-2023 Kyoto Trip 14- Stayed at "THE THOUSAND KYOTO" near Kyoto Station for the past two years, but prices have gone up post-COVID, exceeding budget. Other hotels in Kyoto also saw price hikes, but with health insurance subsidy, booked this hotel for 26,000 yen for 3 nights. No specific lounge for dining, but free coffee in the lobby from 6:00 to 24:00 was very helpful. -Coffee beans used are from Italian brand "LAVAZZA" with a rich taste. For those who don't like coffee, there was also green tea available, specifically Kyoto Uji tea from "Tsujiri". Breakfast is available at the hotel's restaurant "KIHARU". --Below is the hotel review for the Deluxe Twin Room. (Good Points) -Spacious room at 32㎡ with calming colors, creating a cozy space. -Separate bathroom, toilet, and sink, making it convenient. -Close to Kawaramachi, Karasuma Oike, and Pontocho with excellent bus and train access. -Surrounded by bakeries, cafes, and restaurants, making it easy to find meals from breakfast to dinner. -Good staff service. -3 elevators with no waiting time, stress-free. -Smoking area on the 1st floor. -Staff are proficient in English. (Bad Points) -Bed width may be slightly short for larger individuals. -Only one male and female toilet on the 1st floor and one barrier-free toilet. -Some noise at night due to nearby restaurants (not too bothersome). Most guests are Western foreign tourists, likely over 90%. The hotel provides sufficient English support.

I stayed at a hotel and had breakfast there. It costs 2,200 yen for a single meal. Drinks are all-you-can-drink at the drink bar. On the second day, my partner and I had a Japanese set meal with mackerel simmered in sweet soy sauce. On the third day, I had a toast breakfast and my husband had a pizza bun. The hotel meals were decent, nothing special. The minestrone soup was really delicious though! Personally, I wish there were more varieties of Japanese set meals since we were in Kyoto. The hotel staff were very friendly and their service was great. Thank you for the meal. Thank you very much.

Sorry, Kyoto travel edition... at the end of May 22.5, I can't write in order as usual... please forgive me σ(^_^;) This time, I want to talk about the hotel where I stayed. We stayed at the "Cross Hotel Kyoto" for 2 nights, a slightly high-end business-style hotel, I suppose? It is part of the Orix group, located in Kyoto... I'm not very familiar with Kyoto's geography, but I think it's around Sanjo, is that correct? It was very convenient as a base for our wandering trip. Originally, my wife thought about staying at a ryokan in Arashiyama... but she left the booking to her and in return, I wouldn't complain. She had already decided on this hotel a long time ago, I'm not sure what made her choose it, but the result was that her choice was perfect and very comfortable. Here are some of the good points: - The room was spacious! (laughs) - The chair and table in front of the TV were comfortable and perfect for relaxing after a day of walking. - The room had windows on two sides and was a corner room, which was a big plus. - The bathroom (with a separate shower area) and toilet were separate, which is a big plus for me since I usually stay at business hotels. - The amenities, such as the Bluetooth speaker, were impressive. - On the last day, they offered to keep our luggage after check-out, which was very helpful. For more details, please check the photos σ(^_^;) Now, onto the food review... We had breakfast at the restaurant "KIHARU" on the 1st floor of the hotel for both mornings. Unfortunately, due to COVID-19, they had stopped their buffet breakfast, which was supposed to be excellent according to my friend. So, we had to choose from a selection of 4 items for breakfast. Here's what we had: First morning (2nd day): KIHARU's Healthy Salad Breakfast - Fresh orange juice and water before the meal, coffee and milk after - Pumpkin soup - Multigrain bread - Soy ham - Salad with lettuce, chickpeas, ham, dried fruits, couscous, tofu, dragon fruit, etc. - Fruits: pineapple, orange, kiwi - Yogurt with honey and chia seeds Second morning (3rd day): Japanese set breakfast - Mackerel in sweet soy sauce, pickled daikon, simmered pumpkin, kinpira, dashimaki tamago, rolled eggplant, boiled hijiki and tofu - It was a traditional Japanese breakfast and was delicious. That's all for now!

A solo trip to Kyoto, I believe staying in the Standard King room here for consecutive nights is the way to go. Even if you don't mind the room size, it's suitable for two people as well. In fact, the Standard King rooms seem to be the first to fill up at this hotel. All rooms have a bath with a separate shower (toilet is separate). The hot water fills up faster here compared to other hotels. I used to find the hand soap container inconvenient, but this time it was changed to a more user-friendly one. There were a few other changes as well. Due to the enforcement of the Plastic Resources Circulation Promotion Act, amenities are now self-service from the front desk. The provision of portable alcohol spray has been discontinued, and room cleaning seems to be returning to normal. This time, I used a discount coupon I received from a reservation site to have lunch at the hotel's Kiharu Brasserie. I had a salad with tuna cheek meat and pasta with rape blossoms and clams. I was a bit bothered by the burnt rape blossoms, but considering the discounted price, it was acceptable. It can get noisy at night, probably due to the nearby famous clubs, but other than that, I have no complaints. I would like to stay at this hotel again.

One of the pleasures of staying at this hotel is breakfast. Each time, you can choose from four carefully crafted menus. Last time, they had a collaboration with the renowned Kyoto bakery "Shinshindo". This time, I chose the pizza bread on the first day, and the Japanese set meal on the second day. Both were quite delicious. I was impressed by their consideration for guests staying multiple nights, as they change the soup and salad dressing taste every day. This is a difficult attempt to pull off, but they managed it well. I was impressed.

It's Kyoto, Kyoto is Sanjo. From Kawaramachi Street, one block south of Sanjo. Just east of Ryoma Street, this shop is located. This year, my first business trip to Kyoto. I chose this hotel ♡♡ Stylish and fashionable from the entrance. The front desk staff were sharp and a bit cold, but that's a Kyoto-like feeling, I guess? The room was decently spacious. What made me happy the most was that the bath had not only a bathtub but also a space to wash my body. The provided shampoo, conditioner, and body soap had a nice scent, not too strong. I had breakfast at the cafe on the first floor. Maybe because of the current situation, it was not a buffet but a set menu where you choose one item. However, you could have unlimited refills. The drink options were as follows: A. Cinnamon hot sandwich breakfast with apples and oranges (toast, apple tarte tatin, oranges, cinnamon, whipped cream, egg dish, grilled bacon, grilled sausage, soup, salad) B. KIHARU's healthy salad breakfast (seasonal vegetable and soy ham salad with white miso and shikwasa dressing, rye bread, yogurt and honey chia seed, homemade juice, soup) C. Pizza bread with 4 cheeses and basil sauce breakfast (toast, 4 types of cheese, tomato, onion, salami, basil sauce, egg dish, grilled bacon, grilled sausage, soup, salad, seasonal fruit) D. Japanese set meal (grilled fish, rolled omelet, 3 side dishes), rice, miso soup with plenty of ingredients, pickles) I was torn between A and D, but since I was staying for multiple nights, I chose A, the apple and orange hot sandwich. A lovely staff member who looked like they came out of a Korean drama greeted me with a smile, and I started the day feeling good. Soon, the soup and salad were served. They looked good but tasted ordinary. Next, the apple and orange hot sandwich arrived. It looked good, but if asked if it was delicious, I would say it was average. Would I eat it again? Maybe in a year or two. The grilled bacon was also average. I wished it was more crispy. As expected, it wasn't enough, so I added yogurt and fruit. The yogurt was okay, but the fruit was a bit disappointing. The plate was yellow with yellow bananas, yellow pineapples, and purple grapes. Was this color coordination intentional? Anyway, I finished my meal that day. The next day, I ordered the Japanese set meal D. Perhaps because it's not the main focus of the restaurant, the quality was disappointing. The kombu roll and kinpira were not tasty enough. Were they store-bought? Therefore, although A was not bad, I do not recommend the Japanese set meal D. That day, I added salad and yogurt. The salad and yogurt were delicious. So, if I stay here again, I'm not sure if I'll choose the breakfast option, but since the room was nice, I would like to stay here again.

This is currently the hotel I use the most in Kyoto. This time, I stayed in a Superior King room for 3 nights. It was definitely larger and didn't feel cramped compared to the Standard King room, but the table was smaller and inconvenient. The amenities are the same as in the Standard room, so personally I prefer the Standard King room. The good points of this hotel are: 1. Good location 2. All rooms have shower areas (not unit baths) 3. Rooms are clean (the hotel is new) 4. Reasonable prices 5. Well-equipped charging space on the first floor. It is conveniently located within walking distance of both Keihan and Tozai lines, as well as Kawaramachi Station. It is easy to get around by bus as well, making it perfect for those who want to efficiently visit tourist spots. Additionally, all rooms have shower areas regardless of room rank. Although there may be slight differences in amenities and bathrobes in Deluxe rooms and above, the basic bath layout should be the same. Some things to be aware of or disappointed about are: 1. Some rooms may not have tables or have small tables 2. It can be noisy at night 3. No sauna or gym facilities 4. Taxis cannot be hailed in front of the hotel unless pre-arranged. In particular, hearing noisy people outside at night can be unpleasant. Also, the lack of emphasis on food and drink may be a negative for some people. There is only one casual restaurant on the first floor, and there is no room service. The service is at a good standard for a city hotel. They seem to handle requests competently. For those who want to actively sightsee, dislike unit baths, and expect a certain level of cleanliness and room size, this hotel is a good choice at a reasonable price.

Located one street down from Kawaramachi Sanjo, along Ryoma Street, this hotel is part of the Orix group and has been awarded 3 Michelin pavilions. I stayed here for 2 nights in November and December 2020, and 4 nights each in September and October 2021. I also have plans to stay here this month, making it the hotel I use the most. It is convenient as it is accessible by two train lines, and it is a good place for jogging as it is about 10km round trip to Ginkakuji Temple via the Philosopher's Path. There are also many nearby attractions such as Sanjo Meiten-gai, Zest Oike, and Yamaya, making it suitable for those who prefer to stay in the hotel. The only inconvenience is that it is difficult for taxis to enter the street. In terms of facilities, all rooms have a bath with a washing area, which is great for someone like me who dislikes unit baths. The tub is a good size and the water fills up quickly. One thing to note is that the Standard Twin rooms do not have a desk or table. If you need a table, you will have to choose a room above Standard King. During my fourth stay, I was upgraded to a Deluxe King room. It was spacious and I was delighted to find bathrobes in the room. The tea provided was of higher quality compared to the standard rooms. I couldn't help but take the leftover tea home (laughs). As part of COVID-19 prevention measures, several precautions have been taken to reduce contact between guests and staff. Cleaning is done on a request basis, and if you opt for no cleaning, they will leave a paper bag with replacement items like towels on the doorknob (hand delivery is also possible upon request). They also provide a portable alcohol disinfectant spray, which is a thoughtful gesture. The staff are also very pleasant. The only downside is that you can hear children making noise late at night. However, compared to the neighboring rooms at the similarly priced Hotel Regal Royal where noise easily travels, this hotel is much better. I did not plan to use the restaurant, but as a thank you for the upgrade, I tried the breakfast once. The breakfast (1,980 yen) had four options to choose from: Croque-Monsieur with 4 types of cheese, Breakfast Japanese set meal, Breakfast Salad, and Breakfast Mont Blanc Toast. Although the Breakfast Salad was tempting, I chose the Croque-Monsieur with 4 types of cheese as I wanted to eat meat. It consisted of salad, drink, soup, and a main plate. It seemed like an all-you-can-eat style, so it would be good for those who want to eat a lot. The Minestrone soup was too salty and the Croque-Monsieur was heavier than I expected. It came with oily bacon and sausages. I think it would have been better balanced with something acidic like pickles. The fruit served was kiwi and orange, of average quality, but I was satisfied as it was my first kiwi of the year. On the last day, I didn't feel like going out due to the rain, so I stayed in the lobby and worked despite being on paid leave. The lobby here may not exude luxury, but it has many charging spots which are practical. I ended up staying there until dinner. Overall, the hotel's cleanliness and convenience make it stand out compared to other hotels in the same price range in Kyoto. I would recommend it to those who value convenience and cleanliness. For me, the worst hotel in Kyoto is ANA Crowne Plaza.

My husband and I always spend our wedding anniversary in Kyoto during a weekend in February, as it falls on the first day of spring. This year, we visited Kyoto for 2 nights and 3 days using JR Tokai Tours' free plan. We stayed at the Cross Hotel Kyoto. Despite the cold weather in February, Kyoto was less crowded this year, possibly due to the impact of the new coronavirus. The Shinkansen was only half full, Kyoto Station and the city were quiet, and taxis were readily available. The streets were easy to navigate, and most people spoke Japanese. The hotel we stayed at was relatively new, and the taxi driver knew exactly where it was when we mentioned it, which is rare in Kyoto where new hotels are constantly opening. The hotel had a stylish design, reasonable prices, and the staff were very accommodating. There was a coffee machine next to the front desk, where guests could relax with a cup of coffee and Kyoto-themed magazines. I enjoyed the strong, yet refreshing coffee with a touch of sugar and milk. My husband loved it so much that we immediately booked a 3-night stay for Golden Week in May. The hotel was already filling up fast for the holiday, so I recommend booking early. I would definitely love to visit this hotel again.

This hotel opened on September 25, 2018. I visited Kyoto to meet a friend's mom who was working there. I stayed at this newly opened hotel. It is a city hotel, so it doesn't have a spa, but it is functional and efficient. The room had a Dyson humidifier, and the buffet breakfast dining area had a Balmyuda toaster and Staub pots for keeping the food warm, giving it a stylish and cutting-edge feel. The lounge had Nordic-style chairs with a Japanese layout. There was a coffee machine with newspapers and magazines neatly arranged next to it, creating a relaxing atmosphere. The hotel is conveniently located within walking distance of the Kamo River, Nishiki Market, Takashimaya, and the antique district, making it a great location for shopping and sightseeing. The rooms are at least 25 square meters, making it a good choice for tourists. I opted for the breakfast buffet at the 1st-floor restaurant "KIHARU Brasserie," and it was delicious. I recommend getting a plan with breakfast included.

The Mongolian squid and bamboo shoot black ink pasta and soup were very delicious. The dressing on the salad was either too much or too salty, which was disappointing.

Great value for money!

I used the breakfast the day after my stay. Thanks to the breakfast plan, which is normally 1980 yen, I was able to enjoy it for free. You can choose from 4 different breakfast plates and then have unlimited refills of your favorite items. Additionally, you can help yourself to as many cold and hot drinks as you like. I didn't hesitate to try all 4 breakfast plates with unlimited refills. Among them, the seasonal Mont Blanc toast, hot croque-monsieur, and thick crispy sausages were my favorites. These are a must-try. With unlimited refills, I couldn't help but order more, regardless of the time of day, and my excitement naturally increased. Enjoying delicious food and filling up your stomach in a fun way seems to be the secret to not accumulating stress. I am grateful for the high-quality breakfast that helps to ease any lingering tensions from yesterday's argument. I bow my head in gratitude. Hoping for another wonderful day ahead.

Breakfast at Cross Hotel Kyoto offers a choice between three Western dishes and one Japanese dish, instead of a buffet due to the current situation. Without hesitation, I ordered the Japanese dish. It consisted of mackerel as the main dish, miso soup, and surprisingly, red bean soup with mochi as dessert! In addition, you can freely enjoy orange juice and coffee. The Western option includes famous toast from Shinshindo in Kyoto. Tomorrow, I will challenge myself with the Western dish.

I used this hotel for sightseeing in Kyoto with my family. It is located in Shijo Kawaramachi, one of the busiest districts in Kyoto. I don't remember the exact price, but it was around 13,000 yen per night for 3 people with breakfast included. - Good points: - The building is new. - The rooms are clean. - The Wi-Fi is fast, although there weren't many people during my stay. - The bathroom is separate from the toilet and quite spacious and comfortable. - The breakfast was amazing! (Even for non-guests, it's a great deal at 1,980 yen) - The elevator doesn't pass in front of the front desk, so it's less crowded, which I liked. - Bad points: - No parking available (nearby parking lots are expensive and mostly tower parking). Breakfast: For non-guests, it costs 1,980 yen and you can choose from plates A/B/C/D, with options for Japanese and Western dishes. The quality of the food is very high, and I haven't had a better Eggs Benedict anywhere else except at "THE LIVING" in Chidori-cho, Tokyo. I think it's worth staying at a cheaper accommodation nearby and having breakfast here.

Stayed on June 27, 2021.