Kyoto Station Toki Kyoto 2C

The spa was the highlight for me. The setting was clean and spacious, and although you have to wear a swimsuit in the thermal spring bath, I really enjoyed the service. It was especially busy with foreign visitors during Chinese New Year. I went to the French restaurant inside the Mitsui Grand Hotel Kyoto afterward for New Year's dinner. The meal cost 54,000 yen for two, which is far from cheap. The food was okay, but I expected more expensive ingredients at that price, and the dessert was quite ordinary. Compared with Michelin-starred French restaurants, this one felt average, and the value for money was poor.

There's a kitchen, bathtub, washing machine, iron, and other useful things here, so it feels very well equipped. It's a private-style place near Kintetsu Toji Station. You get in with a code, and the host sends the instructions beforehand along with contact details.

There's a century-old hot spring house right by the entrance. This is an exquisite B&B with the facilities you need and a great location. I'll definitely stay here again.