Toyoko Inn Kyoto Shijo-omiya

I’ve spent dozens of nights at dozens of Toyoko Inn hotels and never expected to give one a one-star rating. The only thing better here than at the others was breakfast, which matters least in a busy city like Kyoto. On the third, fourth and fifth floors, the bathrooms smelled bad because of a drainage issue, according to the front desk. Their solution was to keep moving guests to different rooms and hope the smell hadn’t reached them. Three of the four bathrooms we found were smelly. I was very disappointed with how guests were handled: no real solution or compensation, just repeated apologies and stronger room spray.

It’s right by Omiya station, which makes it handy. The rooms have just the basics, as you’d expect from a low cost business hotel, so it works if all you need is somewhere to sleep. If cigarette smell bothers you, steer clear of the smoking rooms.

Check-in starts with a machine that asks for details I’d already given when I booked. Then staff have to help you struggle through its cumbersome process, so it adds nothing and makes the experience worse. Guests aren’t receptionists, and checking in shouldn’t feel like work. At the end, it even asks you to scan your passport because apparently it doesn’t trust the information you entered. Hotel management, I’d think twice before buying one of these again, or at least check whether it pays off.

The room was clean and comfortable, and I had no trouble with its size even though it was much smaller than I’m used to in America. The sink and tub share a faucet, with a switch to send the water to one or the other. Staff were friendly and polite. The Japanese breakfast was different from what I’m used to, but perfectly fine.