Comfort Hotel Kyoto Horikawa Gojo — Hotel in Kyoto

For the equivalent of $60/night that I paid for my stay, this beats every Comfort Hotel in the U.S. out of the water completely. I probably couldn't get a ratty roadside middle of nowhere Comfort Inn for that much, let alone one in a place where people actually want to be. This property specifically is the only one of the three Comfort(s) in Kyoto that (as of writing) offers free breakfast, and is located pretty near a lot of tourist hotspots. There's a comparison between this one and the other two on the Japanese website for those curious.||The value appears in certain ways, though.||(1) There is no good way to arrive here with luggage, unless you have just a light carry on. From Kyoto Station, you can take a metro line and then walk 10 minutes down a street, or take one of several buses and then criss cross a scary looking overpass. Either way you will have to take your luggage up and or down flights of stairs, so pack light or get your arms ready. Leaving is easier - there is a bus to the Station that stops right outside of the hotel. However, the buses do politely ask to not bring "large luggage" (presumably, checked bags), so that might not be an option to leave, either, and you might have to do the 10 minute walk and stair workout to the metro line after check-out. Kyoto buses also are annoying in that they have you board first in the middle and then pay (by yen coin or IC card only) as you get off in the front, so keep this in mind if you go by bus. Getting to everything else is easier once you don't have luggage - there are bus stations nearby (across the overpass) or you can take the metro line to the station.||(2) Yes, I did mention an overpass. My room was probably one with one of the better facing views, and it was still mostly streets and an apartment building. You will hear the occasional emergency vehicle, though the curtains help. I would not do a leisurely walk around the area because the cars drive pretty quick and the sidewalk and the stroad have no real barrier. It adds a sketch factor at night for sure.||(3) The free breakfast (especially considering it's the only one in Kyoto that offers it) was very appreciated. The staff were super kind and the chefs did a great job keeping things stocked. It is probably a tier below other hotel chain breakfasts, but that is to be expected with the rates being so low. However, I normally scarf up a free breakfast, but I never ate that much here because nothing was that good. Nothing was bad - it was all adequate and palatable - but I thought of it more as "free calories" instead of "free breakfast". Don't have super high hopes, in other words.||(4) The rooms are small. Adequately appointed, and functional, but small. My double bed room was a perfect size for me as a solo traveler, but the same size room is offered with a king bed. I don't know how that would work with two people, especially two people who are tall or wide or otherwise have dimensions that the rooms were not designed for.||The staff was as pleasant and nice as any I've dealt with in Japan thus far... with the exception of the men at the front desk on the day of check-out, who giggled at my confusion over the time and whether my Choice status offered anything later. It did (noon, from 10am) but I had to ask them for it - that should not have resulted in snickering, and at any other chain it would not have. Everyone else was super kind, so I don't know what was up with those two.||Other things to point out: the (slightly overpriced) vending mart in the lobby takes IC cards, but there's a Family Mart on the way to the metro station for those who want to pay with a card instead. The washing machines are a nice perk, though also slightly overpriced, and also take IC cards. They provide their own detergent, so no need to bring any. You need to check when it's done, though, because the front desk will empty the machine and put your clothes in a hamper in storage if someone else is waiting for it. Also, do wash & dry (regular) and not (less) - (less) will leave your clothes wet. Ask...

For the equivalent of $60/night that I paid for my stay, this beats every Comfort Hotel in the U.S. out of the water completely. I probably couldn't get a ratty roadside middle of nowhere Comfort Inn for that much, let alone one in a place where people actually want to be. This property specifically is the only one of the three Comfort(s) in Kyoto that (as of writing) offers free breakfast, and is located pretty near a lot of tourist hotspots. There's a comparison between this one and the other two on the Japanese website for those curious.||The value appears in certain ways, though.||(1) There is no good way to arrive here with luggage, unless you have just a light carry on. From Kyoto Station, you can take a metro line and then walk 10 minutes down a street, or take one of several buses and then criss cross a scary looking overpass. Either way you will have to take your luggage up and or down flights of stairs, so pack light or get your arms ready. Leaving is easier - there is a bus to the Station that stops right outside of the hotel. However, the buses do politely ask to not bring "large luggage" (presumably, checked bags), so that might not be an option to leave, either, and you might have to do the 10 minute walk and stair workout to the metro line after check-out. Kyoto buses also are annoying in that they have you board first in the middle and then pay (by yen coin or IC card only) as you get off in the front, so keep this in mind if you go by bus. Getting to everything else is easier once you don't have luggage - there are bus stations nearby (across the overpass) or you can take the metro line to the station.||(2) Yes, I did mention an overpass. My room was probably one with one of the better facing views, and it was still mostly streets and an apartment building. You will hear the occasional emergency vehicle, though the curtains help. I would not do a leisurely walk around the area because the cars drive pretty quick and the sidewalk and the stroad have no real barrier. It adds a sketch factor at night for sure.||(3) The free breakfast (especially considering it's the only one in Kyoto that offers it) was very appreciated. The staff were super kind and the chefs did a great job keeping things stocked. It is probably a tier below other hotel chain breakfasts, but that is to be expected with the rates being so low. However, I normally scarf up a free breakfast, but I never ate that much here because nothing was that good. Nothing was bad - it was all adequate and palatable - but I thought of it more as "free calories" instead of "free breakfast". Don't have super high hopes, in other words.||(4) The rooms are small. Adequately appointed, and functional, but small. My double bed room was a perfect size for me as a solo traveler, but the same size room is offered with a king bed. I don't know how that would work with two people, especially two people who are tall or wide or otherwise have dimensions that the rooms were not designed for.||The staff was as pleasant and nice as any I've dealt with in Japan thus far... with the exception of the men at the front desk on the day of check-out, who giggled at my confusion over the time and whether my Choice status offered anything later. It did (noon, from 10am) but I had to ask them for it - that should not have resulted in snickering, and at any other chain it would not have. Everyone else was super kind, so I don't know what was up with those two.||Other things to point out: the (slightly overpriced) vending mart in the lobby takes IC cards, but there's a Family Mart on the way to the metro station for those who want to pay with a card instead. The washing machines are a nice perk, though also slightly overpriced, and also take IC cards. They provide their own detergent, so no need to bring any. You need to check when it's done, though, because the front desk will empty the machine and put your clothes in a hamper in storage if someone else is waiting for it. Also, do wash & dry (regular) and not (less) - (less) will leave your clothes wet. Ask...

I’m just finishing a two night stay at the Comfort Hotel Kyoto Horikawa Gojo in central Kyoto. The hotel is a ten minute walk from Gojo subway station and is along Horikawa-dori, one of the main roads in Kyoto. The location is not bad, but you will have to walk to get pretty much anywhere. The hotel is warm, a plus in blustery Kyoto in spring. My room on the tenth floor is small, but functional. Comfortable for a solo traveler, but tight for a couple. Typical though of most Japanese budget accommodation. The one noticeable thing about the hotel, almost no Japanese guests are staying here. I saw two. It’s completely foreign tourists. If you are a foreign tourist, maybe you will feel comfortable. As a decades long resident, it may seem odd. It did for me. I’m not in town for tourism, but rather to attend a ceremony. And have been to Kyoto a hundred times. In expensive Kyoto, sometimes we opt for affordability. Next time, I will find something a little less likely to be full of first time to Kyoto tourists. None of this is this hotel’s fault. I’ve stayed at a number of Comfort Hotels in Hokkaido and they are normally just Japanese business people. Choice Hotels are reasonably comfortable, reasonably priced budget hotels, part of the Choice Hotels chain. They are generally not memorable, and this one certainly is not. Simple buffet breakfast in the morning. Nothing special, but it’s something at least....