Toyoko Inn Kyoto Shijo Karasuma

There’s free breakfast here, which was a nice break during a busy day. Toyoko Inn Kyoto Shijo-Karasuma is also close to several well-known Kyoto sights, including Kyoto Station Building and Sannenzaka Ninenzaka, both about 1.2 miles away.

I chose this hotel mainly for its location, but the security felt lax. At 2 a.m. a man violently shook our door and tried to open it, waking us up. This Toyoko Inn also seemed older than the others I’ve stayed at. There are very few washing and drying machines, two of the three were broken 😐, and the staff didn’t know how to fix them.

You’re right in the middle of town, but the room was surprisingly quiet. There are plenty of shops and cafes nearby, a bus stop just a few metres away, and the subway right next door. It’s a standard Toyoko Inn room with friendly check-in staff, breakfast and WiFi included. I was comfortable here, though the mattress is very firm. 😆

After a few days, the cleaning and noise became problems. There was someone’s nail on my pillow, which was disgusting, and I could hear the neighbor snoring through the poor soundproofing. The room itself was clean when I first saw it, and the single room had enough space, about the size of three twin beds. You can get a partial street view from the window without feeling squeezed by the neighboring building. Receptionist Nabemoto was kind and very patient.