ASAI Kyoto Shijo

Excellent service and location. The hotel facilities are new, clean, and modern. The rooms aren't very spacious, but they're sufficient for a good night's sleep. The hotel restaurant is very welcoming, and the staff is incredibly attentive. Just a few blocks from Nishiki Market!

I was so excited for my trip to Kyoto, but honestly, I will NEVER stay here again. Don’t let the "aesthetic" social media photos fool you. It feels like they just use the "lifestyle hotel" label as a pathetic excuse for being completely inconvenient and poorly managed. Service was a joke. When I arrived, the staff didn't even acknowledge me; they were too busy chatting with each other. The check-in was robotic and cold, with zero information about the amenities in the lobby or the hotel facilities. The restaurant experience was even more appalling. I had a dinner-inclusive plan, yet I was left sitting there for over 30 minutes without anyone even looking my way. When someone finally showed up, they asked, "When is your companion arriving?" even though I was clearly traveling solo. It was embarrassing and showed they hadn’t even bothered to check my guest profile. The room was cramped beyond belief. There is literally no space to even open a suitcase. With only a few hooks on the wall and zero storage, the room becomes a mess the second you put your coat down. The layout is also a nightmare for privacy. The shower has no changing area, so you have to get dressed right in the middle of the room—super awkward if you’re sharing with a friend. To top it off, a housekeeper knocked while I was mid-shower. Since I couldn't answer, I was genuinely terrified they were just going to walk in on me. What was truly unbearable, though, was the lack of cleanliness. The room was filthy. I found plastic trash from a previous guest in the corner, and the floor was covered in hair and crumbs—it clearly hadn't been vacuumed. There was a thick, visible layer of dust on the headboard and window sills that you could literally write your name in. The most disgusting part was finding someone else’s hair in the shower drain. It was absolutely nauseating to be forced to stay in a room with someone else’s filth. I seriously doubt they even clean between guests. Then there was the noise. The walls are paper-thin. I could hear every single conversation and TV program from the neighboring rooms. The sound of people walking and doors slamming in the hallway echoed all night long. I came here to relax, but I couldn't get a wink of sleep, which totally ruined my sightseeing the next day. Security is another major red flag. The elevator doesn’t require a keycard, so literally anyone can walk up to the guest floors. As a woman traveling alone, I felt incredibly unsafe and vulnerable. I expected so much more from a famous Thai hotel group, but honestly, your average Japanese business hotel is cheaper, cleaner, and way more professional. Don't choose this place just for the "vibe" or you’ll regret it. There are so many better hotels in Kyoto; there is absolutely no reason to stay here.

A very nice hotel will placed just one metro stop from Kyoto station. The beds are really comfortable and the restaurant is Thai food at reasonable prices. Shower is small but pressure is first rate.