Kyōto, Japan + Add a trip

640-1 Shimogoryomaecho, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto, Japan

One of the first boutique hotels in Kyoto, located just minutes from the Imperial Palace. It has 4 floors with 13 rooms, and each and every room was created by a different designer (http://www.the-screen.jp/guestrooms/index.html).

We stayed 2 nights in 2 different rooms, #403 (Sam Liu AA Dip by Make Studio, London) and #301(Katsunori Suzuki, Japan). #403 is separated with tansparent screens, or by thin, see through white curtains and it looked a little odd and cheesy to me. #301 is a simple, wood-furnished sunny room with big windows (although the view is not so fabulous). Bathroom and toilet are separated so it's convenient to use together, but the bathroom floor get all wet when you shower due to it's design, so you'll need an extra towel for a bath mat.

The only thing that got me frustrated was their old useless Mac on the 2nd floor ; there were 2 machines, one was broken and the other one was just too slow to do anything.

Room Amenities :
Simmons' hollywood queen size bed, REN skin care series, air conditioning, Nespresso coffee maker, daily newspaper, desk, desk light (BIOLITE EON), DVD/CD player (BOSE), iPod deck, hair dryer, in room safe, inhouse movies, internet access, jacuzzi bathtub, mini bar, non smoking rooms, separate shower and tub, 42 inch television LCD/Plasma screen etc.

Kita-Oji

ほっとしました

555 Minamigawa, Gionmachi, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto 605-0074

4-minute walk from Shijo Station on the Keihan Line near Yasaka Shrine

Kawaramachi-Oike, Nakagyo-ku

Excellent hotel across the street from Kyoto city hall; fine service and rooms. Not cheap but good deals often available.

京都市下京区油小路通塩小路下ル東油小路町552-13

The bike terminal where we rented bikes was about 5 minutes walk from JR Kyoto station (http://www.kctp.net/en/access/index.html). In their website they said that the return terminal (they have 5) must be decided at the lending reception and it can't be changed BUT yes you can change it. They'll charge you another 600yen or so for that case though.

This is a very quiet, very quaint old building whose single manager Hide-san looks after. Located near the big intersection of Shijo and Horikawa Dori. I'd also recommend you take a bath in the local sento, for which you can buy tickets at Uronza for 350 Yen.

Nijo

I had really nice Italian cuisine here! The outside appearance of the restraurant is Japanese traditional machiya-style with good atomosphere.