eph KYOTO — Hotel in Kyoto

When I came across this hotel, I knew this is the one I have to stay at. I mean, how many hotels have a washer+dryer in your room? Indeed, it's so convenient! And the rooms are big enough, with a black and red design which looks super posh. Very quiet and the beds and pillows are comfortable. Let me give some explanation/tips for people who are concerned with some reviews that say the dryer doesn't dry the clothes at all:

1. the machine they have is the normal size one you usually have at home, unlike the big ones at laundromat, so you can't load the entire machine to the brim and expect all the clothes to be dry after just 2 hours. It doesn't work that way. Separate your clothes into much smaller batches to wash then dry.
2. Front load machines always take longer to wash than top load. So use the 20 mins quick wash to wash your clothes then run the dryer function. Don't need to select other washing functions that take a much longer time. Add just enough laundry detergent, don't add so much until the 20 quick wash can't wash off all the detergent.
3. If you did not load the machine to the max and after the dryer function finished running, and if you find your clothes not 100% dry yet, run the dryer function again. But you don't have to wait another 2~3 hours. Just let it run for another 45mins to one hour then stop the dryer function and turn off the machine. Turn it back on by turning the knob to any wash/dry function and wait for a while, the lock will be released and you can open and check if your clothes are dry. It worked great for us and we have had no problems with the machine washing and drying all of our 5 days worth of clothes during our two days stay there and we weren't even at the hotel most of the time.

Anyways, overall excellent hotel! Highly recommended.

Edited 7 Dec: I just recalled I did not mention regarding the kitchenette in the room and it would do the hotel injustice if I don't. In terms of ease and comfort, eph Kyoto is an edge over the others, we didn't cook but all the utensils are in the room. While for other hotels, we have to go out of the room and go to the lounge or common area to use the microwave etc, everything can be done inside the room at eph Kyoto, so much more convenient. They also have dish washing soap so you can clean up your dishes or wash some stuff that you prefer not to use hand soap for. I definitely don't recommend leaving all your dirty utensils for the cleaning staff to help wash, but they did help wash a few spoon, fork, plates and cup we didn't get to since we were rushing out in the morning. They provide full room make up everyday so long as you place the magnet outside. Truly outstanding service and hotel facilities for ease and comfort. I definitely will stay here again the next time I'm in Kyoto and will recommend to everyone I know who is...

EPH Kyoto – Calm, stylish, and super close to the station

I stayed at EPH Kyoto during my visit to the city and really liked it. The hotel has a modern, stylish feel but is tucked away on a quiet street, which made it a nice place to come back to after a day of sightseeing. Even though it's peaceful, it's just a short walk from Kyoto Station, so getting around was easy.

The room was clean, comfortable, and had a thoughtful layout. It felt a bit more like a boutique hotel than a typical business one, which I appreciated. One especially convenient feature was the washer/dryer combo unit in the room. It made it easy to do laundry without needing to leave or share facilities, which was a huge plus for me on a longer trip. The staff were helpful, spoke English, and check-in was smooth.

One thing I really liked was the bath and shower setup. It was a walk-in design with the shower and bathtub next to each other, in the traditional Japanese style. You shower off before soaking in the tub. I had been considering visiting an onsen during my trip, but I ran out of time. This setup made a good substitute for relaxing at the end of the day.

The hotel also offers breakfast for ¥2,200 per person. It’s not included in the room rate, and you need to reserve it by 8:00 p.m. the night before. Breakfast included a main dish (like a panini or soup with bread), yogurt with homemade granola, a fruit drink, and access to a mini buffet with salad, scrambled eggs, sausages, baked goods, and drinks. It was a good way to start the day.

Nearby, I visited AEON Mall Kyoto, which is within walking distance of the hotel. I mostly wandered around without buying anything, but I liked having the option to explore. There’s a 7-Eleven inside the mall that I stopped into a few times, and I also grabbed a meal at the McDonald’s there. It hit the spot and gave me a bit of comfort food in the middle of the trip.

There’s not a ton happening immediately around the hotel, but there are convenience stores and a few restaurants within walking distance, which worked well for me. It was nice to be somewhere that felt a little removed from the crowds.

Overall, I’d definitely stay here again, especially if you want to be near the station without being right in the...

I almost didn’t want to leave a review, I’m fear that if this hidden gem were more widely discovered, I may have difficulty booking it again for my next trip!

The hotel is conveniently located within minutes from Kyoto station. It is a short walk once you get your bearings and know where you are going. The main entrance can be a bit difficult to locate as it is down a small alleyway. If you aren’t familiar with Kyoto, it might seem unnerving at first, but many streets are like that, and there is enough foot traffic and lighting at night that it still feels quite safe.

The room was extremely quiet, it was clean, spacious and of modern design. The room had a washer/dryer combo and a small kitchenette. There was limited space to sit, and the single window basically faced the back of another building inches away. The wall outside the window was decorated it a nice “stone zen garden” kind of way.

With the lights off, this room was dark and quiet, which is exactly what I want in a place I plan to sleep. The air conditioner was quiet and worked great. The hotel is extremely close to many restaurants and public transportation. They staff were friendly, helpful and quick to respond to requests. They also spoke excellent English. I would not hesitate to...