The Guesthouse Hyakumanben Cross was charming and kept very clean. The owners, a mother and daughter, were welcoming, friendly, and helpful.
I was surprised at how convenient the location is! Nearby Demachi Yanagi train station is a sort of terminal station at the north east side of Kyoto city. It's a good starting point to go down into the city, or up north out of the city for mountain temple sightseeing.
Hyakumanben itself is near Kyoto University, so there are so many different bus lines running through the area. I was able to get everywhere I wanted to by train or bus, either directly or with just a single transfer.
The guesthouse had everything you need. I was in one of the shared rooms which had 2 sets of bunk beds and would sleep 4 individuals. Every cot had a curtain for a bit of privacy, and a locker to hold your things.
I had hoped to meet other travelers during my stay. To my surprise there were mainly Japanese guests who mainly kept to themselves, and I never really saw anyone in the common space even though I sat there reading for a while. Maybe it was just timing, but for my trip it wasn't the international guesthouse experience I half expected.
Still, it was a great stay and I would gladly visit this guesthouse again the next time I'm in Kyoto.
