insomnia KYOTO OIKE — Hotel in Kyoto

I stayed here recently for two nights during a tour through Japan and I cannot recommend this hotel strongly enough.

There are so many little touches and features that made it a joy to experience. The rooms are quiet, comfortable and clean, but best of all the beds have the right level of firmness - not too soft like many hotel beds can be. My room was spotlessly clean. A very comfortable pair of pyjamas and slippers was provided in the room. The bathroom has the best shower I've ever used. There is a lounge area in the lobby that is open 24 hours per day for free snacks/non-alcoholic drinks, as well as very reasonably priced wine and beer. Also available in the lounge is a library of board games and books for guests to use during their stay.

The location couldn't be better - right in the centre of Kyoto, near the subway station where the metro system's two lines intersect, which means that about 30 seconds walking will get you access to much of the city without changing lines. If you want or need to go further afield, it's easy to switch to the JR service from the metro in only a few stops, or you could borrow one of the hotel's free rental bikes, which is how I travelled to/from Arashiyama (this takes about 45 minutes each way). And on foot it is a very short walk to major attractions like the Manga museum.

I was only in Kyoto for 2 days but if I had longer I would have very happily spent more...

We absolutely adored this hotel! My husband and I stayed 8 nights here in Kyoto and were a bit nervous about staying so long in one location but we needn’t have worried. The location is perfect! Located on a very quiet street but so close to a train station and local buses leave right around the corner. It was easy to get around to key attractions and walking distance to many places. The hotel offers free bikes (the perfect way to see the city). Across the road is a beautiful shopping complex with many great restaurants. Some incredible backstreets with more restaurants and bakeries surrounding. The quiet street made for peaceful nights, we never heard hotel guests beside or above us. The staff are incredible, helpful and kind, speaking english and helping us with takkyubin. The whole experience was bliss - from the gorgeous traditional Japanese facade to the cosy entry, reception, lounge area and library with free pastries, tea, juice and treats. I loved listening to the turntable and often the staff chose energising music for mornings to send everyone off for the day and calming music at night. The room was clean, modern, beautifully yet minimally decorated, with the perfect layout. We did washing in the laundry downstairs. I can’t fault it. We can’t wait...

Best hotel I stayed in while in Japan! This very modern, nicely designed hotel features a living/sleeping area that is a bit tiny but has a very convenient bathroom arrangement.

It's just around the corner from Karasuma Oike Station, with plenty of grocery shops and café options nearby. I found the location convenient for exploring all areas of Kyoto.

The welcoming staff and the all-day snack/drink area in the lobby, where you can grab a drink or pastry, were fantastic. This hotel also offers free bike hire.

The only thing I found a bit odd was that I had a couple of nights booked, and then my plans changed, so I added one more night at a slightly higher rate than the others. Ahead of my arrival, I requested to stay in one room throughout my stay, even though two separate bookings were made. I was asked to pay 1000 yen for this, which I did since it's not much at all. However, it would have been nicer if they didn't request this charge, as it would have been more convenient for both the guest and the hotel since they didn't need to clear the room. Just found it a bit funny.

Overall I highly recommend this reasonably priced...