RESI STAY Gojozaka

This has been our best room in Japan so far, traveling as a family of four on a mid-range budget. The setup was really good, with cool bunks facing a drop-down TV projector. We logged into our Netflix account and had a few movie nights with pizza, which gave the kids a chance to unwind after full days visiting temples and shrines. There’s a small kitchen area and a washing machine for clothes. The bathroom's drying-room fan setting worked really well. The location is pretty good too, a short walk to the subway and about 15-20 minutes on foot from lots of Kyoto sights and restaurants. Highly recommend.

We had the room with two sets of bunk beds, and it felt more like a small apartment than a hotel. The kitchenette had a fridge, microwave that also toasts, hot plate, sink, and supplied dishes and cookware. Laundry detergent was provided too. The toilet was in its own room, which was handy with four people getting ready. There’s a binder explaining how everything works. The washing machine is in the bathroom, and the shower room doubles as a clothes dryer. Do laundry at night so it can dry by morning. There’s no front desk at this location, so check in at their office across the street from Kyoto Station. They have a van to bring you and your luggage to the room. From this location it was a 10-minute walk to the train station and a 10-minute walk to Gion. We walked to Kyoto station when leaving, about 30 minutes. This was easily our favorite hotel in Japan.

We had a good time as a family of four. The spacious room had two bunk beds and a small table in front of the TV, and it had what we needed for a short vacation. It was very close to bus stops and the temple. A couple of suggestions for ResiStay: a hanger with several clothespin clips would help dry washed clothes in the bathroom using the dryer vent. Body moisturizer would also be nice, since the provided body wash was very drying.

The service was very accommodating, including a free shuttle from the check-in office near Kyoto station to the building. The location is excellent, just south of Gion and close to several bus lines and metro stations for getting to Kyoto's best places. We had the bunk bed option for four. It seems a good fit for mid-to-long stays: the kitchen was well furnished, the beds were just right, and three people had enough room not to feel crowded. Having the toilet and shower in separate rooms also made mornings quicker. There were a couple of issues, though. The toilet door mechanism didn't quite fit, and while there was a washing machine, there was no dryer. The suggested method of hanging clothes in the shower and turning on the fan either didn't work or was explained unclearly.