An unassuming hotel in amidst the main shopping area of Kyoto turned into one of the best hotels I have ever stayed in. Though it isn’t 5 star luxury, I had loads of space, a beautiful view and the location meant I could explore without having to travel for miles.
Location
Located in Teramachi a long, covered shopping street which has everything from high end designer clothing to cafes and restaurants. It is in easy walking distance of the subway and train stations but I found Kyoto to be really walkable and flat. The hotel is 20 minutes away from Nijo-jo castle by foot or by subway and 15 minutes by foot or subway to the Imperial Palace and its grounds.
I loved the really close proximity to the Kamo river because it was a great place to sit with a coffee and escape the city for a short period. Gion is one mile away by foot and really easy to explore without having to travel miles.
The trains are really easy to use in Kyoto and I was able to explore some of the sites which are slightly further from the city centre, such as Fushimi-Inari Taisha and Arashiyama. The hotel staff were very helpful with planning routes and advising on the easiest way to reach some of Kyoto’s most beautiful areas.
The Room
The hotel has two buildings separated by a small road and I stayed in the North building in a huge corner room. My room was a standard double, but I felt as though I had been upgraded to something a bit more fancy. I had a full queen sized bed to myself which looked out across the city.
I had a small seated area and a huge television with a full sized dressing table. I also had a fridge, kettle and free coffee and tea in the room. Once again the room had minimal wardrobe space but I did find a corner where I could store my suitcase without having the fear of tripping over (like I did several times in my hotel in Hiroshima).
The Bathroom
I found the bathroom to be really odd in this hotel because I had to walk through the bathroom upon entering my room. However, the toilet was in a separate room and the bathtub was also in a separate room. We all know I cannot get enough of Japanese toilets and Hotel Gracery did not disappoint, the toilet lifted it’s lid each time the door opened and even had an auto flush. I personally loved how you could play music but I am not really sure why anyone would do that (toilet karaoke anyone?).
The bathtub was huge and even had a seat, I felt like I was in a spa because I could float around in the bath whilst stretched out fully. I like how the bath and shower are in a separate wet room because it meant I didn’t have to worry about making the floor slippy.
The sink was separate from the bathroom which was ideal because I could use the sink to wash my coffee mug as well as brush my teeth.
Dining
The hotel doesn’t have many facilities for dining but there is a 7eleven across the street and both Starbucks and Tully’s within minimal walking distance. A breakfast restaurant is in the south building but I didn’t try it because there are so many delicious bakeries around which are cheaper and more my thing, sadly Japanese breakfasts weren’t for me.
Facilities
The passage which connects the north and south buildings of the hotel is designed like a Kabuki alley, mimicking an entrance to the theatre. Lanterns light the way and it is so beautiful especially at night. The paintings are designed in a traditional way showing faces of the actors and different scenes being acted out.
The second floor of the north building has a reading corner filled with manga and other books. There is also the coffee and tea available 24 hours a day. I love this because it is a really relaxing spot and you don’t have to sit in your room if you don’t want too.
The hotel also has laundry services, a key card system in the elevators for extra security and this meant only guests have access to the hotel rooms, something I love to see when I am travelling solo.
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