The Royal Park Canvas - Kyoto Nijo

Location is good, staff are friendly.

The beds are extremely uncomfortable. The mattress was very hard and stiff. Both my partner and I struggled with sleep and comfort. Unfortunately affected my back for the following days after my stay.

Really nice bathroom with a 2 person shower. Nice lounge area with a happy hour although very short and largely unused since there aren't many options. The location was great since you're right across from one subway and just up the street from another taking you in most directions. Great bakery around the corner called the Lion. Communal baths are very nice and well kept.

Loved the location, really convenient for getting around – right opposite the train station and just 2 minutes walk to a bus stop for approximately 10 different bus routes. Staff are welcoming and very helpful. Rooms were kept spotless - cleaned every day and towels replaced. (Wouldn't normally advocate this but with the heat and walking round showers were required 2+ times a day.) Bed was very comfortable and room had all the required amenities. There was an ironing room on each floor and I particularly liked the washing machines on the 5th floor that took card/phone payment as well as coins – really useful as I never had the correct change. Whilst there was a kettle and mugs in the room I liked being able to get free coffee and tea in the lounge area. The breakfast buffet wasn't fancy but had a range of both cooked western/Japanese options available as well as cheese, pastries, cereal, yoghurt and fruit.

My room was on the side of the hotel and so the window had heavily frosted glass which you couldn't see through. As I was out all day and only back to sleep this wasn't really an issue but the rooms facing with clear glass were a lot brighter which helped them feel bigger.

Place was clean and quite comfortable. Really good shower. Good location, with the station just across the road. Lots of shops and a few restaurants nearby, which was handy.

The hotel lacks any personality. Overpriced for what you get. I had a few issues and the staff were not overly friendly or helpful. There are only 5 washing machines for the whole hotel - 1 was out of order, and 2 more were locked all day, had to get staff to assist in opening them. The fan in my bathroom would not turn off, even with no card in the power slot. It was quite loud and disruptive to sleep. I asked staff for help, but they were not at all interested, just told me to close the bathroom door, as if that wasn't the first thing I tried? Nowhere to fill reusable water bottles apart from the bathroom sink - I forgot to fill mine 1 morning and was looking for a tap in the lobby, but the staff just offered me a plastic bottle, defeating the purpose. There is coffee and tea in the lobby for guests but the coffee is very average.