4-59 Fukakusa Nishiuracho, Fushimi, Japan | 81 75-647-0606
Walk to Fusimi Inari-taisha shrine in 15 minutes
Reach Fukakusa train station in seven minutes on foot
Clean rooms with mini-fridges and flat-screen TVs
On-site restaurant, tea lounge, and bar
Children younger than 8 stay free in parents' room
On-site parking (for a fee)
On-site laundry facilities
Bicycles available for rent
Free Wi-Fi in guest rooms
Many rooms are small
Location is remote and far from attractions
Fee for Internet access in lobby
The 199-room, three-pearl Urban Hotel Kyoto is within walking distance of the famed Fushimi Inari-taisha shrine. This isn't the most central Kyoto hotel, though, and it feels fairly suburban, so other attractions will require train rides from Fukakusa station, a seven-minute walk from the hotel. Rooms are small and simple, but clean, and offer all the necessary amenities like flat-screen TVs. The on-site restaurant serves Japanese cuisine, and there's a tea lounge as well. There are plenty of hotels closer to Kyoto's major attractions, like the Sakura Terrace Hotel, but it's hard to beat the price of this one.
Scene
Basic hotel suitable for all types of budget-savvy travelers
The hotel is situated in a basic seven-story brick rectangular building. Guests drive up to the covered entrance, with bicycles for rent by the front door. Inside, the lobby is spacious, with gifts and souvenirs for sale on each side. Black leather chairs and hassocks in the center provide seating, and the front desk spans one wall. The tea lounge is off to the side and computers are set up by the elevators for guests to use. It's a simple hotel, with little that's memorable in terms of style and substance, though it's clean and modern throughout. The hotel is suitable for all types of budget-savvy travelers who don't mind being away from the action.
Location
Walking distance to Fushimi Inari-taisha shrine, but other attractions require transportation
The hotel is located on a busy street with a few small restaurants nearby, but no major attractions in the immediate area. A convenience store is across the street. From the hotel, it is about a 15-minute walk to the famed Fushimi Inari-taisha shrine and just a bit farther to Tofukuji Temple. The Fukakusa train station is a seven-minute walk from the hotel and makes connections to Kyoto Station and other lines that run throughout the city. The hotel sells bus and train tickets at the front desk. The Osaka International Airport is about 40 minutes away by car or 90 minutes by train.
Rooms
Clean, simple rooms with mini-fridges and kettles for tea and coffee
Rooms are clean, contemporary, and simple, with 22-inch flat-screen TVs, air-conditioning, robes and slippers, mini-fridges, tea- and coffeemakers, work desks, free Wi-Fi, and hairdryers. Like many hotels throughout Japan, though, these rooms are small, with Single Rooms coming in at 13 square meters (32 square feet) of space, and Double Rooms not offering much more. There is no nightstand, so reading lights are built into the headboard. The color scheme is mostly beige and brown, with pops of subtle color in the purple on the bed covering and a red desk chair. Furniture is the simple, dark wood veneer variety found in many hotels around the world, and walls are bare except for a lighted decorative mirror. Beige bathrooms are tiny, but come with toothbrush kits, razors, and bath products in large eco-friendly bottles. Irons, humidifiers, blankets, and desk lamps are available for an additional fee.
Features
On-site restaurant and tea lounge, souvenir shop, and assistance with bus and train tickets
Guests are welcomed to the hotel with free mineral water. The Lavender tea lounge serves coffee, tea, and light fare in a light-filled space with large windows. Kyowasabi offers Japanese cuisine, including sushi, and its signature dish,_ tsuyushabu_, a brothy twist on shabu that's sourced locally. Breakfast is available, but it's not included in room rates. A gift area in the lobby sells Japanese souvenirs. Two desks by the elevators provide computers and a printer for guests to use, but there is a fee. Vending machines sell alcoholic beverages and soft drinks, and there are coin-operated washers and dryers. The Community Hall is suitable for meetings or social events.