori, a short walk south of the Shijo-Kawaramachi crossing, in an area that is central but slightly calmer than the main shopping streets.
Accommodation is split between dormitories and private rooms, so it works both for solo backpackers watching their budget and for couples or friends who want their own space while keeping the hostel atmosphere. Facilities in the rooms are simple, and bathrooms in the dormitory areas are shared, as is usual for hostels. Hostel guests in Japan are generally expected to keep noise down in sleeping areas late at night, and lockers or storage for valuables are worth using in dormitories. If you are staying for several nights, ask about luggage storage on your arrival and departure days, which makes it easy to sightsee before check-in or after check-out.
The heart of the building is its lounge, which opens to the street. From 8:00 to 17:00 it runs as a café serving coffee and light food, and from 17:00 it turns into a bar. Because the café and bar are open to the public, they attract local residents as well as guests, which gives the place a more lively and mixed atmosphere than many hostels, and it is an easy place to meet other travellers in the evening.
The hostel suits young travellers, solo visitors and anyone who prefers a social atmosphere to a quiet hotel. Light sleepers should ask for a room away from the lounge and bring earplugs for dormitories. The company warns that messages impersonating the hostel have been circulating, so confirm bookings only through the official website and contact details. The hostel publishes an email address and an international phone number for enquiries.
Len is about eight minutes' walk from Kyoto-kawaramachi Station on the Hankyu line, at the Shijo-Kawaramachi crossing, and Keihan Kiyomizu-Gojo Station is also close. The Kamo River promenade is a block to the east, and the Takase River and Kiyamachi are just to the west. Gion, Pontocho and Nishiki Market are within fifteen minutes on foot, and Kiyomizu-dera can be reached by walking east across the river and up through Higashiyama.
Len Kyoto Kawaramachi FAQs
What kind of rooms does Len Kyoto have?
Dormitories and private rooms.
Is there a café or bar?
Yes. The lounge runs as a café from 8:00 to 17:00 and as a bar from 17:00.
Can non-guests use the café and bar?
Yes. They are open to the public as well as guests.
Where is it?
On Kawaramachi-dori south of Matsubara-dori, in Shimogyo-ku.
How far is it from Kawaramachi Station?
About eight minutes on foot from Hankyu Kyoto-kawaramachi Station.
How can you contact the hostel?
By phone on +81 75 361 1177 or by the email address on its website.
Is it good for solo travellers?
Yes. The social lounge makes it easy to meet other guests.
Who runs Len Kyoto?
Backpackers' Japan, which operates several hostels in Japan.