JAPANING Hotel Libre Tofukuji

Getting around was easy from this location, with access to all the lines for visiting temples and just one stop from central Kyoto. But the bedding was below par for our family of five. There were two hard beds with small pillows, plus three very thin futons for the kids, who were practically sleeping on the floor. I think management should invest in better bedding to make this a solid place to stay.

I rented the whole building for a spring workation, and there was still loads of room even after setting aside one room as my workspace. It was lovely having tea on the veranda facing the courtyard each day, and the building itself was beautiful and well maintained. Tofuku-ji Station is about a five-minute walk away, making it a great base for sightseeing nearby. Two lines serve the area, JR and Keihan Main Line. Keihan Main Line is handy for Kawaramachi or Gion, while JR works well for heading toward Uji. Convenience stores and hamburger shops are in front of the station. I enjoyed morning walks past the green maple leaves in the Tofuku-ji sub-temple area, about 10-15 minutes away on foot. Sennyu-ji Temple is nearby as well, and Fushimi Inari Shrine is about a 15-minute walk from Tofuku-ji. Check-in was at a hotel near Kyoto Station, which provided a shuttle to the accommodation and let me leave luggage at the front desk. When I had an issue late at night, the front desk staff helped when I called. Uber Eats deliveries also arrived without any trouble.

I loved having the privacy of a traditional Japanese house. It's near Kyoto Tower and less than a five-minute walk from the Tofukuji area. We had rented a car, though, and with no parking at the house, using a nearby coin-operated lot was a bit inconvenient.

This small house has enough room for three people and is well placed for exploring Kyoto. You can walk to the southern and eastern parts of the city, or use buses and trains to reach the rest.