祇園クリスタルホテル — Hotel in Kyoto

Avoid this hotel, definitely many better cleaner options in Kyoto on a similar or less budget, hotel or ryokan. I wanted to leave after the first night. Here is why:

Cleanliness is sub par. Even though we paid an ‘extra’ tax for cleaning this still did not include changing sheets we were told this is ‘extra extra’ cost, and they did a very minimal job even at the ‘paid cleaning’, which we signed up for as we were there 6 days.

Unfortunately on the first night settling in I touched the top and underside of the bedside table and found old, still wet coffee stains that I wiped accidentally onto the bed sheets. It was on the dehumidifier too.

I was grossed out to say the least and honestly everything seemed the bare minimum in this hotel, low ceilings, tiny room and bathroom with no natural light or outlook. There was also a smell of mould in the room.

I tried to clean it myself but it seemed to be everywhere. When I mentioned it to reception politely enough and insisted they specifically clean the bedside, I found that evening absolutely nothing had been done.

We spent the remaining 4 nights trying to not touch under anything and on the same stained bed sheets. The whole time the stains in the bedside table remained, so much for the ‘extra’ cleaning.

The room while renovated, was damp, stuffy, corridors dark, there is no common area to escape to, a bench in entry, and the small beer garden who’s restaurant was notably empty. There was a lovely lady working there, overall the service is welcoming but it didn’t feel like at reception they cared or really wanted to know if you were having a good experience.

I would call to attention as well that reviews seem to be wiped until recently. This hotel I’m sure is not Japanese run, I felt uncomfortable with the cleaning even by low western standards, when you compare this to the other place we stayed it’s honestly...

Unfortunately we only had one night at this hotel. The location is perfect for Exploring Gion on foot with temples, shrines & eateries only a short walk away. Gion - Shijo metro station is only a 5 minute walk away and you are nearby many bus services should you wish to explore other parts of Kyoto. We had a room on the 5th floor which was quite and had opening windows and allowed airflow. Room size was average by Japanese standards, but there was just enough space to store both of our backpacks & large suitcases. Beds were comfortable and the room decor had subtle nods to Japanese culture. Breakfast was included in our room rate and you had the choice between two options. The food was great and we enjoyed people watching as we ate our breakfast outside. |We’ve stayed in a couple of hotels in Kyoto and for us the things that make the Kyoto Inn Gion stand out are the little details. The skincare toiletries on offer at check in, the friendliness of staff throughout the hotel, the attentiveness of the restaurant staff, and the fact that the front desk noticed that it was my birthday. You feel like that this place is family run and you are made to feel welcome into their home. I just wish we could have stayed longer. I know the first place I’m booking the next time...

We stayed three nights as a family of four and I was very disappointed. The location is great and the staff were friendly, but the hotel itself was poorly maintained - especially in relation to attention to cleaning. Breakfast was provided & was minimal (as advertised on booking): toast, croissants, jam, fruit. The breakfast room had dirty tables and an unpleasant smell, as did the lift & reception area. The glasses were dirty and had bugs in them (along with the water jug at breakfast). I only ate breakfast once during our stay as the uncleanliness and food handling made me feel uncomfortable. The room was dusty with old food and clothing under the beds, left by previous guests. Mould in the shower, hair and dust on the bathroom floor, stains on the walls, and greasy fingerprints on surfaces showed a lack of cleaning. Bathroom was tiny and uncomfortable, and mattresses were very firm with only one flat...