Prince Smart Inn Kyoto Shijo Omiya

The hotel is brand new, the rooms are great and the location is very convenient (close to a metro station, railway to Arashiyama and near a lot of Bus Stops). We were there in late February and some days we came back to the hotel to drop off the things we bought or to change clothes and it was really convenient to do so with so many options of public transportation. The only downside is the breakfast (you get to choose between 2 types of sandwiches (chicken or egg) water, japenese tea or black coffee, but since is free, you shouldn’t complain lol (and you have a 7-11 just across the street and a Family Mart near as well) The price was really affordable and we would definitely stay at it again. PS: we got the standard room and it was more than enough to fit us, 4 big suitcases + 2 carry ons.

It’s a modern-style hotel with rooms that are slightly larger than the typical size in Japan—very clean, with a spacious and comfortable lobby. A simple breakfast is provided (a sandwich and coffee or tea), which does the job. There are lockers available to store your luggage if you arrive early, as check-in is strictly at 3:00 p.m. The hotel is located on an avenue about 1 km from Kyoto’s main shopping area, but it’s an easy walk back and forth. Alternatively, you can take a bus just a few meters away, including to other attractions like the castle or the bamboo forest. It’s surrounded by convenience stores and dining options.

The hotel exceeded my expectations, it is basic but meets all standard needs. The room I was given was bigger than I expected and it came with two beds! The shower has it's own little room inside too. Onsite you can leave your luggage in the lockers before and after check in which came in handy and you can pick up free amenities in the lobby (pyjamas, toothbrush etc.). Also had breakfast included which was nice to have and a laundry room if needed! Staff were also very helpful and kind! The hotel is also situated in a quiet area so there was no noise at night. I would recommend here for a short stay!

Everything was great for the price point! I couldn't fault our stay. The beds and pillows were super comfortable. Super clean and new. Their amenities counter, including toiletries, was well stocked. Water bottles available for each night. Good sound proofing even though we were near the elevators. The Shijo Omiya location was super convenient to access the Randen tramway, Hankyu line, and many city buses service this area. Lots of local eateries that weren't tourist traps, even though it's just 2 km from the busy Shijo-Gion area, Nishiki Market, Pontocho, Gion, etc. McDonalds is a 2 min walk for those who really need it. For those wanting a local sento, Gokoyu is a 900m walk away. The 12 min walk along quiet streets showcases how locals live - some homes are tiny!

I may have got lucky with the price at the time so I'd say very good value for money especially since I booked quite short notice only a few days before checking in as prior accommodation I had booked needed to be cancelled for personal reasons. The hotel was ideally located if you're wanting a little bit more of a chill vibe but still want to be close to the "central parts" of Kyoto. The hotel room was nice, clean, and spacious. The beds and pillows were great, had plenty of room to move about and really appreciated the table and stools to have a comfortable place to snack and keep all the mandatory conbini snacks bought at the end of the day. Love that the hotel had it's on dedicated laundry room and vending machines for guests, quality of life facilities really make the stay more comfortable. Again location wise it was perfect for us, 25-30 mins on bus from Kyoto station, 25-30 mins walk to Kawaramachi shopping district.