GRAND JAPANING HOTEL Karasuma Gojo

Pretty central, about five minutes from the metro, and good value for the money. The room is very small, though that seems in line with Kyoto. They only clean it once every three days, which is really inconvenient.

For me, this was the best room of our whole Japan trip. It’s quite spacious by local standards, has every comfort, and was genuinely quiet and comfortable. I think it would work really well for a medium or long stay. The hotel is absolutely beautiful, and I’ll definitely come back. The staff are kind, and reception is always available, though sometimes no one is standing at the counter. They give you a code to open the door, which makes coming and going convenient and independent. There’s luggage storage inside, coin-operated laundry, and a machine at reception for exchanging money. Everything was perfect.

I came with my 10-year-old twin daughters, and the room was spacious enough for each of us to have a bed. The room itself was great. The front desk has set hours, but staff weren’t always there during those times. They were nice when present. The laundry setup is limited, and there’s no way to get change. The hotel isn’t near a major street, which made it difficult to get transport to anywhere.

We barely heard other rooms or the hallway during our whole stay, despite what some reviews said. It was peaceful, which we appreciated after long days out. The rooms are surprisingly roomy by Japanese hotel standards, with space for luggage and moving around. Laundry machines were almost always available, and we never had to wait long for the elevator either. It was great value for the price. The location is convenient, the facilities are well maintained, and the comfort compares with more expensive hotels. There’s also an on-site smoking room, which was a nice extra. The staff were so kind and helpful, always greeting us with a smile. We had a fantastic stay and would happily return.