ファイブペンギンズ
I was born and raised in Kyoto, but now I live in Tokyo. I go back to Kyoto about 4 or 5 times a year, but for various reasons, I stay in hotels or ryokans. As a hotel enthusiast, I have stayed in various hotels in Kyoto, except for Aman Kyoto and a few others, I have been dissatisfied with many accommodations. The main reason is the poor cost performance. It may be a world-famous tourist destination, but the hotel prices are too high. For example, in Tokyo, you can stay in a high-rise popular hotel in the city center for around 50,000 yen per night. On the other hand, in Kyoto, luxury hotels such as foreign-owned hotels cost at least 100,000 yen per night. And if you stay in a cheaper room, the view may be bad and the room may be disappointing. If you specify a room, the price goes up even more. Even staying in a traditional Kyoto townhouse hotel costs around 50,000 to 100,000 yen per room. However, as someone born in Kyoto, I don't necessarily want to stay in a traditional townhouse. Staying in a business hotel is also unsatisfactory, so I have stayed in over 30 hotels in Kyoto. As a result, I have concluded that the Hotel Nikko Princess Kyoto is the best fit for me. First of all, the price range is higher than a business hotel, but it is relatively affordable compared to other city hotels. The hotel is not too large, which I like. It is located within walking distance from Shijo-Karasuma, the business center of Kyoto (similar to Marunouchi in Tokyo). There are subway and Hankyu train lines running nearby. Since Kyoto's subway system is not well developed, having two train lines is a valuable asset. The hotel also has a high level of service at the front desk and offers porter service. The twin rooms are a decent size at 32 square meters. The bathroom has a shower area, which is convenient. The beds are Airweave beds, which provide a good night's sleep. The hotel uses natural spring water, which is soft water and leaves the skin moisturized even after a bath. The coffee brewed in the hotel is also delicious. The location is in a business district, so there are many restaurants, including traditional house restaurants, within walking distance. The hotel also has four restaurants, including Western, Japanese, Chinese, and Teppanyaki, as well as room service. The Japanese restaurant "Saga" is one of the restaurants where you can enjoy a high-quality breakfast if you choose a plan that includes breakfast. I used to love the traditional Japanese breakfast here, with dishes like rolled omelet and shredded dried fish with sansho pepper. However, when I tried it again recently, I was a bit disappointed as the flavors seemed to have declined. The rolled omelet and salmon were not as hot and freshly cooked as before, but rather cold and tough. Perhaps due to the decrease in customers during the pandemic, the quality has slightly declined. Nonetheless, the area where this hotel is located is just a 2-minute walk from my husband's family home, which is currently vacant and cannot be stayed in. Sometimes, I can see the building of the family home from the hotel window, which makes me feel happy. After visiting various other hotels, I have come to the conclusion that this hotel is the most familiar and comforting to me. It has become like a second home to me now.