OMO5 Kyoto Gion by Hoshino Resorts

The location worked well for exploring both sides of the Kamo river, and it was a good base near Gion. Pontocho is a 5-minute walk west across the river, Kiyomizudera and Nishiki Market are within a 20-minute stroll, and Kyoto Station is a 10-minute taxi ride southwest. It’s a small but quality place. We stayed two nights in October 2025 in a CHANOMA Twin, with Kitchen for 2 person, breakfast included. When we arrived around noon, the English-speaking staff offered to keep our luggage. The tatami gave the room a nice feel, and the hanging rack was useful since there was no cabinet. There’s a single step down from the bedroom to the living room, so children and seniors should watch their step. Most of the room is tatami, and the sofa takes up a lot of space, leaving XL luggage to sit mainly on the fabric sofa. The Japanese-style bed has no frame, which could be difficult if getting up from the floor is a challenge. The setup is handy for families or groups, with a mid-sized fridge, microwave, cutlery, plates, and a large table with seating. There are outlets on both sides of the bed. The walk-in shower has a stool and simple controls, with good water temperature and pressure. The first morning’s in-room breakfast is bread you make yourself in the bread machine, so there’s work to do the night before. It came out really well when we followed the instructions. We didn’t hear the machine at night because it was in a noise-reduction box. On the second morning, for a two-night stay, breakfast was a mini sushi bento box. There was something going on at the hotel every evening, and they also seemed to run free morning tours around nearby places of interest. There’s no official vehicle drop-off or covered waiting point. Passengers have to go down 5-7 steps from street level to the lobby, and there’s no luggage ramp.

The building was noisy, probably because it’s old. A few times I woke up to tapping and clanging from pipes inside the walls. Earplugs should handle it, and the good parts outweighed that, but light sleepers should keep it in mind. The staff were incredibly nice and helpful. Our Zashiki Twin Room was huge by any hotel standard, even outside Japan. It was cute and the futons were comfortable. The location was convenient for walking around Gion and the Sannenzaka area, and close to the train station.

Big room with a kitchen, countertop, and fridge, so there’s space to open your luggage and do some simple cooking. You can make your own bread for breakfast too.

There’s plenty of food nearby, and you can walk to various places. The hotel is right across the street from Yasaka shrine, with a 24-hour drug store across one street and a 24-hour Familar Mart across the other. For four of us, the room had four separate beds and a small kitchen and living area. It was really clean and comfortable. Just know that the shopping district isn’t within walking distance.