About Shimogyo
A city embedded with rich culture and history you’ll find yourself exploring classical Buddhist temples, imperial places, traditional wooden houses and so much more. Once the capital of Japan for more than one thousand years, Kyoto is proudly located on Japan’s main island, Honshu.
When it comes to hostels in Kyoto, there is a mixture of traditional ryokans and modern chic hostels to choose from. In traditional ryokans, you take off your shoes before entering and sliding paper doors divide the rooms. With pod hostels becoming an increasingly popular option for travellers when choosing between cheap hostels, you’ll be in pod haven in Kyoto's hostels. A quirky Kyoto hostel, Book and Bed will have book lovers in a state of lust during their stay with hundreds of books nested around beds to choose from.
Chose to stay central for your general sight seeing and easy transportation access. While if you love being amongst nature surrounded by mountains perhaps a stay at a hostel in Nose is what you’re after. With over one hundred Kyoto hostels to choose from, we’re sure you’ll find a hostel in Kyoto that meets both your needs and fellow travellers. Read our guide on where to stay in Kyoto here
Culture and history buffs, you’ll be spoilt for choice when it comes to things to do in Kyoto. Visit the Kyoto Railway Museum that is an impressive 30,000 square meters in size with a total of 53 retired trains or perhaps a visit to one (or multiple) temples such as the Hiei-zan and Kiyomizu-Dera sounds more up your alley. Don’t miss the Grand Prix, Iwatayama Monkey Park, Nijo Castle, Fushimi Inari-Taisha shrine and the Gion district.
A world-class public transport system including buses, trains and subways makes for easy and efficient travelling in and around Kyoto. Since the city is compact and relatively flat, cycling and walking are also great eco-friendly options when it comes to exploring the city. You’ll find six train lines, 2 subways and an incredibly extensive bus system. If you’re wanting to travel a bit off the beaten path, taxis are reasonably priced and can help connect you to areas that aren’t easily reached via public transport.