This time, I chose to stay at Tokyu Stay in Kyoto. One of the reasons for choosing this hotel is that we could choose a checkout time of 12:00 (normally it seems to be 11:00). It is located about a 2-minute walk from Karasuma Oike Station, which is a convenient station for tourists as two subway lines intersect there. This hotel seems to be suitable for long-term stay guests and is popular among foreign tourists. The rooms are equipped with a drum-type washing machine with a dryer. It's also nice to have a microwave. There are several convenience stores nearby, so you can save on meal costs by using the microwave. The hotel is new, so the security is good. The elevator requires a room key to operate and can only go to the designated floor. Security is important in urban hotels. The hot water comes out well, and the wall-mounted TV in the room is large and comfortable. However, there is no closet in the room. Clothes can only be hung on the wall, which could be a significant downside for some people. Breakfast is served in the adjacent building's dining room. It is a buffet with a focus on Japanese cuisine using Kyoto ingredients. There are also basic Western dishes such as scrambled eggs, bacon, and bread. The breakfast buffet with plenty of vegetables is very helpful during trips where you may be lacking in vegetables. It was a New Year's stay, and I was pleasantly surprised to see dishes that were conscious of the New Year, such as black beans and red and white pickled vegetables. The disappointing points were that the bread was not very tasty (Kyoto is the city in Japan with the highest consumption of bread, so I had high expectations) and that they served margarine instead of butter. Margarine is recognized as dangerous in some Western countries and is being regulated, so I would prefer them to serve butter. Considering the price of the hotel, I understand, but I wish they would use slightly higher quality ingredients, even if they reduce the variety of dishes. Considering the high cost performance of this hotel, maybe I shouldn't complain. Since it was a New Year's stay, I chose a plan with breakfast included, but there are several cafes nearby where you can have breakfast, so it might be better to go out for breakfast. I can't give a high score for breakfast based on the Tabelog rating, but considering convenience and cost performance, I think the hotel itself is not bad.

I stayed at this hotel for the second and third night of my trip to Kyoto. I chose this hotel because I had a great experience at Tokyu Stay Kyoto Shinkyogoku before, which is in the same group. The price I paid was around 25,000 yen for 2 nights for 2 people, which is about 6,000 yen per person per night. The staff were very friendly and helpful. The hotel has a system where the elevator stops only on the floor of the room you are staying in when you scan your room key inside. There is a drink machine in the lobby where guests can help themselves to hot coffee, tea, and cold soft drinks, which was a nice touch. The room also had complimentary mineral water and tea from a local shop, which was a nice added service. The only downsides were that the room was smaller compared to the previous hotel I stayed in, and there was a slight odor in the bathroom when I first entered. The location is convenient if you plan to mainly explore around Karasuma Station, but it might be a bit inconvenient if you prefer to explore areas like Higashiyama, Gion, and Kawaramachi. Ease of booking: ★★★★★ Likelihood to revisit: ★★☆☆☆ Due to the inconvenience of the location for our preferred areas of exploration.

I used to have my hotel reviews rejected immediately if I didn't mention the restaurant, even if I talked about the hotel's drinks. However, it seems like the standards have changed, so I'm going to try posting this review again. The hotel has a lounge on the 1st floor for guests, where you can find a variety of cold and hot drinks available for self-service. The hot coffee was my favorite, and you can even take it back to your room with a lid provided. During hot weather, the cold drink corner was always popular, but they made sure to restock regularly. The rooms also have high-quality tea bags available. Overall, it's a recommended hotel, especially for its convenient location and clean facilities.

Now it is called "Tokyu Stay Kyoto Sanjo Karasuma". Originally planned for a day trip but ended up staying overnight due to unfinished plans. Limited options for last-minute booking, but miraculously found availability and was saved. Well, you get what you pay for. Had dinner at "Kyoto Kotokoto" on the premises. This was my second time here. The side dishes that come with the set meal are highly praised. Indeed, they are delicious. Sashimi, eggplant miso, seasonal cuisine like conger eel tempura, and more... After dinner, returned to the room and continued drinking. It seems I was a bit too drunk for the bath (sweat). The bed was spacious, and I was able to sleep soundly, so that was good. Woke up feeling refreshed!

During my trip to Kyoto and Niigata, I had the opportunity to create several Foodlog reviews, but due to the timing of the trip, the reviews are being posted now. I am a follower of the Jodo Shinshu sect, as mentioned in a previous review of "Korinso." This time, I participated in a tour of Kyoto and Niigata with around 30 fellow followers and staff members to attend a training session at the Jodo Shinshu head temple in Kyoto. The training session and stay at the temple were scheduled for 2 nights and 3 days, so I stayed at this hotel on the first day of the trip. The hotel is located on a charming street called "Ryoemachi-dori" and has a traditional Kyoto townhouse with a courtyard. The lobby was welcoming with amenities and a drink bar. The highlight for me was the in-room washer and dryer, as I tend to sweat a lot and needed the option to do laundry during my stay. After dinner, I used the laundry facilities provided and enjoyed a relaxing bath. The next morning, I visited Rokkaku-do Temple nearby before having a satisfying breakfast buffet at the hotel. The atmosphere of Kyoto made me crave Yudofu (tofu hot pot) and the hotel did not disappoint. The accommodation fee mentioned in the hotel brochure was 50,000 yen per night, indicating that it is a high-end hotel. Overall, I received excellent hospitality and then proceeded to the Jodo Shinshu head temple for the training session and service activities.

Accommodation with breakfast included. The breakfast buffet at a separate building called Kotokoto, just outside the accommodation building, was delightful. There were various Kyoto-style dishes lined up, which was enjoyable just to look at. They had Kyoto-style sukiyaki with Kyoto long onions and hot tofu as well. With so many options to choose from, I couldn't help but eat too much white rice...