Oriental Hotel Kyoto Rokujo

We stayed in two rooms at the Oriental Hotel from June 6 to 10 and were very satisfied with our two rooms and the hotel as a whole. The hotel is located in a somewhat quieter residential area, fortunately not near the busy train station or Nishiki Market, but with good bus connections via three different bus stops, which can be reached on foot in 3, 5 and 10 minutes. For a little grocery shopping we went to the nearby supermarket (7 minutes). The rooms were spacious and well equipped. The TV was actually a bit awkwardly positioned and therefore difficult to see from the bed. However, there was a small sofa from which I could access my Netflix and YouTube account with my own credentials, which was sufficient to catch up on the news. We were happy to make use of the free bottled water, kettle and filter coffee. The room was clean and, contrary to other reviews here, of course cleaned daily. No traffic noise due to the location. Someone wrote something about strange mattresses, but we slept well on pretty normal hotel beds. As we had not booked breakfast, we cannot comment on the selection. In the evening, hotel guests had free access to various hot and cold drinks. So everything was great here, too. The hotel staff were very friendly and attentive on arrival and departure. We are happy to recommend this beautiful hotel to other travelers.

Pros: -The breakfast was amazing—authentic Japanese taste, with each dish carefully selected. -The room was quite spacious, especially by Japanese hotel standards. -It's about a 20-minute walk from Kyoto Station. You can drag your luggage if it’s not too heavy and if it’s not raining. A taxi from Kyoto Station costs around 800 to 1,000 yen. -The area is very quiet. Cons: -There is a smoking room at Ground Floor and I could smell tabaoco a bit which I didn't like. -There are only three washing machines on the ground floor, and they are almost always in use. You’ll need to be lucky to find one available. -A few of the reception staff seemed less experienced than others. -I checked out one day early but did not receive a refund. They strictly follow their policy with no flexibility, so be cautious when making your reservation. -It's a bit far from the station.

This so-called 4-star hotel falls far short of expectations—I would not recommend it. The property has only three washer/dryer units available for over 50 rooms, making it nearly impossible to do laundry. The breakfast selection was extremely limited, offering just a few options, none of which included any protein. The “king-size” bed was actually three small beds strapped together horizontally, creating uncomfortable ridges across the entire surface. Watching TV was also a challenge, as the screen faced a wall rather than the bed. Housekeeping is only provided every four days, which feels insufficient. The location is also inconvenient, with no dining options within less than a 15–20 minute walk. The bathroom appeared to have mold and I experienced breathing issues that I believe were related. The bathroom outlet hung over the toilet so you essentially would need to blow dry your hair hanging over it. On top of it all, the room lights can only be turned on from deep inside the room, which is frustrating upon arrival. Overall, not worth the price.