THE BLOSSOM KYOTO

The hotel punches above its weight! (Depending on the price you get especially, watch out for those deals!) It has a tiny garden-with-water composition at the entrance. There is a “zen-garden” around the reception area and you see the garden (behind the fogged windows) from the spa area! You get the small basement lounge area with free coffee and matcha latte (hot and cold), Snickers chocolates, cream-filled cookies, ice cream, tea, nuts mix and soda water (coca-cola, ginger ale and plain carbonated water). There’s a gym which is large but doesn’t have that much equipment. There are a couple of treadmills and a couple of bikes, also there’s one nice cable machine station which allows you to do back, chest, shoulders and arms exercises (maybe some more). The hotel is nicely decorated! You have those silk panel-like decorations, there are artworks (ceramic tiles, etc.) around the aforementioned basement lounge area. Also there’s a fan 🪭 in a niche in your room (it’s glued to its stand and the stand is glued, too 😅; I stayed in different rooms and the fans were the same 😅). Double room seemed a bit nicer than the twin one as it had a wee larger table and a sofa-like space if I remember correctly. The twin room has a tiny round table instead. Also the TV is better viewed from a double bed. 🙂 The TV had wireless casting (including AirPlay) support. The rooms are split into “concrete floor” and tatami parts. Incidentally, the bathroom is in the “concrete floor” part. There was some traffic noise at night. A double room was closer to the main road so it was a wee louder there. There are blackout curtains. The temperature in December was comfortable. I never touched the AC controls even. Anyway, I am seeing some other similarly-priced hotels in Kyoto and The Blossom is simply better. Also the staff is nice, they stand and greet you next to elevators (when you come down in the morning) as well! The elevators were good compared to some other hotels. First of all, I don’t remember an elevator ever stopping at the lobby floor when you are going from your floor to the basement, say. Also, when you go to the first floor, elevator stops rather rarely to pick up other people (if ever). Surprisingly positive elevator experience compared to some other hotels! I haven’t tried the breakfast. But dinner options were OK, the prices seem decent, too. The laundry was some nights very congested which caused some negative emotions. I’m not sure why don’t they buy more washing machines, there is so much free space in the hotel! Another nitpick: why the books in the lobby are fake? 😅 Can’t you buy 5-10 real books (or will guests take them? 😳)? Anyway, the hotel is poised to be my most recommended hotel in Kyoto in its price range. 🪷

The BEST hotel I’ve been at. The location is amazing. However, the best thing was how clean and nice the rooms were. Furthermore, the services provided are amazing. Onsen and free snack bars really elevated everything. Loved it so much and will definitely be coming back!