Waka Kyoto Kawaramachi

The staff were helpful, and the laundry was trivial cost. Still, I didn’t think it was good value compared with other places. Our Japanese-style room was small and a bit stuffy, and the toilet was the tiniest I’ve ever seen. A bit of a challenge to balance on it.

Getting around was easy, with transit and sightseeing spots nearby, and the front desk staff were friendly. They gave us water bottles when we asked. We spent four nights in a twin room at Waka Kyoto Kawaramachi. It was clean and quiet, and the air conditioning worked well. We used the washer and dryer on the first floor. There’s only one of each, and our clothes were still very damp after the first 30 minutes, so you may need to pay for another dryer cycle. The bathroom setup was the one thing that made us uncomfortable. Its door was frosted, and the mirror was positioned so the other person in the room could see inside. We would’ve liked a bit more privacy.

The room was clean but very cramped, with the fridge tucked behind a table. The front desk staff spoke limited English and wouldn’t help us get a cab. I also wished they could answer basic tourist questions. The staff member who did speak English came across as dismissive.

The rooms are on the small side, though there was enough room to rest and unwind. Everything was super clean, and they had spare toothbrushes, razors, and hairbrushes in case you’d forgotten yours. There’s also a washer and dryer you can pay to use. It’s in a great spot for walking to most sights, restaurants, and bars, and the staff were really friendly and helpful. Such a lovely hotel. I’d love to come back sometime on my travels.