Kyo no Yado en — Hotel in Kyoto

We booked this room for two nights during prime time Cherry Blossom season. It’s basically like an small apartment building. This place is huge by Japanese standards. We booked the room with two twins. It has a small kitchenette with burners, a kitchen sink and a hot water kettle. The shower and tub area were enormous toiletries included. Yasada San was there to check us in when we arrived. He showed us how to get into the building, into our room and showed us everything inside our room and how to use it. You must remove your shoes when entering the room just like a real Japanese home. ||The location is right in the heart of the Hagashiyama District. It can be very crowded during the day with tour buses and crowds. In fact when we arrived by train around 4pm our taxi could only take us to the bottom of the hill that the hotel was on. It was only a short 5 minute walk but would’ve taken 30 minutes with the taxi fighting tour bus traffic. It’s a steep hill and down a quiet side street. The beauty of the location is if you wake up early you have the whole district and nearby temple all to yourself for pictures because the tourists haven’t arrived yet!||Yasada San was great but don’t tell him you don’t drink tea because he might die of...

Liked this place on many fronts. First, we were greeted by a very upbeat host, Yutaka, who went that extra mile to help settle us in. Second, the location was just minutes walking to the Kiyomizu-dera Temple, Yasaka Pagoda and surrounding areas. Lastly the accommodation (Deluxe room) was exactly per the hotel's excellent web page, clean, well equipped and thought out with a very nice ambience (after 6pm the area is very quiet). We really enjoyed the accommodation, surrounding area and Kyoto with the Kinkaku-ji Temple (Golden Pavilion) a real hi-light of our overall Japanese experience.

Only minor issues were, difficult finding the bus going in the right direction at the railway station to the accommodation, so hopped off and got a taxi. The ill-positioned TV was damaged (working but flickering) and, as a suggestion, should be relocated to a different wall. Lastly, getting taxi's to depart during the day can prove difficult as they are only allowed to drop off normally with all the tourism going on, just keep...

By far the best stay we had in Japan. The rooms were spacious, clean and new. The facilities are complete, with a washing machine with dryer, a kitchen and a well-designed bathroom. We had a really pleasant stay as a family of three. Location-wise, we enjoyed waking up to the most beautiful part of Kyoto (Kiyomizu-dera and surroundings all within walking distances). Yes it is a little far from the train station but we’ve had no problem with local buses. So many great eateries around too. Oh did I forget to mention the lovely host Yutaka? He was full of energy and always eager to provide help and local suggestions for food and what to see around town. If we are back in Kyoto one day, we will be coming...