El Inn Kyoto

Since we only needed 1 night stay I looked for a place that was reasonably priced, so I didn’t expect much. However, my family and I were impressed by the look of the hotel. It was clean and staff were so friendly. The hotel provided some very nice unexpected touches. The beds were so comfortable. One of my best night sleep on our trip. The hotel allows you to drop off your luggage early! (A big plus that allowed us to drop off our luggage and start exploring Kyoto!) I loved the proximity to Kyoto station (across the street) which made it so easy to catch the train back to Tokyo.

The location is great, with 7-11 next to it and Lawson down the street. Less than 5 minutes to train station, 10 minutes to bus station. You can have lots of selection of food and shopping at the station hub. Many car rental near the hotel.

Arrangement of 2 of my rooms next to one another. As we booked twin and triple room, it can’t be arrange next to one another unless you upgrade your twin room due to Annex and Main Building have different room size. It is connected only via level 3 (I think) I ended up paying extra at the hotel just to have both room next to each other. Onsen is a bit small, with sauna and cold bath but they are at least well maintained.

Location and the public bath beat everything. The room is average small, but shouldn't be a problem if you spend the whole day in the city. It's hard to find a place with similar facilities with that price, especially with a public bath that spacious. Staff is friendly and willing to help. The breakfast has good varieties as well. There are to convenient stores nearby.

Although it's close to the train station, if you need to take bus to Kawaramachi or other northern areas, it can take some walks. However, given that it's close to the Shinkansen platform, it should not be a real problem. The real issue might be the wifi--on my device it's not stable.

Excellent customer service, great english speaking staff is friendly and accomodating. Breakfast buffet was a pleasant surprise, affordable, with many Japanese vegetable choices. Katy-corner location to Kyoto station, just minutes from great shopping and restaurants. On-site onsen is a plus, but can get very busy during late night and early morning hours. Status of restaurant seating, onsen use and laundry facilities can checked through your TV or smartphone.

Classic Japanese business hotel, rooms are cramped with only a handful of power outlets. Not much space for large luggage. Beds can be a little too firm for Westerners.

Excellent location just across the street from Kyoto railway station + a local bus stop right at the doorstep to take you around the city. Large, buzzing hotel, but very quiet in the corridors and rooms. Plenty of elevators, huge lobby area, very neatly organised. I didn't use their Japanese-style spa, but they seemed very proud of it and it always seemed well occupied. Breakfast was as good as it can get for a vegetarian in Japan. Polite, smiling staff who can get the message across effectively enough in English. Nothing at all to fault here.

I wish the room had a cupboard/wardrobe, but that seems to be a Japan thing rather than this hotel specifically.

The location is strategic for using JR, subway, and bus to explore Kyoto. It is at the exit of Kyoto Station with many restaurants and stores in the area. All necessary amenities are provided. The hotel provides free luggage storage services before check-in and after check-out. Staffs are English-speaking, friendly, and supportive.

Air conditioner cannot work, although we book the room with it. There is such machine in the room but only works as a centralized heater. So, when the window is open, the weather is too cold. When it is close, the weather is too hot and not ventrilated properly.

Everything good. Convenient location, just next to 7-11 store. Pleasant & cheerful front desk staff, luggage storage before check in time, excellent buffet breakfast, public hot spring bath as bonus.

The dated room carpet. The long queue at breakfast. The hotel should consider re-arrange the food presentations, or provide instructions that it is free to walk around for food instead of going round all the tables. Some guests may prefer skip japanese rice and pickled veggies. Some only wish to have some salad and bread, not the whole parade. Under the present arrangements, all guests need to go through the whole food arena which is not necessary and a waste of time in my opinion. The 30 min queue actually kill my mood that morning.

The hotel doesn't seem old and nop lmoldy smell. There is an air purifier available. We opt for non smoking room for 3 pax. Like the space, a little surprise even the fact that hotel room in Japan is typically small. Not in our case as we are small built Asians. Like the little thoughts the hotel has put in compared to other hotels we stayed in Japan. 1, the sink and powder area is separated from the room. There is even a small sink in the attached bathroom. So there is no need to fight to wash up in the morning for 3 of us. 2, there are hooks for bags, pyjamas, laundry bag and hair dryer made available. Some hotels in Japan do not provide pyjamas, hair dryer and laundry bag nowadays. 3, there is a public bath area, good for a great soak and bath after all yhe walking in major attractions in Kyoto. 4, Very conveniently located, just 5-8 minutes walk from JR West line, East exit from Kyoto station. It was a little confusing on day one of arrival how to get out of JR West to the hotel. Once we get to familiarise, navigation is easy. Staying near means there is no rush to hit the Kyoto station, the interchange to transfer to the Shinkansen, JR West line and Subway, bus terminals. One can even book JR or Shinkansen reserved seats tickets early at the ticket station. 5, I strongly advise one opt for breakfast buffet if you are one in for Japanese style breakfast. A good stay afterall for 3 nights in Kyoto. Will definitely book if we ever visit Kyoto.

If only there is gym facility available and more local or seasonal fruits offered at the breakfast buffet.

The hotel was easy to find the reception team extremely friendly our room was a good size clean and tidy with a good size bathroom the great thing about Japanese hotels is you have everything on hand The Onsen was lovely Hot bath cool bath with a sauna too, great place to relax after a long day on foot walking The breakfast offering was exceptional with a range of Japanese/European food we always opt for the Japanese very tasty the umami of the food is exceptional Will definitely use this hotel again next time we visit

Nothing just perfect

Extremely close to Kyoto station! A lot of food places and shops in the area! Staff was very helpful especially when we asked them to help us send our luggages to our next hotel. They have a Japanese communal spa for men and women which was great (can get busy though).. Check-in and check-out was straightforward. Front desk staff was very helpful and so was the cleaning team who cleaned our rooms and gave us bottled water during our stay. I would happily stay here again in my next visit to Kyoto.

Wish there was a microwave and iron in each floor like the other Hotel Elcient branch.