Keihan Kyoto Hachijoguchi Hotel

The outside of the hotel doesn’t look appealing, but the service and amenities were very good, better than I expected. The staff were helpful and spoke good English, and I’d stay here again. Online check-in was efficient, with quick and easy procedures. We enjoyed the onsen, free ice cream, free water refills, and the vending machine with branded ice cream, among other things. We stayed from 2 Dec to 5 Dec and had a pleasant time.

The rooms are adequate for a couple, though a bit tight, and you can choose the level of room service. There are onsens, and the hotel offers free breakfast early enough to get out and explore. I’d rate the breakfast 7 out of 10. It’s good, but the food choices could be wider. There’s no lunch or dinner available. The toilets, TV, and air conditioning have higher-tech features, including a central control unit for various room settings. Keihan Hachijoguchi presents itself well among the many hotels near Kyoto Station and has competitive prices. The station is a large transport hub with trains in every direction, near and far, and is a short five-minute walk. There are plenty of nearby restaurants and bars, but you have to walk a little to reach the nearest convenience stores for cheaper food and drinks. It’s a good choice, though it isn’t luxury, romantic, or quiet. There’s distant noise from the rail traffic.

The location made getting around easy. We could walk to Kyoto Station, Avanti Mall, nearby konbinis, and the taxis were easy to find in the busy area. Breakfast had a lot of choice and was good quality. We went around 6:00AM, before it got busier. It cost about $40 USD for two adults and a child, which felt like good value compared with home and made our busy days easier. Our room was roomy and modern, with a tablet for controlling the lights and temperature, setting alarms, or requesting service. The toilet, sink, and shower were separate, and the humidifier/air purifier was useful, though it needs cold water each day. We also liked its steady background noise. The eco clean option let us ask for towels, water, and trash removal without a full cleaning. The cleaning staff were especially kind, and we enjoyed chatting with them when we happened to be there. The baths were a real treat. My wife and I went at different times because they aren't co-ed, and each of us had the place to ourselves. Entry used a key card and code. The changing room was bright and clean, with keyed lockers, sinks, hair dryers, a scale, and toiletries. The indoor bath had spotless, divided washing stations with stools, bowls, and handheld showers. Shampoo, conditioner, and body wash were supplied. The bath was shallow but comfortably hot and spacious. Outside, the covered bath had an open section in the ceiling over a small decorative garden. It was raining when we visited, which made the setting feel especially calm. That bath was just as clean and warm. There were plenty of useful extras in the amenity area, including complimentary personal items, ice cream, vending machines, a 300JPY massage chair, and a coinless laundromat. Getting into the lifts and amenity area required a room key, which was a bit inconvenient now and then, though we appreciated the added security. The washers worked well. The dryers needed much longer than suggested: even small loads took closer to 100 minutes, and dryer #2 seemed better than the others. The laundry could get busy, but we were glad it was available. Check-in took longer than expected because many guests arrived at once. The staff stayed professional, helpful, and attentive, and several spoke English very well. We were very happy with our comfortable, well-equipped stay and would gladly recommend the hotel.

The room cleaning was the part that let the stay down. I found dust in the corners and by the bed, water marks on the sink, and a few hairs in the bathroom. Each thing was minor, but together it seemed the room hadn't been thoroughly cleaned before I arrived. The location near Kyoto Station made getting around easy, and check-in and check-out were smooth. Staff were polite and professional, while the modern facilities and public areas were comfortable and well kept. Since those parts were otherwise solid, the uneven room cleanliness stood out. More careful cleaning would make the experience more dependable.