Gion Oyado Kikutani — Local services in Kyoto

Wonderful rooms. Beautifully remodeled and convenient located.

The staff could be a little more helpful when it comes to local knowledge for travelers.

Example 1: Q: Where do I do laundry? Do you have laundry service? A: We don't have laundry service. Q: Is there a washer I can use on my own? A: We don't have a washer here? Q: Is there a coin laundry around here? A: There used to be but it's currently being remodeled. Q: Is there a coin laundry or laundry pickup service anywhere in this city that you can recommend I use? A: Oh, I don't know about that.

Example 2: Q: Checkout time is at 10 and my train leaves at 3. Where can I store my luggage? A: I don't know. Q: Then can you recommend a private car service that can take use around while holding our luggage? A: We don't know about any of those.

Again, the facilities and location were wonderful. The staff were very kind. I would appreciate more proactiveness and support with local knowledge...

This hotel is smack dab in the middle of Gion, just down the block from the Yasaka-Jinja Shrine and a 15-minute walk to Kiyomizu-dera, which helps to get there early before the crowds. The property is marked as a "ryokan" but be aware it does not have an onsen or spa component - just the bathtub with a view into a small outdoor atrium.

We stayed in the Akane room which was quite spacious albeit not particularly modern. We were served a traditional Japanese breakfast on the first day and provided a breakfast voucher for Maeda Coffee on the second day. Contrary to some of the other reviews, I didn't think the breakfast voucher was an issue, although I can imagine it being inconvenient if you wanted to go later in the day as Maeda Coffee is right across from the Kokuji Temple and gets crowded early (we showed up at 7:10 just after they...

This is not a ryokan. It's a hotel that has beautiful rooms which are great value for money. I really enjoyed the scenery from the room and the beautiful automated bathtub with a garden view.

However, don't expect great hospitality like a ryokan, although the staff will help you with most of your requests. The breakfast is either a bento or coupons for Maeda coffeeshop, which isn't great. You can't choose. The WIFI is also bad and I could hardly get a connection in my room.

In addition, after booking and paying for my room, I was told that the hotel will close on the day I check out so they cannot keep my luggage for me. I wasn't expecting that.

If you can live with all that, I would still say this is a great value for...