HALE Kyoto Tambaguchi

The rooms were lovely, clean, and comfortable, with very nice showers. It’s in a quiet neighborhood that’s great for a relaxing walk in the morning or evening. I especially liked that the TV wasn’t locked, so we could play our own media easily. The door seemed rather thin, and quite a bit of sound came through, especially since we were on the lobby level. We got used to it. We’ll probably stay here again on our next Kyoto visit. Thanks to the HALE staff for their work!

A man I didn’t recognize came into our room while we were asleep on one of our three nights. The hotel had given him access. I’m still waiting for an explanation, and we got no answer at checkout because the same receptionist was there. I’ve emailed the hotel and contacted them on Instagram, but haven’t heard back. If you’re looking for a hotel with no security, this is the place. Check-in was also extremely difficult. I know there can be a language barrier for foreigners, but the receptionist didn’t speak English and didn’t even greet us with a smile. She just said to pay and showed us a calculator, without asking our names or for our booking details. We had to go back and forth using Google Translate when she charged us extra for city tax that we hadn’t known about. After 30 minutes, she called someone from the back who spoke English. That person had been there from the beginning, so I don’t understand why they didn’t help straight away and save both her and us the time. Don’t book this hotel.

It’s in a great spot, and the rooms are very quiet. There’s very little guest contact, so don’t expect concierge service. Some excellent places to eat and a wonderful onsen are only a short walk away.

A small, totally amazing hotel with everything I needed and none of the extras I didn’t. They supplied fresh towels and water every day, and it’s close to Tanbaguchi station.