Travelodge Kyoto Shijo Kawaramachi

The location worked well, and the staff spoke English and Japanese very well. They also arranged to send an item I’d left behind at checkout to me in Tokyo. Our room with a view was noisy enough to affect our sleep. After the first night, staff moved us to another room, but they said this was only possible because one was available. Cleaning was only every four nights, less often than at many similar hotels. We had to ask at the lobby each day for things like clean towels, which was inconvenient if staff were busy with check-ins. Other hotels we’ve stayed at leave a bag with towels, pajamas, coffee, and tea outside the door on days without cleaning. There was no humidifier in the room either.

The internet was painfully slow, and even after the front desk checked, it didn’t improve. They didn’t explain what was wrong. That was a major drawback, along with the road noise from Kawaramachi Dori, which is a location issue. We chose a larger room for our three nights in November 2025 so we could keep our suitcases open. The room wasn’t overheated like some others we’d stayed in, and check-in and checkout went smoothly. Facilities were basic: no writing supplies, and coffee packets had to be collected from reception. The older style shower was adequate, but stepping over the high edge to get into the bath was difficult. The room wasn’t serviced during our stay. We were told to leave used towels and rubbish outside for collection. In the end, we found this disappointing and poor value, at more than two to three times what we paid for other Japanese hotels on the trip with equal or better facilities. The location was fine for transit and sightseeing, but I expected more for the price.

The location made this a convenient base for my six nights in Kyoto. Travelodge is in a busy shopping area, close to restaurants, conbinis, bus stops, and train stations. I heard cars revving at night because my window faced the street, but as a deep sleeper it didn’t bother me. The entrance is set back from the road, with a garden area that feels quiet. I got a good deal during a Travelodge sale, paying not much more than nearby hostels or capsules. For me, a private room and bathroom at that price was worthwhile. The front desk staff were welcoming when I checked in and out or had questions, and they had a good luggage storage system before check-in and after checkout. The room was roomier than I expected, with enough space for several bags, though still basic by Japanese hotel standards. It was clean and worked fine, but showed wear like dents in the walls. The raised bathroom floor felt awkward. The shower had enough room for me at 5'8", though taller people may find the ceiling low. The bidet wasn’t as nice as the usual Toto, but it was still good to have, and the firm bed was typical for Japan and Asia. There are toiletry items by the elevators, and I found the q-tips handy. The hotel has two elevators and a laundry room, though I didn’t use the laundry. Cleaning is every third day, as they explain at check-in, and you can get fresh towels from the front desk for free whenever you want. The room had definite signs of use, but it was clean and functional. I’d stay again and recommend it to budget-conscious travelers like me.

The location of Travelodge Kyoto ShijoKyoto was fantastic, close to everything. The rest of our stay was well below average. We stayed five days and never found either of the hotel’s two advertised washing and drying machines available. Guests waited in line for hours, sometimes all day, to do laundry. It felt insulting that they’d put in just two machines so they could claim to offer the service. Housekeeping only came every four days, and to get fresh towels between visits we had to go down to the lobby. The hallway carpets were visibly dirty too. Noise was a bigger problem. The windows didn’t block sound, and we couldn’t sleep properly. We didn’t sleep at all the first night, and wore headphones on the following nights, but could still hear motorcycles, people yelling, and street noise. We were on the ninth floor, and I can only imagine how bad it is lower down. Their Yamato luggage service only took cash, unlike other hotels we stayed at that accepted cards. It’s a small thing, but annoying. I’ve seen management respond to negative reviews by saying they’ll make improvements, but the problems still seem to be there. This was a very average stay that could have been much better with basic attention to comfort and service.