Host.a Umekoji Akari

The room was spacious, charming, and really comfortable. A small bakery a 2-3 minute walk away opens at 7 am, and we got breakfast there. Everything was delicious, so I'd recommend it. Still, the cleaning wasn't thorough, even though things looked clean at first glance, as others have mentioned. The washing machine's lint filter was packed with hair and dust and had black mold. Both humidifiers were too dirty to use: one tank had black mold, and its filter was dusty. The electrolyte tablets required by the instructions were gone and hadn't been replaced. We were there in late November, and it was cold. We ran the air conditioner, but without the humidifiers the room got very dry and gave us sore throats. The wooden building was slow to warm up even with the heat blasting, especially downstairs, which never really got warm. It may not work well in midwinter. There were three of us, but towels, yukata, and other amenities were set out for only two.

The room had plenty of space, and the staff member who brought fresh towels midway through my stay was very pleasant. The parking area was described as a three-minute walk, but it felt quite far, especially if you have luggage and need to carry it there first. It seemed clean at first, but there was dust and trash in the entryway and room corners. Dust floated in the bathwater, and the humidifier and air purifier hadn't been cleaned. The tank was so dirty I couldn't use it. With the air conditioner running all day, the room got very dry, which was disappointing. Some dishes looked unclean, so I washed everything before using it. The place looked like a typical Japanese home, but I noticed cleaning that fell short of Japanese standards, perhaps because it caters to foreign guests.

The front desk is a long way off, and the house itself is very secluded. There are bedrooms upstairs in the two-story building, with more than seven futons available. If you move the low table and cushions out of the Japanese-style living room downstairs, it seems four or five people could sleep there too. The entryway is wide enough to roll in with a wheelchair or stroller and leave it there unfolded. There were two pairs of disposable slippers. The bathroom has a jacuzzi and shower, with a small, stylish courtyard view. The bath was clean and comfortable, and the temperature was just right, though the shower pressure may feel weak if you prefer a strong spray. The toiletries, including shampoo, cleanser, and cosmetics, were from POLA. We booked for three, but there were towels and yukata for only two, and the yukata were all M size. A Toshiba washer-dryer was provided with Ariel detergent and Flair softener. The kitchen had an induction burner, plenty of utensils and dishes, plus a fridge, toaster, microwave, rice cooker, and DeLonghi kettle. Supplies were tucked away in the entry, above the kitchen counter, and under the stairs, so everything looked tidy. It could suit a longer stay, though I couldn't find anywhere to hang clothes to dry.

The jacuzzi was a highlight, and the spacious two-story place had facilities that made me very happy for the price. The stairs are somewhat steep, but I was fine with them. It's one stop from Kyoto Station, followed by a ten-minute walk. Restaurants and convenience stores are nearby, though picking up food and drinks in advance would make it easier to relax.