Kyoto Guest House WAON

Guesthouse Waon is a serene guesthouse with traditional tatami mats and elegant decor throughout. The owner is very polite and helpful. Our room was on the second floor. It felt like a generous space with a table in the middle which is moved for bed time. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay, but feel like it's worth mentioning a couple of items for future guests. First of all, the steps up to the second floor are very steep so anyone with even slight mobility issues will struggle getting up there. There is only one bathroom, shared with the three guest rooms. It is on the ground floor, so if you need to get up in the night it's a bit of a trek. The listing mentions breakfast, but it's really just a couple of croissants, so I wouldn't count on it for a day of running around Kyoto. Fortunately there are several grocery stores in the neighborhood and the room has a small fridge. There is a fairly complete kitchen downstairs with microwave, dishes, cutlery, and even a hot plate. It is located on a fairly quiet, narrow street. There are a few cafes and restaurants nearby. This is a neighborhood where people actually live, so the businesses don't cater to tourists. Nevertheless, there are still several places with English language menus. Google directions to this guesthouse were misleading. It suggested taking the subway which results in a 30 minute walk. The locals suggest taking a bus up to Kenryuko-mae stop on the 206, 46, or 59 lines.