Hotel Heian No Mori Kyoto

Avoid this place. We were told on arrival that the Onsen was closed and there was no parking. Neither missing amenity had been mentioned on the booking platform. They offered a nicer room as an “upgrade” for 2000 yen, but refused when we asked for it free because those facilities weren't available. The rooms are dated.

Getting around was easy because the hotel is well placed for public transport to the city's main sights. The room itself had a couple of problems: the fridge didn't work, and the Wi-Fi was so weak it was basically unusable. Also, remember to bring your key to reception by 1:00 PM and ask for cleaning each day. Otherwise they won't clean the room.

The location is the one thing this place still has going for it. There are other hotels with better amenities and closer to where you might want to be, though. I won't stay here again. We booked the whole hotel for several days as a group, but when we asked about the stench and heat, the desk staff were rude and acted as if we were imagining it. They just said to open a window, though most rooms' windows don't open. The rooms smelled like cigarettes and were around 90°F. Switching on the so-called fan control only sent hotter air inside. The building was supposedly just renovated, yet it had water damage, mold, and grime throughout. Stairs were roped off on some floors for no clear reason, making parts of the place hard to reach. This used to be an amazing hotel and is now literal garbage. Its cleanliness, service, and courtesy are a stark contrast to what you can take for granted elsewhere in Japan.

The room was unbearably hot, like a sauna, with no air conditioning and windows that wouldn't open. Staff apologized profusely and offered a tiny fan, but management was surly, unhelpful, and outright aggressive. Best to avoid this rude rip-off.