They say if you want to feel the traditional way of Japan, you should visit Kyoto. Yes I did, but instead staying in traditional Ryokan Hotel, I booked a new hostel in Sanjo area called Piece Hostel. Actually I had never intended to stay in this hostel, but since there was no room available at my friend's hostel so I had to look somewhere else to stay. I think I should thanked booking.com for putting this hostel on the first list when I was searching for hostel in Kyoto.
This hostel is the second project from Piece hostel. Their first hostel is Piece Hostel in Minami area, really near to Kyoto station. While Piece hostel Minami has so much white color in thei property, in Piece hostel sanjo they put grey as the dominant color. Both of the design were modern, stylish and futuristic *me playing as smart ass interior designer LOL*. Actually they renovated a traditional ryokan into this stylish hostel.
The curtain covering the hostel's entrance giving a traditional touch to Piece hostel. But when you come and open the curtain, you will see the modern look of the hostel.
Traditional look of the hostel
wait for it..wait for it
"Lobby" which also luggage store space
Common Room (Kitchen Area & Terrace)
Before I taking you to see the room, let me take you to Piece Hostel common room. Next to the lobby you will see free computers area. There were three iMac for you to use at anytime, but beware of their keyboard it had a different keyboard arrangement from what I usually used, REALLY.
3 iMac ready to serve you
If you go straight from computers area, you will find the common room. So far, this is my favorite common room in Japan's Hostel. Actually, the common room, kitchen area and terrace are become one. Free breakfast were served starting 7 am at the common area, well although it turned out they ready to serve breakfast from 6.30 am.
You will find pastries, potato salad, DIY miso soup and rice selections every day. My favorite were potato salad and their Wakana rice (I think It was white rice combined with wakame (seaweed), it salty but I like it). You can also fill up your tumbler with water in this area, free flow tea and coffee also available 24 hours.
You will find pastries, potato salad, DIY miso soup and rice selections every day. My favorite were potato salad and their Wakana rice (I think It was white rice combined with wakame (seaweed), it salty but I like it). You can also fill up your tumbler with water in this area, free flow tea and coffee also available 24 hours.
hello FREE breakfast
anyone want some pastries?
don't forget to wash your dishes after use
Shower & Laundry Room
While you might find toilets in each floor of this building, laundry room and shower room is only available in basement floor. There are many shower rooms to be used and they also provide a dressing room. The shower has a unique knob which will automatically shut down depends on how long you press the knob down. It start from 5 seconds to one minute maximum water flow before it shuts down by itself, so you may need to press the knob again and again, nice technology to save the water.
I stayed for three nights in this hostel and it was my 3rd to 6th day in Japan, so I decided to put some of my clothes to the laundry machine. It will cost you 200 yen for washing machine and 100 yen for drying machine, well it cost me another 100 yen for another drying machine spin. It still a little bit wet on its first spin.
Shower room and dressing room
it easy to use and you will get free detergent for washing machine
They are not only provide dormitory type room, from 4beds up to 10beds rooms, but also has single, double private room and also a family room (applicable for 6 people). in 10beds room they provide you a locker but it was not big enough to store your luggage nor your backpack, but it was bigger than the one I found in Drop inn Osaka hostel. You can store your luggage on the corner of the room.
If in another hostel you may only get 1 pillow with no selection of pillow type, in this hostel I found something new. If you were not comfort with your pillow in your room, you can just go outside looking for pillow rack and start hunting for pillow that might suitable for you. From too soft pillow until a bit hard pillow (psst I took 2 pillows hahaha) and under the pillow rack you might found sandals rack which you can use.
Image Source : http://www.piecehostel.com/sanjo/en
Image Source : http://www.piecehostel.com/sanjo/en
Pillow rack - find it next to the elevator
Apart from the interior and exterior of the hostel, I also fell in love with its neighborhood. It well located in the middle of city center, it is near to Teramachi shopping street and Nishiki Food market. Along the Sanjo Dori you will also find some local brand good stores.
If next time you come to visit Kyoto, I recommended you to stay at this hostel. I had a good time in this hostel and I am sure you will too.
604-8074 531, Asakuro-cho, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto City
Ph (+81)75 - 746-3688
sanjo@piecehostel.com
