Daiwa Roynet Hotel Kyoto Terrace Hachijo Higashiguchi — Hotel in Kyoto

Checked in here from 20 to 23 October 2019 and this hotel was recommended by my friend’s brother who stayed here for almost more than a week earlier last month. ||This is a brand new hotel which was recently open in late July 2019. Location wise, it is very close to Kyoto Station and there is a big 7-11 on the first floor of the hotel. Reception is located on level 2 and the lifts are designated to stop on level 2 even if one does not press the button for this floor. ||Check-in time is 2pm and we were early (around 12pm). So we left our 2 hand carry luggage at the reception and the lady service staff kept confirming if we will be back at 2pm to complete the check in. Interestingly for some reason, they wouldn’t complete the formalities until we return physically check in to our room. When we return to the hotel at 5pm, I was surprised that we had to carry our luggage to our room as I was expecting the hotel to have them placed in our room based on my last stay at Hotel Wing International Select Nagoya Sakae. | |As requested, our non-smoking superior twin room was located on level 8 and was facing Kyoto Station. Could hear some noises on the street but these were muffled. Room was large; bathroom had a big bathtub and a standing shower area next to it. | |Microwave is located on level 5 while the laundry room was located on level 6. An amazing fact was that one could check on the status of the 3 washing machines via the television! There is also a gym located on level 2 which opens from 5am till 11pm which we didn’t managed to try.||On our last day when we checked out, we encountered both bad service and excellent service.||Bad service: |We checked out early before 7am as we wanted to hit a few location spots in Kyoto before leaving for Nagoya. The reception was empty and there were 2 automated check out machines where one was faulty (as indicated with a paper printed in English). I tried slotting the room cards inside the functional check out machine but it was not processing. So we had no choice but to press on the buzzer which had been placed on top of the reception desk and almost immediately this tall young male service staff came out from the room behind. ||I was explaining in English that the automated check out machine was not processing and he replied to first press on the screen and it will start. Ok, my bad. While I was inserting the cards, I overheard my friend telling him we would like to leave our 2 hand luggage with them and we will arrive later at 12pm to pick them up. I have no idea why he could not understand my friend and rudely asked her in English “What time do you want to collect your luggage? Do you speak English?”. My friend was riled up but responded in a clear but firm voice “12pm.” He then went to get the luggage tags, wrote on them and handed my friend the slip. ||Though my friend was pissed off by his attitude, she had no choice but to inquire with him on sending her check in roller luggage to another hotel in Osaka. For some reason he was walked around the reception area in circles before walking back into the room. ||Excellent service:|A lady service staff (Ms Inui) then emerged from the room and I was explaining to her in English if the hotel could arrange to send my friend’s check in roller luggage to another hotel in Osaka. Inui was listening intently and later summarized my inquiry in Mandarin which correct! Throughout the entire process, Inui was patient and professional in addressing my friend’s inquiry (measuring the luggage’s dimensions, filling in the courier slip, etc). ||While Inui was helping with the courier of the luggage, the tall young RUDE male service staff came out from the room and I gathered he was surprised that we were still there. He was walking aimlessly around the reception area and when he noticed that it was taking some time, he headed back to the room again. ||We were unable to get the name if the tall young RUDE male service staff as his name tag was in Chinese characters. However, I took a photo of the slip on the 2 hand carry luggage where I believe he wrote down his name. ||I do hope that the management will look into this incident and send this RUDE male service staff for more customer service training! I would rate this as a 4 star hotel and his service is 0 star while Inui’s service deserves a 5...

Great hotel near Kyoto station. It’s fairly new so the building is modern and clean.

Facilities: there’s 3 elevators, which is more than most hotels of this price range. In the lobby, there’s a self-serve drinks machine that operates during most hours of the day up until the late evening. Unlimited, free matcha latte is something I’ve never valued more. Laundry machines are available on the 6th floor, though there’s only 3 of them. Thankfully, the TV in your room lets you see when they’re vacant and time remaining on each one. There’s also a fitness room, but given how much you walk in Japan, we never ended up using it. Like most other hotels, you can store your luggage with the staff on the same day for check-in and/or check-out, which helps with itinerary flexibility.

Rooms: larger than most business hotels with ample space to store and open your luggage. Light switches at the bedside let you control your room and bed lights separately to varying degrees. There’s a power outlet both next to the bed and on the desk. The washroom comes with both a shower and bathtub, which is pretty useful. The bed however is stiffer than those of other business hotel chains, but was able to sleep well all the same. Staff do a great job cleaning the rooms each day. No noise issues whatsoever despite being so close to Kyoto station.

Breakfast: they only have a breakfast buffet option. Pretty good selection that changes a bit from day to day in terms of cooked dishes, grilled fish, and salad options. Lots of variety as with most Japanese breakfast buffets (soups, okayu, grilled fish, salads, breads, granola and cereals, curry rice, desserts). Will get a bit boring after the 3rd day, but pretty decent overall.

Location: obviously quite convenient as you can see it from the front of Kyoto station. Big plus given how spread out all the landmarks are in Kyoto.

Fantastic hotel experience overall and would be happy to...

Small little perfect hotel, we stayed in Superior Double room 511 with a 'city view' (overlooks the bus station / train station). No issues on street noise as soundproofing is good. Room already came with 4 pillows for 2 person stay, + complimentary bottled water.

While room seems small, layout makes use of most spaces, which is why the room can give you an ironing rack, safebox, sofa chair, coffee table, panasonic air purifier, luggage rack, a large window that opens out + 2 layers of window / blinds, working desk and chair, mini fridge, proper wardrobe, lighting control beside bed, built in usb outlets, medium sized bathtub (not the mini one), walk in shower with ceiling rainshower + handheld showerhead, toto washlet, hairdryer, all packed into a room that can allow 2 XL luggage to be opened. Water pressure / temp / control is very good, 5 star hotel grade.

Hotel is just next to Kyoto Station (Shinkansen / JR), although you need to go through B1 subway walkway to reach the hotel at level 1 (if reaching via train from kansai airport).

Reception / check in lobby on level 2 has free flow drinks (apple juice / pu er tea) / coffee machine, and also vending machine / microwave oven / ice machine on some floors. Same concept of free toiletries / amenities for DIY collection is next to reception. There is English speaking staff on hand as well. A 7-11 store is also at ground level of hotel.

There is a nearby farm-to-table style venison restaurant (Meat Up) 2min walk, Don Quijote, Isetan, Yodobashi Camera, Kyoto Tower Sando all within 3 - 5min walk. Train station is