OMO5 Kyoto Sanjo by Hoshino Resorts

I stayed here for two nights in Kyoto. The room is indeed quite small, but it makes up for it with a great location and excellent service. Hoshino seems to be a domestic Japanese hotel group, so it has its own unique style, which I really like. One day, I booked breakfast but overslept by just five minutes and missed the ordering cutoff time. However, the young guy at the breakfast area was so nice; he told us to come find him the next day and made up for the breakfast we missed. It tasted great too! I will definitely consider staying here first on my next trip.

The environment was noisy and the hygiene was very poor. The air conditioning vent was moldy, and I immediately got a sensitive nose upon entering. After repeated negotiations, I insisted on checking out early. I will never stay at any hotel in this chain again, it feels very low-end. They wouldn't even provide a glass in the room, only plastic ones, and the ceramic cups still looked very cheap. There were no teabags or mineral water in the room, only on the first floor, and no washing machines in the entire building. The room must have just been repainted, but the furniture and appliances weren't properly covered, so there was dust in the air conditioning and paint drips on the furniture.

The location is convenient, the room is clean, and the breakfast is delicious. You can also take away coffee or tea. They offer discounted parking, but it would be even better if parking could be reserved in advance.

The lobby offers hot water and tea bags. There's a FamilyMart and a 7-Eleven right on either side of the hotel. The Shinshindo bakery is very close, and their 'Bago' bread is delicious. There are many shops lining the main street, which is great for a stroll. You can walk through three famous shopping streets, then turn into the Teramachi Kyogoku shopping arcade. After that, it's an easy walk to Kyoto-Kawaramachi Station. The Sanjo Ohashi bridge offers beautiful river views. Taking the bus from directly across the hotel to Kyoto Station is also very convenient.

This is a great hotel with a fantastic location. There are plenty of late-night food options nearby, like ramen and Tanmaru Suisan, which is perfect for grabbing a bite later in the evening. Transportation is also super convenient, especially if you have a day pass, making it easy to get to all the different attractions.

The hotel is conveniently located, about a 10-minute taxi ride from Kyoto Station, or about 15 minutes by bus if there's no traffic. There are also plenty of convenience stores and restaurants nearby. I really enjoyed the breakfast, with 4 options to choose from, and the complimentary snacks and coffee available from 8 PM to 10 PM – it felt quite luxurious. And of course, the food was delicious. Just a heads-up: they don't provide cosmetic amenities, so make sure to bring your own. Other than that, I had a very comfortable and pleasant stay.

The hotel is close to a main street, making it easy to get to attractions. Public transportation is readily available, and it's near three shopping streets, which is convenient for shopping and dining. There are also many restaurants, coffee shops, sushi places, and Kobe beef restaurants nearby.

The room was spotless, and the wooden floor design really gave it a clean feel. It was a good size, fitting two large suitcases comfortably, and there were two chairs, which was great for relaxing after getting back to the hotel. It's a shame there's no self-service washing machine or dryer, which was a bit inconvenient, but otherwise, it was good.