Kyo no Ondokoro MARUTAMACHI #7

The house was a good fit for our family of four adults and a baby. It's only a few minutes on foot from Marutamachi Station and easy to reach from Kyoto Station. We had a great time eating the food we'd brought together, and the drip coffee and tea were really good too. The living room had a cozy sunken hearth, while the kitchen floor was heated. Even the rice cooker and toaster were stylish Balmuda appliances. At night, we could clearly hear people talking outside, as well as passing cars. If you're bringing a baby who's sensitive to noise, keep that in mind. We also couldn't find any spare tissues, so we used kitchen paper instead. It would be nice to have extra tissues available.

The woman at the front desk was the part I most want to recommend. She let us in when we were waiting at the entrance before opening time, explained the inn carefully, and suggested some great places to eat. She knew so much that I wished I could have her knowledge on my iPhone instead of Google Maps. I'd like to come back and ask her for more tips. We stayed Sunday and Monday night. The inn was beautiful, felt clean and smooth everywhere, and had that new-building smell. There were just two of us, so we had lots of space. We especially loved relaxing by the sunken hearth and looking out at the garden through the snow-viewing shoji screens. The Three shampoo and conditioner worked better than I expected. I usually use non-silicone shampoo, but my hair was shinier and easier to manage than usual.

Renting a whole house for the first time felt like such a luxury. With the kids, we could eat what we wanted, when we wanted, using the lovely tableware. My husband and I both liked the uneven floors and wished we had them at home. There were lots of steps in the townhouse, so we worried our six-month-old might fall, but we watched carefully and it was fine. Our three-year-old loved the bathtub and didn't want to get out. We'd love to come back if we get the chance.

The interior, furniture, and amenities looked great, but the facilities need a much better check before guests arrive. Four of us were taking turns bathing at night when the artificial carbonated bath panel beeped and stopped during the third person's turn. The "gas empty" light was flashing, and the hot water stopped. I called the management company. They couldn't figure it out over the phone, but sent someone right away, who found that the gas had run out. They replaced it, but said the air pressure was low and the same issue could happen again. The hot water only came back after 12:30 AM, so the last two of us had to rush through our baths. It was exhausting. Shouldn't all the amenities be checked before check-in, especially the artificial carbonated bath, which is a key feature here? I thought the management company had passed this on to the operating company, and I signed that report too, but three weeks later I'd heard nothing from them. The baking class included in the plan was really fun, though.