TSUKIMI HOTEL — Hotel in Kyoto

Not sure if this counts as a capsule hotel in the original sense of the word but I definitely booked it with that expectation. I stayed here 2 nights and I had a good time.

Location was a little distance from the main train station (if you’re coming from Osaka), which is walkable. It is in the Gion district, and is just a few streets from the geiko and maiko area. Pontocho, which is a happening area, sits about midway between the hotel and the Hankyu Kyoto-Kawaramachi station.

The hotel was very clean and the white, minimalist theme added to it. Staff was really friendly, and spoke great English, but if for some reason you missed their explanations, the rules of the hotel was also visibly pasted in many places. They will also send you instructions on your social media on check-in for some instructions, like how to enter after business hours. There is also a cafe that looked really good (saw customers here who didn’t stay in the hotel), but alas I did not have a chance to try.

The dormitory itself was really good! There is an area with huge lockers (no need for padlocks, free) before you can enter the door to either the capsules or showers/toilets. A tip is to just keep all your toiletries and belongings in the area outside of the capsules. This way you don’t have to fumble and be noisy whenever you want to take a shower or whatever. For some reason I forgot to do that on my first night and it was not as comfortable.

Within the capsule, there is plenty of space, I would say about 1.5 times that of a single bed. There’s lights, plugs, even a switch to turn on the ventilation and a small safe for valuables.

The amenities were also neatly placed in a cloth tote bag which was a really nice touch. Bathrooms were spacious!

Honestly, best capsule experience I could...

Tsukimi Hotel was a nice hostel overall.

First it's in a good location. It's on the east side of Kyoto close to a lot of attractions. It was an easy bus ride away from Kyoto Station.

The rooms had cubby-style bunk beds that were very cozy to sleep in, with a nice privacy curtain that blocked out a lot of light. There were also lockers for safe storage of possessions, as well as a luggage storage area on the same floor as your bed.

The rooftop was extremely nice. You have a fantastic view of the nearby shrines and pagodas, and the sunset view is phenomenal.

The staff were very friendly. They always greeted me when I came in and when I left. It was a small detail but I really appreciated it.

They advertise that they have a "cafe" but it's really just the employee working who will serve you a pastry or drink. They have a "bar" but I thought it was overpriced and not very good. If you want a drink, walk down the street to Lawson and get a beer for 1/3 the cost of what the hostel charges, then drink it on the rooftop while you watch the sunset.

There is laundry but it's located on the roof. Not ideal if the weather isn't good. You also have to buy laundry detergent from the staff on the first floor.

This isn't the hostel's fault, but this part of Kyoto gets really sleepy at night so there isn't much to do when the sun sets. I ended up going to bed early every night when I was staying here which was fine, but I don't think I would have enjoyed it for more than a few nights.

Overall it's a good spot if you want to see the cultural sites of Kyoto. But if you stay more than 3 nights you will probably be bored unless you are trying...

This was the PERFECT stay! Check-in was easy, the staff has very good english and is there to answer any questions for you. Please note: if you book online, you will have a small fee to pay at the counter. it's the city tax, i was explained, and it's not billed with the standard booking. Dont fret! It's not some insane amount of money. In my case, it was only ¥200 (less than $2 USD). I also really liked that on your bed is an amenity bag (pictured above).

The amenities were sleek, modern, and very clean. As a matter of fact, the whole place is almost impecably clean! Every time i was in the lobby, I always saw at least one staff member cleaning. The place is very secure, i felt completely safe during my stay. As far as luggage storage, you are provided a locker to put your things in! You set your own code on it, the instructions are on the locker. It is very spacious! I was carrying 2 full size backpacks and a mini backpack, and i still had room for more. If you have a suitcase, there is space next to the lockers for you to place it.

The only "issue" i would say is that right when you get off of the elevator, there is a smell of cigarettes. As a smoker, i dont mind. it is isolated to only the room with the elevator, and i think it's because just below that area is the smoking room. But again, this isn't a bother! Once you open the door to the bathroom, the smell is completely gone. That's also true for the room with the beds. Just wanted to let anyone know so there are no surprises!

Overall, I will 100% stay here again whenever I return to Kyoto. This place was all i could ever ask for and more....