Minn Gion Sanjo

The location was a big plus: Keihan line station is about a three-minute walk away, with trains to Osaka and nearby Nijo Castle, and there are two convenience stores close by. The unit was very spacious, with a six-seat dining table, two sofas that each sleep one person, and a tatami area for two more. Its living room had a two-pot induction cooktop, a decent fridge and freezer, a microwave, and a toaster oven. There were two full-sized beds in a separate bedroom. The bathroom had a tub, a separate shower area with good pressure, double sinks, and a separate toilet room with a bidet. My only complaint was the combo washer and dryer: it ran all night, and the dryer was weak. I can't think of anything else negative.

The room was clean and quiet, and we slept well despite there being just one pillow each. We also liked the roomy wet-room bathroom, deep soaking tub, and bidet in a separate room. The apartment had a well-stocked kitchenette and separate dining area, plus a washer and dryer with detergent, slippers, storage, and drawers. My partner even cooked a steak. We stayed four nights in November at Minn Sanjo Kyoto, and it was a nice stay, though not especially memorable. A major problem was the booking and check-in support. I had asked months ahead to keep us in one room, and they confirmed it, but because we booked with points through different sites, we were assigned two rooms. Luckily a staff member was there to sort it out. The remote phone help was poor, with a bad connection that made it feel like talking to a scammer abroad. There wasn't a locked door to the room area, which seemed like a security gap, even though I didn't feel too unsafe in Japan. And every day our key code failed. The remote receptionist issued a new one each time, but never asked for ID to check we were the guests. The room also looked much less nice than the photos online, which felt like a bait and switch. The location was okay, a bit far from the main sights, but we accepted that for the price. Given the cost, especially in Kyoto, we'd still recommend it if you're okay with those drawbacks.

Having a separate toilet and bathroom made mornings easier for our family of five, and the washer's full wash-to-dry cycle was especially useful since we packed light. There was also a private room where our tired parents could rest after long days out. The place was close to the station and an easy walk from Gion. We noticed a slight smell by the entrance that wouldn't go away with refresher spray, and the beds were on the firm side, like many in Japan. Still, it was a pleasant, comfortable stay, particularly for a longer trip, and we'd come back.

The shower was fabulous, with great pressure and plenty of hot water. The little apartment was comfortable, and the beds were good. The kitchen had enough for small meals, with a fridge, hot plate, microwave, and toaster oven. The toilet was nice, with a small sink on the back, though there was a towel holder but no soap. A small soap holder would save a trip across the hall to wash hands. There wasn't much of a view out the windows, though we were mostly there to sleep. I asked for extra pillows in the chat and was told no, but a kind guy in the lobby found us some. I left a sweater on the plane, and they offered to deliver it, but Minn couldn't accept delivery. The washer and dryer were handy, though a wash-and-dry cycle took five hours. After the first time, we washed things and hung them in the shower instead. A small drying rack would be helpful.