Hotel Excellence Enmachi Ekimae

The staff were very kind, but my room could have been cleaner. When I set my suitcase on the floor, I noticed dust sticking to it from the carpet. Breakfast was free, though it was only bread and instant ramen, nothing special.

The room’s size was the hardest part. It was tiny even by Japanese standards, with no closet, cabinets, or other storage. We shoved our things under the bed and still barely had room to move. The bathroom felt just as cramped: stepping out of the tub put you almost on top of the toilet, with little space to dry off or get dressed. It became a bit overwhelming after a while. For one person it might work, or for a couple staying just a few nights. The location is a real plus. There’s a train station right next door, several bus stops nearby for trips around Kyoto in under 30 minutes, and plenty of restaurants, shops, and convenience stores. Our room was clean, towels were replaced each morning, and they let us leave luggage before check-in and after check-out.

The room was clean and comfortable, and the price was fairly low. Beyond that, the stay felt pretty unpleasant. Service was poor, with staff who weren’t helpful and left us waiting a long time. That didn’t feel like the usual Japanese hospitality. Check-in is at 4, checkout at 10, and breakfast finishes at 9. Signs around the hotel warned guests not to steal in a vaguely aggressive way. The room-cleaning policy was odd too. After checkout, bags can be left in the outdoor dining area, basically out on the street, and the hotel takes no responsibility if anything is stolen. The only excellence here is in the name. I’d keep expectations very low or look elsewhere.

A really good ramen place is close by, and getting around is easy with bus stops and the metro nearby. The room was very clean and comfortable, and staff brought fresh towels every day. Check-in and checkout were straightforward, and breakfast was free. The room felt small for the price, though, and the Wi-Fi was really bad.