Kyoto Universal Hotel Karasuma

I was pleasantly surprised by the excellent value for money. I made a difficult request because I wanted to send a parcel from the Hotel, but they kindly helped me and it was a huge relief. I would definitely stay here again.

On my way back to Okayama from Tokyo, I stayed for one night and did some sightseeing in Kyoto. This was my second stay here. The nearest station seems to be Kujo on the Karasuma Subway Line, but it’s also within walking distance from Kyoto Station. The weather was nice again this time, so I walked.It’s reasonably priced with two meals included. For dinner, you can choose either a set meal or curry; I chose the set meal without hesitation. It came with a hamburger steak, fried fish, and vegetables—well balanced nutritionally. They said refills of rice aren’t available, but the portion felt sufficient. The salad bar and drink bar are free to use. Last time I bought beer from a vending machine, but this time I decided not to drink. I also saw some guests bringing their own bottles.Breakfast is a standard Japanese/Western buffet. Nothing unusual, but both quality and quantity were more than adequate.The Room feels like a studio apartment without a kitchen. The bed, sofa, and bathroom were all spacious enough. It’s well equipped with an empty refrigerator, an electric kettle, and a hair dryer. Since the indoor bath is large, I didn’t use the public bath again this time.One difference from a typical Hotel is that once you step out of your Room you’re outdoors with no air conditioning/heating in the corridors—so in midwinter you’ll need proper warm clothing. It’s away from the city center, so rather than using it as a base for walking around everywhere, it may be better suited for taking things slow and getting plenty of rest. There’s also a convenience store nearby, so if you arrive late at night or leave early in the morning, No Meals Included might be a good option too.