RESI STAY Tsubaki

We liked the neighborhood, and the room looked nice online. The RESI reception staff, who were based somewhere else, were very kind. But the moment we entered the room, a damp, unpleasant smell covered by a harsh chemical cleaner put us off. My partner's eyes and skin started reacting. Neither of us wanted to stay even one night, let alone the four we'd booked, so we left right away to find somewhere else, which was a stretch for us. We explained the situation to RESI, but they said there was no problem and refused to refund any of the four unused nights.

We could walk to Yasaka Shrine, Kiyomizudera, and Nishiki Market from this lovely, quiet neighborhood. After being in Tokyo, we appreciated having a large room, and the linens were clean. Still, the superior quadruple room didn't quite meet our expectations. It looked more worn than the online pictures, with wallpaper peeling in many spots. It also needed a deep clean: the shower caulking was quite moldy, and grime had built up behind the bathroom faucets. The stay was okay, but we'd likely choose somewhere else next time we're in Kyoto.

The rooms suited our small family, and we enjoyed staying here for four nights. Its central spot made it easy to plan walking day trips to most of the attractions we wanted to see.

The lighting was a little too dark for my taste, but we had a pleasant stay and thought it was great value. The apartment has two bedrooms, a small kitchen, and a dining table. There's luggage storage and a toilet you can use before check-in or after checkout. The property is within walking distance of Keihan Line, Gion-Shijo, and Kiyomizu-Gojo Stations. We checked in at the reception near Kyoto Station, then took the shuttle bus over. The staff and driver were friendly.