IchiEnSou is a charming little guesthouse located right by an impressive looking Japanese theatre. It is easy to find and a stone's throw away from Gion night life - close enough to be with all the action within a few minutes but tucked away in the quiet part. I found IchiEnSou to very clean, gorgeously decorated and accommodating. Yashi and... More

I visited here with a friend back in March 2009, and really enjoyed my stay at IchiEnSou. Yashi is a great host, he's in the business not to make money but just to enjoy meeting new people. Being a hostel, there were mainly young guests (like ourselves), but all were friendly and well behaved. There were Japanese guests as well... More

I was traveling with two female friends and we booked all four beds in the female dorm so we could have the room to ourselves. The rates were very reasonable so it was quite affordable to do so on our small budget. There's a share bathroom which is very clean and because the house only sleeps a small amount of... More

Run by a lovely couple, Yashi and Sunam, we were made to feel so welcome that it became like a second home. We liked it so much that we returned two weeks later! Located in gorgeous Gion, it was a magical experience, with free tours being given on some nights by the owners to the local highlights (e.g. Kiyomizu-dera, with... More

Ichi En Sou was one of the best Inns that I've stayed at, and was one of the highlights to my time in Japan. Everything about this place was excellent. The loccation was an ideal place to explore Gion. However, it is the atmosphere that makes it stand out. It is a wooden house built in the 1920s, which the... More

Great hostel- japanese-style women's room, with futons on the floor, and western-style bunk beds in the mixed-gender room. Mostly, what made this place great was the super-wonderful staff. Friendly, nice people who make sure you know how to get where you're going. I went to dinner with several others from the hostel one night, and it was a wonderful experience... More

A hidden gem with a perfect location just minutes away from the train station, bus stops, and attractions - Gion Corner, Pontocho, and Higashiyama. Yashi and his wife made us feel at home and made extra arrangements for one night as they were running full. There is a cozy common area on the ground floor to chill out after a... More

A 100+ year old house tucked away in an alley in Gion. Friendly and immensely helpful proprietor (Yashi) who knows the city well and maintains a beautiful hostel. Friendly people, close to great restaurants/temples. Highly recommended.

I recently stayed at IchiEnSou for four nights, and I couldn't have asked for much else in a hostel. The owners, Yashi and his wife Rara, were both very personable and outgoing, and truly made me feel welcomed. Yashi also took the group to different restaurants for dinner on two nights, and one of them was a place that none... More