yugen kyoto shijo

The staff made us feel welcome from the start. They were warm, attentive, and genuinely caring whenever we spoke with them. The rooms were comfortable, thoughtfully designed, and spotlessly clean, with what we needed after a day out in Kyoto. Yugen Kyoto Shijo has been open for less than four months, yet it already feels polished and full of character. The location also struck a nice balance: it's about a pleasant 15-minute walk from Kyoto's most visited areas, while the hotel itself stays calm and comfortable. For the price, the quality is outstanding. It's unusual to find this level of service, comfort, and convenience at such a fair rate. Yugen Kyoto Shijo is a wonderful new addition to the city, and we'd happily return. Highly recommended for a memorable stay in Kyoto.

The first impression was genuinely good. The room was comfortable, the location extremely convenient, and the hospitality seemed nice. But the end of our stay changed how I felt about the place. On the last night, I asked the front desk about extending our reservation. The staff member was polite, but said we'd have to switch rooms three times. It would've been more considerate to just tell us there wasn't suitable availability. Checkout day was worse. At 11:05, while we were literally walking out, another staff member, who seemed to be some kind of manager, knocked, pointed at her watch, and said we were late. She saw us with four heavy suitcases and three laundry bags. The hotel doesn't offer laundry service, so we'd had to use a nearby laundromat. Still, she didn't offer help, call anyone over, or bring a luggage cart. Once we'd got everything to the lobby, she insisted I go back upstairs for a third room key card, even though I'd already explained it was on the table. Again, she demanded it without offering any help with our luggage. After this, I wouldn't recommend staying here. Kyoto has plenty of hotels in the same price range with much better service, hospitality, and care for their guests.

The room was enormous, with lots of thoughtful little details. I was lucky to find this place after a snowstorm wrecked my original plans. My hotel in Nagoya called the guest services here to see if they could fit me in that same day. I arrived stressed and off itinerary, but the front desk staff and managers happily helped me rework my plans and add more places since I now had three extra days in Kyoto. They even turned on the underfloor heating before I arrived, based on my approximate arrival time. The room was so big I needed a bit of help figuring out the lights and outlets. There's a simple sento in the basement, and tattoos can be left uncovered, which may matter to some people. The staff were also politely attentive whenever I needed something. The hotel is very close to the river, shopping, and transport connections, but it's tucked away on a smaller, quiet street. Leaving for my next hotel felt like a letdown after such a lovely stay. I'd absolutely come back.

The onsen was beautiful, with a big sauna, cold plunge, and hot pool. After walking 25k steps every day for five days, that cold plunge really saved me. The hotel was so quiet that I didn't hear a sound from the street or inside, and we slept better here than anywhere else, thanks to the comfy bed and blackout shutters. We were here for our honeymoon, and Yugen Kyoto Shijo became one of our favorite stays in Japan. The rooms are large, modern, beautiful, and comfortable, with warm lighting and thoughtful design throughout. The WiFi was great too. I travel a lot for work and have stayed in many places. This is one of my favorite hotels. I noticed some low reviews came from the same couple who'd left bad reviews for lots of places, so I'm glad I booked anyway.