707-1 Myodenjicho Shijo Sagaru Nishinotoin-dori, Shimogyo, Japan | (618) 248-8274
Located on a central road in Kyoto's commercial district
Pleasant rooms with air-conditioning, kettles, and mini-fridges
Subway approximately a 10-minute walk away
Traditional Japanese communal bath on-site with massage chairs
Business center and multiple meeting rooms
Breakfast with local dishes available (for a fee)
Self-service laundry rooms
Free Wi-Fi
Parking is available (for a fee)
Hotel rooms are small and dark
Some accommodations don't have a view
No on-site restaurant for lunch or dinner
Decor lacks color and personality
The mid-range Mitsui Garden Hotel Kyoto Shijo is compact and conservatively furnished in modern, streamlined decor. Clean and pleasantly decorated, the 169 rooms tend to be on the small side, and they can feel dark. But amenities like free Wi-Fi, electric kettles with green tea, and slippers, help them feel comfortable. For many, the hotel's proximity to mass transit and local restaurants is its top feature, but there's also a traditional communal bath on-site that guests can access for free. And it's multiple meeting rooms attract business travelers. By comparison, the Mitsui Garden Hotel Kyoto Shinmachi Bettei is much newer and rooms are brighter, though it's not as near mass transit, and rates are a little more expensive.
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Scene
Conservative decor with Japanese flourishes that's suitable for business travelers
From the street, the Mitsui Garden has an unassuming look: It's a simple squat building fronted with an arched modern awning. Inside, the lobby resembles a conservative bank, with a tall ceiling, beige marble floors, and dark wood walls. There's little seating aside from hard benches and stools, but guests remark that the lobby and other common areas of the hotel are more upscale than the rooms. Down the hall from the reception, a rock garden with a giant red parasol relaxes the tone a bit. The on-site Japanese baths (or onsen) has more relaxed decor, with white, 60's-style modern chairs and polished wood floors, but it's still streamlined and free of color.
Location
Located in downtown Kyoto with easy access to public transportation
The central location of the Mitsui Garden Hotel Kyoto Shijo makes it popular with business travelers and tourists. Several bus lines run near the Mitsui Garden Hotel Kyoto Shijo and the Shijo Nishinitoin stop is just a two-minute walk away. Public transportation can be taken to several popular tourist attractions, including Kinkakuji (30 minutes), Nijojo Castle (15 minutes), Gion (18 minutes), and Fushimi Inari Shrine (27 minutes). The Karasumaoike subway stop is a 10-minute walk away, and the main Kyoto train station is a 30-minute stroll or an eight-minute cab ride. Travelers arriving at the Osaka International Airport will need about 50 minutes to get to the hotel by car. While there are historic streets nearby, shopping centers and plenty of restaurants are within a 10-minute walk.
Rooms
Small rooms with simple, streamlined furnishings
The rooms at Mitsui Garden Hotel Kyoto Shijo are simply furnished, but not unpleasant, with a dark, masculine color palette of grays, tans, and dark brown. Platform beds made up with crisp white sheets, and dark-wood furniture, including good-sized work desks, center the room. But the mattresses are smaller than what's typically found in the west (which is to be expected), and the furniture layout is tight. There's free Wi-Fi, mini-fridges, slippers and robes, and electric kettles with green tea in every room. Air-conditioning is standard, and microwaves can be requested. The bathrooms are a bit cramped, but do have shower/tub combos and toilets with bidet functions. Toiletries are free and plentiful in pump dispensers.
Features
Meeting rooms, laundry machines, and communal baths
The communal Japanese bath is the most notable amenity in the hotel with plenty of room to relax before and after taking a dip. Massage chairs extend the pampering services beyond a simple soak. Breakfast is available for a fee, though note that dishes tend to be Japanese, and the hotel doesn't serve other meals. A business center is available for working travelers. The meeting rooms come in a variety of sizes offering space for VIP get togethers or larger presentations. On-site coin-operated laundry machines are also a boon for business men and women on an extended stay.
