Hearton Hotel Kyoto (Kyoto, Japan)

The hotel location makes it easy to get to the subway lines and buses. However, the system is very slow and unreliable, so make sure you allow additional time in your travel plans. Nevertheless, the hotel is within walking distance of Gion and the Imperial Palace.

Rooms are clean, spacious, and large by Japanese standards, especially for the price range.

It's a basic and straightforward business class hotel. The breakfast buffet is adequate with the option of a quality Japanese breakfast in the dining room.

The smell of cigarettes is everywhere, even in the non-smoking room and the elevator. If you are a non-smoker the smell is pungent. The entire non-smoking floor smells of cigarettes.

Though subway exit-one is the closest to the hotel, if you decide to take this route get ready to tackle a long flight of stairs. There are no escalators or elevators. You will be better off taking exit-three and crossing the street instead.

Looks like the hotel needs a renovation or lower their room rates, it's more like an expensive hostel than a sophisticated hotel. It's too basic to put it mildly. To top it off, reception is not that friendly either. Sure, there may be a language barrier, but even basic gestures can be accommodated with a smile. There is not much offered in the way of guides, maps, and transport info from the hotel either.