Gion Hanna STAY

I stayed one night and would definitely come back. The location and price were great, and everything else was amazing. My only reason for not giving five stars is that the appliances, especially the AC and washing machine, smelled musty, so I didn’t use them. For a longer stay, having a kitchenette and a decent-sized fridge would be a big plus. As a solo female traveler, I felt safe with the hotel’s security measures. Japan is very safe anyway, but it was still nice to have that reassurance.

In Gion, with great restaurants nearby and many must-see shrines just a quick train or bus ride away, this apartment-style hotel is in a great spot. The room was comfortable and convenient, with a stove, mid-size fridge, and basic utensils and cookware. The all-in-one washer and dryer in the room was handy, taking 3-5 hours to wash and dry. It’s a bit loud, though, so it’s better to run it during the day while you’re out.

The area was good, the place felt lovely and new, and the staff were lovely too. The beds are on the firm side, but still very comfortable, with good-quality linen. We were very happy with our choice.

I was surprised this apartment hotel had a kitchen and washing machine, which was really handy since I needed to wash clothes often in the summer. The toilet has a heater that can dry clothes overnight. The room and the large toilet were both spacious and clean, and the Gion location was great, quite near the station. The receptionist was nice and lent me his phone when I needed to call the airline. The downside was the bed, which was super hard, and the air conditioning wouldn’t go very low, a problem in summer. Still, it was good value for what I paid, £56 for three people.