Hotel Livemax Kyoto-Gojo

I was able to open my luggage in the clean room, and there was a microwave too. The hotel is a short walk from kyoto station, with a FamilyMart and don quijote nearby. They don’t store luggage after checkout, though Kyoto station has coin lockers. The WiFi was very slow, so I’d suggest getting a high GB SIM card.

The main downside for me was how little flexibility there was. Breakfast was the same bento every day, with beef and seafood and no alternatives, so it’s not great if you don’t eat beef. After checkout, there’s no luggage storage. When the air conditioner stopped working, the receptionist could only suggest waiting or using extra blankets. And when I asked for a small bowl, they told me to buy one, since there were no dishes or basic containers in the room. I stayed four nights in a twin room with breakfast. It was moderately spacious and clean, with a tatami area, air conditioning, microwave, kitchen heat plate, kettle, washing machine, clean bathroom with basic toiletries, freshener for the air and fabric, and open and closed cupboards. They also let me make a quick local call using the reception landline. It’s about a 10-minute walk from Kyoto station. Language may be a challenge, though Google Translate made it easy to get by. This could work if you’re fine with what’s already provided, since they don’t offer extra services or facilities.

When I arrived to check in, they told me they didn’t allow cats, even though I’d booked after seeing the hotel in a pet-friendly listing and had contacted them ahead of time. They were fine with me and my cat having to sleep on the street, and wouldn’t refund me. Evil people! This chain shows up all over pet-friendly budget hotel listings, so be careful. I assume they’re dog-only.

The staff were incredibly helpful and attentive, and the price is budget-friendly. Rooms are spacious and give you the option of a traditional tatami room for a Japanese-style stay. Hotel Live Max Kyoto Station is just a five-minute walk from busy Kyoto Station, which makes the location really convenient. It’s my top choice for a future trip to Kyoto.