Hotel Trend JR Uji Ekimae

The room was quite small, which was the one drawback for me. Still, staying in Uji worked out well for my 10AM Nintendo Museum slot, and this hotel is only about a five-minute walk from JR UJI station. There are plenty of matcha shops and places to eat close by, so you won’t run out of options. The concierge kindly kept our bags before check-in and again after checkout. I appreciated being able to have one last lunch in Uji before heading back to the big city.

We ended up paying ¥5,000 because we couldn’t leave the car park without our ticket. When we asked the manager for help, he insisted the staff would never have kept it, and didn’t offer to check the CCTV or investigate. I found that assumption really frustrating. This started when we arrived around 10:30pm on 23 Dec 2023, after two family groups had checked in. One bespectacled man was handling the counter. He first asked only for the booking name, so we asked whether he needed our passports. He then took them, copied them, and eventually returned them after we reminded him. We also asked about the parking ticket. He took it and gave us three barcode coupons, then said the ticket wasn’t needed to exit and the coupons were enough. My husband, teenager and I all heard him confirm this, so we left without the ticket. The next day, we told a staff member what had happened, but the manager still wouldn’t check what the night staff had done. Looking back, we should have been more cautious when the passports weren’t requested at first and the copies were forgotten. We should have insisted on getting the parking ticket back. I hope sharing this means someone else won’t have to go through the same thing.

The rooms are clean, and there’s enough space to open a large suitcase, though the bathroom is on the small side. The decor is quiet and simple. It works well as a base for sightseeing or business in Kyoto and Uji, even if it doesn’t offer much of a hotel experience in itself. At night it’s peaceful despite being close to Uji Station, since the neighborhood is residential. Elevator and other equipment noise is minimal, the bathroom fan can be adjusted in each room, and the walls don’t seem thin, so privacy feels well maintained. The staff were consistently polite and professional, and I’d be glad to stay again. There aren’t many hotels around Uji Station, so choices are limited. Nearby restaurants are also scarce, which is the main drawback.

The room was a little compact, and the window view wasn’t very open, so it may disappoint if you want a scenic stay or room to spread out your bags. Still, for a Uji sightseeing base, the location, price and cleanliness felt like a good balance. JR Uji Station’s south exit is only a three to five minute walk away, which made getting around with luggage easy. The room was new and clean, with well-kept beds and linens. I chose the bento-style breakfast plan and found the portions and food satisfying. Staff were courteous and gave clear parking instructions in advance, so arriving by car and checking in went smoothly. I’d consider this first next time I visit Uji. Book early for weekends and busy tourist seasons.