Four Points Flex by Sheraton Kyoto Oike

We ended up booking Four Point Flex Kyoto after leaving it late to find a place in Kyoto. The small rooms were cozy for us, and paying less than we would have for a single room elsewhere got us two rooms instead. It’s less than a 10-minute walk to the nearest train station. Shopping areas, Pontoncho, and Gion are also nearby on foot, while Arashiyama is a short train ride away for the bamboo forest and Shinto temples. Nara is quick to reach by express train, Tokyo takes a little over two hours by bullet train, and Osaka is also a short ride away. The hotel was spotless, the beds and pillows were very comfortable, and the body wash, shampoo, and conditioner were good quality. The hair dryer was pretty good for a hotel one, too. Staff were sweet and friendly. There are laundry machines on site and purified water coolers on every floor. The restaurant only serves breakfast, but it’s quite good. For what the rooms lack in size, it makes up for in the rest. I can’t say enough good things about Four Points in Kyoto, and I’d highly recommend staying here.

There’s no in-room amenities, but you can pick them up in the lobby. The front desk staff speak perfect English, so communication was easy. Transit is convenient, with both subway and bus access nearby. By American standards the room isn’t “spaciou,” but it’s definitely roomy compared with other Japanese hotel rooms. It’s a western hotel that fits its surroundings really well and shows great respect for the traditional Japanese environment.

The staff were quite nice and attentive, and the hotel is a couple of minutes from a subway station that can take you around the city. The shower head was outstanding, maybe the best I’ve ever used. Those were about the only bright spots for me. The room measured just 8 feet x 10 feet, about 2 meters x 3 meters. We were shocked when we walked in, and with more than one bag there’s barely room. My wife said it felt like a “flop house” or a pay-by-the-hour hotel. It had no service at all, and toiletries were left on a table in the lobby, more like a place below hostel level. The tub and shower floor was stained and filthy. My wife didn’t want to get in at first. Sorry to be so negative, but this was a total mistake for us and I’ll never book it again. Maybe it would’ve been fine if I were 18 and backpacking through Japan, but not for anyone else.

The garden is beautiful, and the hotel is clean, nicely located, and staffed by kind, helpful people. The rooms aren’t especially spacious, though they’re bigger than APA hotels. The laundry room could use more machines. With only two washer-dryer machines for all the guests, getting a chance to use them is difficult, and a full wash and dry cycle takes quite a while.