James Wynn

This is a short review, and a summation of my complaints with the Kyoto International House.  At first I was unimpressed by the unfinished look the place presented: mildew on the blinds, most of the place is much need of paint, and there is a greasy shine on many surfaces.  I pushed past this initial evaluation and tried to find the bright side of things.  The people I’ve met are nice, and there is free internet in the lab.  As days a pressing to a week though, I have uncovered more and more frustrating nuisances.  No kitchen utinsels are provided, including pots, pans, spatulas; nothing.  There is no soap, nor anything to dry ones hands on at any sinks.

To be fair, I should point out the things you do get here.  You get a room, approximately 7′x12′, with accompanying desk, chair, bed, shelf, and ‘closet’.  You get two blankets and a pillow and two changes of sheets.  The room has an airconditioning unit, but no heater.  They provide you with a mailbox, and a small locker in the kitchen in which to store dry foods.  As I said before, there is a lab with free internet.  There is also a lounge with a TV, a few couches, and what appeared to be a VCR.

Perhaps I am being to hard on the place for such a cheap price, around 23000YEN/month, plus electricity.  I think many of my complaints are purely asthetic; if they would slap a new coat of paint on the walls, clean the kitchen a little better, and provide some soap and paper towels at the sinks I would be much more content in living here.  I would probably even be willing to part with a little extra yen.

I visited Kyomizu temple again, which marks the 3rd time now.  Its the only thing I’ve consistantly done everytime I’ve come to Japan.  I’m not really sure why I keep going back either, its a total tourist trap.  Excellent view though.

Moving from dorm to dorm has totally screwed me up.  My  shoulders, back, legs, knees, sooo sore.  I need to just start taking taxis or something.  Blach.  On the bright side though, I think all this new soreness has made me all but forget about my tooth.  hahaha.

Kyoto International House looks a bit sketchy to me.  The management seem nice though, and I havent really had a chance to talk to any of the other residents.  Perhaps I’m just being to quick to judge.  Could be that it just needs a new coat of paint.

I think its something about the air pressure or something, but my teeth are killing me.  I knew I shouldn’t have gotten them worked on just before leaving.  Oh well, not much to do now but whine about it.

Seems I tried to book extra days here at Utano too late, so now I have to find another place to sleep.  But I needed to go fish my bags out of the lockers at Kyoto station anyways.   Anyone have other suggestions for where to stay?

Unfortunately it seems most of my Kyoto friends are really busy job hunting and stuff, so I must find some way of entertaining myself.  Hrmmm… Perhaps I’ll go waste some money and go to an onsen - hahaha.

I finally got in last night and Im soooo tired.  Lots of stupid miscalculations too.  My laptop doesnt fit the electrical outlets here, whereas my last laptop did.  Only one of my bags would fit in the lockers at the train station.  And I got dropped off at the wrong bus stop last night.  I ment to go to Utano Youth Hostel, but instead went to Utano Byoin, which is a mental hospital!  Hahaha.

Things are looking up, but ive only got 30secs left. later!