Kyomai Inn

It’s comfortable, though the bathroom is tiny and the stairs are narrow and steep. The space feels tight if you’re a bigger person.

Nice place to stay, and you sleep on tatami.

The location is the big plus, it’s incredibly close to the station. Rooms are a little small, the refrigerator is shared, and there aren’t many amenities. I was only there overnight, so the convenient spot and private bathroom in each room mattered a lot. The staff were polite and helpful, too. I’d stay again if I get the chance.

For a place to sleep with very convenient transport, it worked fine for me, and I’d stay again if I had the chance. My room was tiny, about 3 tatami mats, and I couldn’t tell whether it was the season or the usual rate, but it cost 7700 yen. The TV didn’t work, the mattress was thin, and there was a strong cigarette smell. I got used to the small space and it wasn’t inconvenient, though at first that little 3-tatami-mat room felt like a solitary confinement cell. (The TV still didn’t work, and it smelled of cigarettes.) There were plenty of women staying alongside men, and I’m a woman myself. The staff were all really nice, thanking me often in a way I don’t usually hear as a tourist. It made me feel like I was really in Kyoto, and honestly, that alone made me forgive everything. Checkout was simple too, I just left the key in the room and went. Hotels are hard to find at this time of year, and the ones available are very expensive, so I thought this was a hidden gem.