APA Hotel Kyoto Ekimae

The bathroom fixtures need serious maintenance. The showerhead seal leaked badly, the sink tap shut itself off, and the basin drained so slowly it took ages to empty. I’d asked for a double bed, but the receptionist suggested a single would give me more space. My room, 714, didn’t have the under-bed storage shown on the TV for some rooms, so it felt cramped. Under-bed storage would be very practical. I liked the occasional sound of trains passing, and the hotel is close to the train and bus stations. The room staff were friendly, professional, and hardworking.

The location is the reason I’d stay here again. Kyoto Station is right beside the building, so you don’t even need to cross the main road. The receptionists were helpful, especially when I needed help with takkyubin, and they brought fresh towels each morning. My room was compact but fine for one person. The shower was low and small, so I had to duck and use the removable showerhead. At about 5'5", I nearly hit my head on the ceiling, and I can’t imagine a taller person being comfortable. The shower and sink drains were slow too. Laundry was a hassle. There are just two machines, each load takes 2hrs, and it costs 700 yen. Even after a cleaning cycle, the washer stank and left my dry clothes smelling funky, almost as if they’d only been rinsed with water. I’ve used the exact same machine in other hotels for much less, and my laundry came out smelling clean. I hope staff look into it. Other guests often left their laundry in past the end of the cycle, though receptionists helped by removing it.

I really missed this place at the hotels that came after it. The rooms were a reasonable size for Japan, and the buffet breakfast had a big dining area that made the experience stand out. It was our favourite hotel of the trip.

Management was professional. There’s enough space to leave luggage before check-in or after checkout, and a shared area has a washing machine and microwave. The room and toilet were small, but clean.