Hotel Zipangu Tameikecho

You reach the entrance through a long corridor behind a wooden gate. It isn’t on an alley, and the sign is easy to miss, so check the street view carefully before you arrive. The streets around it are lively and nice for a relaxed group stroll, though the bus and tram stops are a bit of a walk away. The room windows let in light, and the living room and bathroom look out onto the garden, which gives the place a charming feel. It has modern conveniences like floor heating, a bidet toilet, and a bathroom heater. The plates are lovely and look good in photos, but the pots and pans are small, making it hard to cook for a big group. LINE customer service replied quickly, and English is available. A few things could be better: there’s no wifi or rice cooker, and the tableware is only for four people. The check-in instructions say to touch the keypad before entering the password, but after some trial and error I realized you have to press the “+” key first.

I could relax here, with its Kyoto-like feel, and the location near Kyoto Station was convenient. I’d like to come back.

It’s an older place, but the design feels modern and I found it very comfortable. I’d recommend it as a hidden gem in Kyoto.