マダム・チェチーリア
This time, I stayed at the Karasuma Kyoto Hotel for two nights during the Kyoto Catholic pilgrimage. Breakfast was served here, starting at 7:00 am, and departure was at 8:30 am. I went down to the 3rd floor early, but there were already over 30 people waiting in front of the door! The 3rd floor of the hotel is where the banquet rooms 'Zuiun' and 'Sansui' are located, giving off a banquet waiting room atmosphere. On this day, the fourth board meeting of the Kyoto Social Welfare Corporation and a social gathering for the Toban High School baseball team were scheduled. After a 10-minute wait, the door opened exactly at 7:00 am, and the 30 or so people waiting in line all entered at once. The buffet table had a variety of Japanese, Western, and Chinese dishes, but the large number of people made the line move slowly. I skipped the line and grabbed some grapefruit juice and milk before heading straight to the coffee corner. I poured three cups of coffee into small cups since there were no mugs and settled at a counter by the window. From there, I could see the quiet morning on Karasuma Street, with no sign of people yet. I observed the progress of the line and saw the hotel staff controlling the entrance, allowing the next 10 people in once the line had moved a bit. It seemed like it would take quite some time to explore all the options, so I was happy with just my café au lait and fruit on the first day. The next morning, I lined up at 6:45 am and managed to get scrambled eggs, simmered daikon radish, and grilled salmon. The young woman next to me had an impressive spread that covered all genres, and I couldn't help but admire her selection. She mentioned that she lived in Nara and always stayed at this hotel for breakfast when she had business in Kyoto. The breakfast buffet with Japanese, Western, and Chinese options costs ¥2138, while there is also a 'Business Breakfast' option for ¥950. A handsome waiter recognized me on the second day and brought me a coffee refill, providing the only touch of hotel service. The display lacked sophistication, and there was no hotel-like feel to the bread, fruits, and jellies. It seemed more like large boxes for handling group guests. On the left side of the hotel entrance on the 1st floor, there is a Starbucks, and on the right, there are renowned Kyoto brands like Norenkai, Kyoto Tsukemono Nishiri, Uji tea from Fukujuen, and Iizutsu Hachihashi Honpo. These well-known brands seem convenient for tourists.