Smart Place Inn Kyoto Shijo Horikawa

Getting around was easy, with several bus stops close by and the nearest Metro station about an 800-meter walk. There’s also a convenience store nearby for snacks and travel basics. The room was clean and spacious, a comfortable place to come back to after sightseeing. The reception had body-care sachets guests could use, and the generously sized bathtub fit an adult comfortably. Hot water was consistent. We got three physical key cards, which were easy to manage and worked reliably. Washing machines and dryers are on site, so bring 100 Yen coins if you plan to do laundry. Bottled water in the room costs a little more, but it’s handy if you forget to pick some up. From booking through checkout, everything went smoothly and professionally. The hotel felt welcoming and offered great value. It was the highlight of our accommodations on the trip, and I’d choose it first if I returned to Kyoto.

The room we received was in an appalling state of hygiene, with the attached pictures showing how little had been invested in basic maintenance. We had already paid before even entering. These conditions were a serious health risk and, in our view, a direct breach of accommodation business standards, services, and regulations. The manager or owner was nowhere to be found when we tried to raise the issue. The receptionist offered excuses instead of solutions. Apologies after the fact and promises of future improvements mean nothing to us. Would you let your own family sleep in such a filthy room after a long flight? Nobody should have to accept that, even for free. This terrible stay has permanently damaged the accommodation’s reputation in this location. We want accountability and a proper resolution, not empty apologies.

They woke me up at midnight last night, knocking on my door at least seven times to ask for payment. When I answered, they said they wanted me to tap my card on the machine so they could refund the tax and inconvenience from our horrendous check-in. That’s when we found out they hadn’t charged us for the room at all. The hotel and booking.com had all my credit card details, yet chose to wake me in the middle of the night instead of taking payment earlier. It seems other guests have complaints too. This place is run by children who have no idea what they’re doing. Raise your game.

It was nice to have a quiet stay in a residential area, though you need to be respectful of the neighbors. This isn’t a place to party all night. The staff were kind and greeted us whenever we came or went. The lobby had useful basics like face wash, soap, and toothbrushes, and the rooms were small but larger than the ones I had at Smile Hotels in Osaka/Tokyo. I noticed other people arranging luggage forwarding, but didn’t use the service. The main drawbacks were the distance to public transport and the towel routine. Compared with other hotel areas, it’s not especially near a train station, bus stop, or 7/11. Getting to good transport such as Shijo station can take a ten-minute walk. I also had to bring towels and robes down to the lobby for fresh ones. I was on the third floor and would’ve preferred to shower and go straight to bed after a day out. It’s a small extra chore, but I prefer hotels where you leave used towels in a box outside your room by a set time and find clean ones when you return. The price was good, and I don’t mind walking, so I’d probably stay again.