Riverside Arashiyama

The rooms felt more like apartments than hotel rooms, and were pretty spacious. We were a group of three, so that worked really well. The bathroom had a large wet room, with the toilet in a separate space. There's also a washing machine, which was convenient since coin laundries are quite far away. The hotel has an eco-friendly cleaning routine that kept the rooms tidy, and it's very quiet at night. The hotel is a little tucked away, but totally worth it. Staff, including the manager and front desk team, were warm and welcoming. They explained how everything worked and pointed out nearby places to visit. The front desk ladies were happy to help if I had trouble finding things. I also liked the live camera showing how busy Main Street was. There's a train station nearby and a Ministop, and some beautiful trains pass through the area. Thanks so much, Hotel Riverside Arashiyama staff, for a great stay!

We liked staying close to the sights but away from the biggest crowds. The hotel is by a small stream, about a four-minute walk from the river, and within walking distance of the station, bridge, and bamboo grove. Restaurants close early, but there's a fantastic izakaya open until 10 pm, where we ate twice. We also had an outstanding meal at donburi wagyu. A traditional sake and liquor shop at the start of the lane had the lowest priced yamazaki!! Our triple room for three nights was big, spotless, and well heated, with a microwave, fridge, toaster oven, separate toilet, and a bathroom with a tub and adjustable shower. Big thanks to Masa San and the team at the riverside Arashiyama. It's a no-frills hotel, so know what to expect. There's a coffee machine, drinks vending machine, DIY laundry room, and bread and olive oil put out between 8-10 am. We just got breakfast from a konbini, which worked well for us. The windows don't open. Late checkout costs 3000 yen per hour, and there's a 5000 yen penalty if you lose the room's special key card, so watch out. I'd recommend it to no-fuss travelers.

The hotel sits among pleasant streams, and it's in a convenient, peaceful area. The rooms are large and cleaned very well, even if you don't have a dog. There's a shortcut through the back of the hotel to the tourist areas that saves some time.

The staff were friendly and helpful, and the hotel is very close to the train station and the famous bridge everyone wants to photograph. The location is great, but the rooms are quite bare, with concrete or wood floors. It's animal-friendly, though, so only the third floor is pet-free.