Hotel Emion KYŌTO — Hotel in Kyoto

We stayed at this hotel for 7 days and 6 nights during our trip to Kyoto. I couldn't have chosen the best hotel for our family of 4. The hotel is really spacious, and the staff are very kind and obliging. ||First, the location is very easy to get, especially with Lugagge. From the Kyoto station, you will take "Sanin Line" for one stop to "Kyoto Nishi-Umekoji" station. When you exit the station, after the turnstyles, turn right (not left onto the Kyoto Umejoki park). You will see a set of elevator right away that will lead to the bridge that cross the street. This bridge will lead you directly to the Hotel Emion Kyoto entrance at level 2. It looks like a little department stores with restaurants around you. Take an escalator/elevator up one more level to level 3 and that's where the receptionist is.||Second, the facilities. This hotel has sentou/public bath just for hotel guests in the 3rd floor. It is the best since you can practically use it at any time. None of our family has tattoo but if you do, this is also the best chance for you to enjoy a public bath, again since it is privately owned by a hotel (please check with hotel receptionist first if your tattoo are large/visible -- most hotels nowadays accept what they called "fashion tattoo"). Besides a public bath, there are numerous restaurants at the same building as the hotel, as is a kimono rental facility. Also, just a short walk from the hotel is the Kyoto Fish market, aka the Toyosu/Tsukiji version of Kyoto!!!) Just across the market, there's a sushi restaurant -- we went in there one day for a very fresh sushi!||Third, this part of Kyoto is not at all touristy. This area is mostly residential and sleepy. As you can imagine, you'll stumble upon moms-pops shops and restaurants and the prices are more affordable than any other part of Kyoto. However -- you need to be able to speak a little Japanese, be polite and kind -- as you would in any other part of the world --- as this part of Kyoto as I said is very residential and not touristy, many are not used to tourists. We found many gems of little neighborhood shops that sells fresh udons, served by the mom who cooked in the kitchen and the daughter who served out front, or a "Michelin-starred" small ramen shop just next to 7/11 nextdoor. Just walk a further down, you'll see smaller bakeries, groceries, etc. We love just exploring this little neighborhood, including the very local-loved Umekoji Park just across the street.||Finally, if your children are into trains, the Kyoto Train Museum is just a few steps away from the Umekoji-Kyotonishi station. This location is literally the gem!! We were able to get into the museum when there were practically no line whatsoever, go back to the hotel to rest, and continue on the rest of our day. ||Laundry facility onsite can be full, but you can track the laundry machine's availability via the hotel's TV channel (!!yes!) and just go down when a machine is free. There were also a group of students doing a field trip, I didn't hear a peep from them.||All in all, this is an excellent hotel, excellent neighborhood for the price. We will definitely stay here again when we...

PROS: i loved this hotel. they provide robes and slippers for you to go to down to the onsen with. they have skincare and hair drying station with lotion, face wash, and hairdryer provided at the onsen. this was my first time going to an onsen and it was so relaxing after walking 30K steps a day. it was something i looked towards to. it is well maintained and clean. the amenities they provided are really good quality (face lotion, face wash, shampoo). some hotels have shampoo that leave my hair feeling weird but this hotel’s shampoo didn’t. the hotel looked very updated and modern. the train station is almost basically connected to the hotel- 5 min walk. this made the commute super easy. there’s a 7/11 right next to the hotel. this room was more spacious than my room in tokyo and osaka (maybe also because I booked 2 beds instead of 1). i really liked the layout of this room- the lighting in the room was great (big window). i liked the bathroom, there was no bathtub but there are 2 shower heads and the shower is separated from the toilet. the lighting in the bathroom from the mirror is AMAZING. so convenient to do my makeup there (ik it seems like smt silly and small but at the other hotels i stayed at in japan didn’t have good lighting or makeup mirrors that were easy to use & made it very overstimulating for me). if i come back to japan i will be staying here again. they also provide 2 complementary water bottles everyday. my bf and I arrived to the hotel super early before check-in and was planning on having them hold our luggage and check in later but they had a room ready for us already and let us check in very early. you can ask the front desk if you want to weigh your luggage.

Cons: these aren’t really cons but things to note-the signs to the lobby are not shown when you enter the building and was hard to find when we were trying to check-in. the lobby is on the third floor and is connected to a little shopping/dining center (which we accidentally walked into and couldn’t find the lobby). they provide a ticket for 1 free coffee but the cafe is closed on tuesday and wednesday’s when we were there. they also open late and as someone traveling/exploring we woke up early (6am) and came back late so did not get to use this. this isn’t a major issue but just...

Review Title: Exceptional Stay in Kyoto – Comfort, Convenience & Luxury Combined

I recently stayed at what I can confidently say is one of the best hotels in Kyoto. From the moment I checked in, everything exceeded my expectations.

Room & Comfort: The room size was exceptionally spacious by Japanese standards, offering more than enough room to relax after a day of sightseeing. The bed and mattress were high-quality, providing excellent support and a restful night’s sleep.

Amenities: The attention to detail in amenities was top-notch. The room came fully stocked with everything you could possibly need: razor, Q-tips, wash cloth, hairbrush, toothbrush with toothpaste, facial soap, lotion, moisturizer, and of course, the standard shampoo, conditioner, and body wash. It’s rare to find such a complete set without having to request extras.

Location: The hotel is in a prime location, just a short walk from the train station and conveniently close to a 7-Eleven – perfect for quick snacks or essentials.

Onsen Experience: One of the highlights of the stay was the onsen onsite. It had a peaceful, clean atmosphere with separate male and female sections, and it was equipped with all the necessities, allowing you to fully enjoy the experience without needing to bring a thing.

Dining: The Japanese buffet was phenomenal. Every dish was flavorful and beautifully presented. A perfect way to experience local cuisine in a comfortable setting.

⸻

Final Verdict: If you’re looking for a comfortable, well-located, and amenity-rich hotel in Kyoto that combines traditional relaxation with modern convenience, this is it. I wouldn’t hesitate to stay here again and highly recommend...