Urban Hotel Kyoto Nijo Premium — Restaurant in Kyoto

I recently stayed at this hotel during my trip to Kyoto and wanted to share a few points that might be helpful for future visitors—especially regarding the location.

At first, I mistakenly thought the hotel was closer to Kyoto Station. It’s actually not within walking distance; you’ll need to take a metro or a bus ride of about 10 to 30minutes. Walking would take more than an hour, so if you’re arriving in the morning and planning a full day of sightseeing, I highly recommend getting a day pass for public transportation. Just a heads-up: it’s not valid for JR lines, but still well worth it. The hotel conveniently sells the day passes, so you don’t need to go to a station to buy one.

The hotel is in a centrally located area with a bus stop just around the corner, which is especially helpful. It’s also quite close to Nijo Castle, which was a nice bonus.

If you’re traveling with a large family, you could easily sort out lunch and dinner either from the hotel or nearby options—depending on your preferences and how you manage meals. Personally, I appreciated the access to two great supermarkets nearby. One is Life, where you can find almost everything, and the other is Co-op, which we also have in Tokyo—but I found this Kyoto location to be better in quality and pricing. Both are excellent for picking up breakfast, lunch, or dinner at a reasonable cost.

There’s also a pharmacy-type store close by that stocks a variety of daily items including cosmetics and general necessities, which adds to the convenience.

The hotel itself has a public hot bath (more like a sento than a traditional onsen), and I really enjoyed it after a long day of walking. If it’s your first time and you feel shy, I recommend going in the middle of the day when it’s less crowded—nighttimes tend to be busier.

Other nice touches include complimentary coffee and water in the lobby. My room was spacious for a solo traveler—I had two beds, even though I only needed one. The staff was always helpful and welcoming, which made the stay feel warm and easy.

All in all, it was a good experience. That said, next time I visit Kyoto, I might choose a hotel closer to the Gion area just for easier access to the sights I’m most interested in—but of course, that area is generally more expensive. So if you’re looking for convenience, helpful amenities, friendly staff, and easy access to affordable, high-quality food options, this hotel is a...

This place is a few blocks away from Nijo JR station and a Y2000+ taxi ride from Kyoto station. There's also a subway station nearby. ||I wasn't in Japan as a tourist, but I don't think that its location is all that convenient to tourist attractions. Plus it's not really a restaurant district, but there are some decent places mostly in the vicinity of Nijo station. ||On arrival, I was delayed and concerned that my booking might be cancelled as a no-show. I called the hotel and they were most helpful, reassuring me that I could check in 24/7. As it was, I checked in after midnight, and there were no problems. ||My room was small but well equipped. The double bed was comfortable enough for my 4 night stay. There wasn't much of a view – it looked out onto the building next door. Like a lot of more recent business hotels in Japan, there was no bath, just a rain shower. ||There were breakfast and lunch buffets, but I didn't try either. A Y400 or Y450 breakfast was available at several coffee shops near Nijo station, and for lunch I visited local restaurants with family. Family members who had previously tried the lunch buffet said they'd been underwhelmed by its value for money. ||As far as my stay was concerned, I was happy with my room, enjoyed the service, and...

This place is a few blocks away from Nijo JR station and a Y2000+ taxi ride from Kyoto station. There's also a subway station nearby. ||I wasn't in Japan as a tourist, but I don't think that its location is all that convenient to tourist attractions. Plus it's not really a restaurant district, but there are some decent places mostly in the vicinity of Nijo station. ||On arrival, I was delayed and concerned that my booking might be cancelled as a no-show. I called the hotel and they were most helpful, reassuring me that I could check in 24/7. As it was, I checked in after midnight, and there were no problems. ||My room was small but well equipped. The double bed was comfortable enough for my 4 night stay. There wasn't much of a view – it looked out onto the building next door. Like a lot of more recent business hotels in Japan, there was no bath, just a rain shower. ||There were breakfast and lunch buffets, but I didn't try either. A Y400 or Y450 breakfast was available at several coffee shops near Nijo station, and for lunch I visited local restaurants with family. Family members who had previously tried the lunch buffet said they'd been underwhelmed by its value for money. ||As far as my stay was concerned, I was happy with my room, enjoyed the service, and...