Utano Youth Hostel

One look at the map ought to dissuade you from staying here. The Utano is tucked away in the far north-west of the city - which makes it ideal for visiting Arashiyama and a couple of temples, but not so good for anything else. Yet this is the newest (revamped in 2008), largest and most attractive youth hostel in town. And its location allows for plenty of space, lots of nature and fantastic facilities, including a barbecue pit, a tennis court and a Japanese bath of which any inn would be proud.