Smile Hotel Kyoto Karasuma Gojo

To be honest, not really clean at all. The walls are dirty, the ac is dirty, the wall paper is peeling, the paint is chipping. Theres one elevator and it takes pretty long. The coin laundry is pretty dirty. The washrooms arent super clean either.

Liked: Smile Hotel Kyoto is located in a very quiet area, right next to Gojo Subway Station. Gojo is only one stop from Kyoto Station on the Karasuma Subway Line, and Exit 8 is practically next to the hotel. If you have luggage, I recommend using Exit 5, which has lift access, and then it’s just about a 5-minute walk to the hotel. The staff were very polite and always willing to help. I especially liked the housekeeping staff. she was incredibly sweet, polite and clearly took pride in doing her job well. The bed, linen and pyjamas were all clean and comfortable. The coin laundry was also reasonably priced compared with bigger cities like Tokyo and Osaka, and laundry detergent was available at reception for a very cheap price. There’s a 7-Eleven right next to the hotel, which was very convenient. There’s also a large supermarket called Presco near the Kamo River. One of the things I really enjoyed about staying here was being able to take a peaceful walk along the river. The room was, as expected, quite small, but considering the price and location, I felt it was a very good bargain and a comfortable base for exploring Kyoto.

Liked: Breakfast was good. Good Wifi. Hotel is right next to the Gojo train station, which is 1 stop from the main Kyoto Station.

Disliked: The room was really small, and bathroom was claustrophobic. If you're 185cm or over you won't fit in the bathroom. The rooms are only cleaned once per 3 days, but they do change towels every day.

Must recommented to stay

The hotel is right next to the Gojo Station exit, just one stop away from Kyoto Station, making it super convenient to get around the city.

I booked reading reviews so it’s my fault entirely Hotel: smaller than it looks but positioned on quite road so ok Room: beds take up most of the room. Toilet is small and I just about fit in it Amenities you choose Break fast: literally no vegetarian stuff I brought my own food and decaf coffee even though I paid for breakfast I won’t stay here again

really nice stay

Smile Hotel Kyoto Karasuma Gojo is a smart pick for exploring Kyoto. The room was comfortable and clean, with a nice bench seat that added a bit of character. Location is excellent — near Kyoto Station, making day trips to Nara, Osaka, or around Kyoto itself very convenient. The Karasuma area keeps you close to shopping and dining without the tourist crowds. Staff were pleasant and helpful. Good value for a multi-night stay in one of Japan's most visited cities. Would book again.