Sora Niwa Terrace Kyoto

The room was small yet cozy, complete with an entryway and a well-designed partition. The biggest pleasant surprise was the vibe of the terrace bar! The hot springs were also wonderful. To be honest, I was quite worried about this trip since I'm not fluent in either Japanese or English, but thankfully, Suzuki Yusu at the front desk on the first floor was so patient! As a solo traveler, I really felt so warmed by his kindness. Heading straight to the hotel to drop off my luggage as my first stop in Kyoto made for a truly wonderful experience. When I checked in at the 9th-floor lobby in the evening, a very friendly ********* lady patiently answered all my questions. The hotel's location is fantastic, and so are the service and atmosphere. I will definitely stay here again next year! I hope the hotel management will recognize and commend the staff who provided such patient and polite service.

Gorgeous hotel with excellent service. The onsen offers views of the hills and the pagoda, and is available in the evening as well as in the morning until 10:00. Free drinks and ice cream are provided in the bar, along with a 4-step facial skincare routine. Highly recommended!

Dissatisfaction points: We were assigned a room at the very end of a low floor. The window faced a wall, but it was also street-facing, and being on the third floor, the four streets outside were incredibly noisy at night. We arrived very early, at 11 AM, and the front desk assigned us a room number then, but we didn't check in until the evening. The facilities were poor. The entire hotel only had two washing machines, and they were separate units for washing and drying. You had to queue to wash, then queue again to dry. Doing laundry meant waiting until midnight. I've stayed in many hotels in Japan and never encountered such a situation. Also, the room was very small. Due to the rain that day, activities like the bar were canceled. They only offered one bottle of beer per person. This was just bad luck; if you want to experience the atmosphere, it's best to check the weather in advance.

This hotel was the highlight of our Japan trip. The staff were incredibly friendly, and the facilities were extensive and well-maintained. The lobby is on the 9th floor, as is the free onsen, which also offers complimentary drinks. Plus, every day from 4 PM to 6:30 PM, you can get a free drink at the top-floor bar, which boasts amazing views. Our room wasn't huge, but it was fully equipped and very clean. I was particularly impressed by a male staff member at the front desk and a female staff member at the top-floor bar – they were both incredibly nice. If I ever visit Kyoto again, I will definitely choose this hotel.

This is my second stay at this onsen hotel, and I love it! You can enjoy a deep hot spring bath, and the Kamo River is right downstairs. It's located in the Shijo Kawaramachi shopping district, making dining, shopping, and transportation incredibly convenient! Plus, it's only 1.2 km from Yasaka Shrine.