Minn Nijo-jo

This seems like a new hotel, but our room could have been fresher: there were stains on the headboard and walls, and dusty clumps hanging from the AC unit. A few things also made the room annoying to use. The desk was oversized, there was nowhere to store things or hang towels, and the bathroom mirror light was behind you, leaving you in shadow. We heard neighbors, the Wi-Fi barely worked except in one corner and the bathroom, and there were mosquitoes. Even so, it's a cozy hotel in a great location, with friendly staff, a simple breakfast, a nice tea and coffee station, an iron, hair dryer, and free laundry. I'd still recommend staying here.

The room was spacious and lovely, especially the bathroom. A Family Mart and a Shotengai with a supermarket were nearby, and Nijo Castle was stunning. After months of looking into where to stay in Kyoto, we chose this spot for its quieter setting near trains, shops, and attractions. We had a wonderful stay at Minn Nijo Jo, and mostly looked after ourselves. The check-in staff member was quite unfriendly. We'd been traveling all day and were stressed and tired, and she made me feel like I was inconveniencing her. When I needed help with luggage transfer, she said Minn didn't offer that service, which I understood, but she didn't suggest alternatives or seem interested in helping. She never greeted us when we passed, and once she and her friend were sleeping on the tatami mats in the communal dining area. Self checkout meant we didn't have to interact with her again, which was fine.

There wasn't anywhere to put our luggage, so it took up valuable floor space throughout the stay. We also wanted to separate our rubbish for recycling, but there were no bins for that. After long days of travel and walking in the hot sun, though, it was lovely to come back to a cool, very clean room, comfortable beds, and an excellent shower. We felt refreshed after staying there.

The room had everything we needed, and the hotel had a ground-floor common area where we could regroup, rest, and have a quick drink. There was also a free laundry room. The location worked well: a short bus ride to the main shopping area, a brief walk to a gorgeous castle, and an easy walk to the train for 1000 Gates and Nara Park.