Enmachiya

Getting checked in was easy, and the house was cozy and fairly clean. The shopping street was a bit far, though. I took the bus to Takashimaya, which took about 30 minutes. It’s a good place if you want a room with easy access between Arashiyama and Giont.

It’s only a stone’s throw from a small temple worth visiting. The hotel seems to run on its own, so don’t expect to meet a receptionist or employee. The facilities are pretty decent, but there’s no microwave. My room wasn’t cleaned during my seven-day stay, and toiletries were provided only once, so I had to buy more. I also had to wash the towels myself. If you’re wondering how to switch on the refrigerator and water heater, have a look at my photo below.

We were nervous coming in because there weren’t any reviews, but it turned out great. The facilities are new, the rooms are quite big for Japan, and the beds are SO comfortable. There’s a big shower and toilet, it’s in a really quiet part of the city, and it’s a five-minute walk to the JR station. The confusing part was that there wasn’t anyone there to talk to, and it didn’t seem like anyone worked on site. We also weren’t offered room cleaning during our five-day stay. If you’re after something cheap but good, another sky is a great option.

The room was a decent size for Japan, and it’s a seven-minute walk to the JR Station. But there was no microwave or washing machine, even though Agoda said a washing machine was available. The refrigerator barely worked, so food put inside was no different from leaving it out. There were no cups, meaning we had to buy one just to brush our teeth, and no table or other surface to put things on. Hotel staff refused to address these problems.