Hotel Canata Kyoto

I’d suggest it for a few nights, or a longer stay in Kyoto. The staff speak native English, which is handy for foreigners, though the service didn’t have the feel of other Japanese hotels I’ve stayed in. The location is beside Nijojo station, but that line isn’t as convenient as Karasuma. For buses to the sights, you have to cross the main road. The hotel felt new, with a decent-sized room, a large desk, plenty of outlets on the table and in the drawer, sleepwear, and the usual bathroom supplies. The bidet was a newer model with an auto-opening lid. Staff responses sometimes felt inexperienced. When our luggage hadn’t arrived, they forgot to replace a set of sleepwear. It was tolerable for us, but compared with other hotels in Japan, it felt like a pretty big miss. There also seemed to be too few people on duty, sometimes just one or two handling everything. The shower area had a strange design. It was tiled like a bathtub, but really just a square section. Maybe they were trying to meet some town council requirement or something. The hotel almost seemed foreign-owned.

A nearby bus stop, a walkable 7-11, and a breakfast place make getting food easy. West Kyoto is more accessible from here. The rooms are spacious and the bathrooms are great. There’s a subway station close by, though sometimes you’ll need several transfers. Aside from the location and the much-needed laundry service, everything was amazing.

We’ll meet again, Kyoto! The hotel is across the street from Nijo castle, with cafes and restaurants close by. What really made our stay was the wonderful service, especially from Kanae, who went out of her way to make our time in Kyoto so special. We’re very grateful to her.

The room was kept clean, with a full changeover every two days, and it had all the amenities you could want. The price was excellent for the level of service, especially since we booked well ahead. Ben at the front desk deserves a shout-out, he made the stay that much better.