Shisei-Juku

We spent two nights in the Isami room. It was clean, comfortable, beautiful, and the photos were accurate. There are lots of interesting little spaces, including two small gardens, tatami mats, a hinoki wood bath, and a balcony with a roof too low to stand under. The place has modern security and feels like somewhere you could meditate and think. By bus, it's about 20-30 minutes from Karawamachi, Gion, and Kiyomizu. The plain exterior gives little hint of the traditional, zen-like escape inside. A few minor things could be better. The aircon wouldn't stay pointed in the direction we set, and the door just outside the lockable front door blew open too easily when we left. Our booking instructions said we could use a washing machine, but the only one was beside another customer's room. We weren't sure it was for our use until staff confirmed it, and the booklet could have explained that. Check-in also felt unnecessary: we crossed the highway in the burning heat to hear the staff briefly repeat the house rules, then walked back. An email or clearer instructions would have covered it. I did appreciate the free ice cream. There isn't a convenient train station nearby. You can walk about 25 minutes from Kyoto station or take a taxi, which cost around 1300 yen when I wrote this. A nearby bus is available, but doesn't take large luggage.