Guesthouse Engawa

Terrific experience! Right in the heart of old Kyoto, the guesthouse is perfectly located in a really quiet area and in just a minute from the main sights. Lee was incredible! So friendly, respectful, hospitable and welcoming. The guesthouse has everything needed and more. Highly recommended.

Guesthouse Engawa was one of the best traveling accommodation experiences I've ever had, thanks to its gracious host- Mr Li. Mr Li is the most kind and hospitable host you'll ever meet who truly goes above and beyond in making the guesthouse feel like home and in sharing his passion and love for Kyoto with others. My mom and I stayed for 4 nights at Guesthouse Engawa and wished that we could have stayed longer. Mr Li took us around Kyoto one evening in his car, showing us night sights that we would never have known to seek out on our own. He explained to us some of the history of Kyoto, and particularly the history around geishas, which was super fascinating to learn about. He had great local recommendations on what to see and where to eat. He is an amazing photographer and gave some of his own photos to us as souvenirs. The Guesthouse itself was very cozy and homey. Although the space is smaller, the amenities were very thoughtful- pajamas, toiletries including skincare products, cold drinks in the fridge, unlimited coffee + tea. Sleeping on a futon does take some getting used to but it is an authentic Japansese experience that should be tried! We truly felt that our Kyoto experience was enriched because of Mr Li and felt that we had made a friend. We will definitely return in the future when we visit Kyoto again. Cannot recommend Guesthouse Engawa enough!

We were warmly welcomed at guest house Engawa. The hosts are incredibly friendly, helpful and courteous. We were given a lot of advice on sightseeing in Kyoto. They were up to date on upcoming events. We were given a car tour by night, to see the most beautiful spots of Kyoto and we were also given tipps on the best photo spots in the city. Our hosts passion and love for Kyoto was so tangible during this city tour, it was amazing! The guest house offers everything you need for a short or long stay: A kitchenette with a fridge and a microwave which can be used by guests, soft drinks/tea/coffee and laundry service are provided free of charge as well as all sorts of hygiene products (tooth brush and paste, shampoo, soap, razer and shaving stuff, etc.). The rooms are equipped with an AC, sitting area, TV and they even have a shoe dryer for rainy days. Basically, you only need to bring your own clothes. The location is excellent. Many points of interest are only a short bus ride away or within walking distance. All in all, we LOVED staying here (we even stayed longer than originally planned) and during our three weeks of vacation in Japan, this has been the best accomodation we have stayed in until now. We would undoubtedly come back here!

Can't think of anything that we didn't like about this guest house!