Hotel Elcient Kyoto Hachijoguchi

The bathroom is cramped, especially the toilet, and every bathroom noise carries into the room. The room itself is small, as usual, but thoughtfully laid out, with a useful mini bench, table, and lots of plugs on both sides of the bed. I chose Elcient for the spa, particularly the sauna, and was glad I did. It was set to 90°, which isn't always the case, and the onsen felt large enough and was never crowded during my stay. It may get busy at winter rush hour, but you can go later. It's open until 1 am, which is very guest friendly. I'm a very light sleeper, especially around neighbors and slamming doors, but I slept wonderfully for all three nights. The doors were very quiet and insulation between rooms was good. Outside noise came through more, though, so I wouldn't want a room near the street.

The public bath on the second floor was great, though it gets crowded at peak times, so try going earlier. Afterwards, you can get coffee milk from the vending machine and relax in the lounge, which has a huge collection of popular manga to read for free. The hotel is clean and good value, and the onsen is a real plus. Getting around is easy: ELCIENT Hotel Kyoto is just across from JR Kyoto Station. Use the Hachijo East Exit. Coming out on the Kyoto Tower, or north, side means a long walk around. There's a Don Quijote and plenty of convenience stores nearby for late-night snacks. My room was surprisingly spacious for a Japanese business hotel, with room to open my large suitcase. The bed was comfortable and came with firm and soft pillow options. But if you're a hot sleeper, pay attention: between autumn and spring, the hotel has centralized heating and you can't switch on the AC. Even set to 18°C, it only blows warm air, and the room felt stuffy to me. Opening the window a little didn't help much. Borrowing a portable fan from the front desk made a big difference by drawing in cooler air. If you don't mind a warm room in winter, it's a five-star stay; if you do, ask for a fan at check-in.

The room photos on the booking site didn't seem very realistic, and I hesitated because there were only a few reviews. Once inside, though, I was impressed: it was clean, newly renovated, and spacious compared with budget hotels. The Japanese spa was a particular favorite, 10/10. Staff can speak and understand English. Highly recommended.

The cleaners deserve a lot of credit. They made our beds perfectly while we were out for a long day, so please be courteous and respectful when you pass them. The staff were professional, friendly, and gave excellent service throughout, with nothing I could fault. The public hot baths are a hidden gem, the icing on top of a highly recommended stay. It's conveniently located near Kyoto Station, and I'll be back on my next trip. I tried to give the hotel a perfect 10 on Agoda, but it came out as 8.4, which sucks, so here's another rating on Google.