Kyoto Itoya Hotel — Hotel in Kyoto

I stayed here a little over 2 weeks ago. Let me make this clear to all the potential travelers- this is a very basic hotel with no special amenities aka no pool, sauna, grand lobby, etc. The fixings are well-maintained and mostly modern: think classic and simple. I traveled with two other guests so it was difficult to find a hotel that wouldn't make us purchase another room. We were booked into a corner room because I suppose that's where all the triples end up.

The room itself was pretty cramped; the single beds were pushed against each other, and there was no space to open more than 2 pieces of luggage on the desk and small seating area that was provided. I would not suggest staying here if you have 3 people in your party. I glanced into one of the regular rooms that was getting cleaned, and immediately saw a difference.

The bathroom vanity and shower area were separated from the toilet room. Logistically, a very good idea. As you'll find in your travels, the Japanese are a very efficient people. You will be provided with essentials like 3 large bottles of shampoo, conditioner, and body wash, disposable shavers, combs, toothbrushes, etc. These will be replaced daily along with slippers.

The hotel itself is in an OK location. It is about a 10 minute walk to where the stretch of restaurants and the large mall is located. The taxis run about $6 as a start fee and shouldn't cost more to get back to the hotel. I would have preferred to stay closer to the action, even with the 24 hour grocery stores nearby.

The staff speak little to no English; I used basic conversational English and only one knew enough English to communicate with me. If you ask for attractions, the front desk lady will be able to tell you where the hotel is, what bus you'll be taking, etc. If you ask her where to eat, she will hand you a list of restaurants including the address and price point. But beyond that, don't expect too much.

What I'm trying to say is, you'll get by. Kyoto is more tourist friendly than Tokyo is, and there are many more people who speak English.

We overpaid for the hotel because we are too darn spontaneous for our own good. The rate should have been about $150; don't pay more if you don't have to. The stay was pleasant because the staff was attentive and welcoming, and the rooms were cleaned well. If you keep your expectations in check and don't pay more than it's worth, then you'll enjoy your...

Being in Kyoto for a long stay, it was important to find a hotel close to transportation at a reasonable price. Kyoto Itoya Hotel exceeded our expectations! During our stay our room was clean with towels replaced daily. We appreciated the bathroom space with separate shower area (Japan style) and bath for relaxing after a long day of walking. The room is small but there was plenty of space. The bed was comfortable and the amenities as well as refrigerator were nice. There is no view which didnʻt matter to us. We also very much liked that the room was warm as Kyoto was chilly. To this review, weʻd like to add that the main desk staff was always helpful and ready to our questions. As we were there on the day of the recent earthquake in Ishikawa area, it was good that they could help our understanding of the news. We would also like to say that the folks who clean the rooms do an excellent job and in our interactions completely courteous and helpful. There is a breakfast and "lounge" area but we did not use it. If you are looking for a well-located, clean hotel central to transport with a positive staff, this might be the...

We’re leaving Kyoto today after 5 nights at this gem of a hotel. A 700Y cab ride from Kyoto station and a 10 min walk from the market and shopping area, this is brilliantly placed. At under 100€ a night for a modern, clean and well presented property it’s also excellent value for money. The staff are lovely and accommodated all our requests with efficiency and precision. |There are a number of coffee shops inside a 3 min walk to take a cheap breakfast - we especially liked Caffe Veloce. |The room is small but big enough for our stay. The bed is a 1.6m and very comfortable. The air con has multiple settings - we preferred the dry setting to keep the moisture from the air but not dry us out as much as aircon. At night the unit was near silent. The bathroom is a modern typical Japanese style. The shower had great water pressure. |All in all if you want a great experience for a very reasonable price take a cab ride or 20 min walk from Kyoto station to this place. You’ll not be...