After an exciting adventure in Japan’s historical city, my Travelodge Kyoto Kawaramachi review is done for anyone planning to stay in the central downtown area. This hotel is also part of the Travelodge Japan chain, with hotels in Osaka, Nagoya, and Hokkaido. It is one of the up-and-coming properties that caters to all travellers.
Travelodge Kyoto Kawaramachi Review
Although I have visited Kyoto several times, this was my first time staying here for five days. Spending more time here is much better than travelling from Osaka. It makes sense to visit Kyoto only to experience this beautiful city.
First-timers visiting this part of Japan tend to try to see both Osaka and Kyoto on one trip, just like I did 15 years ago, but I realised that Kyoto has so much more to offer; it is a trip by itself.
Looking for hotels around Kyoto can be tricky because most people will opt for a cheaper price. I thought that was the way until I realised that cheap does not mean convenience. Based on my experience, you will find out why in this hotel review.
Choosing a Hotel in Kyoto

Choosing a convenient hotel for your travels around Kyoto is among the hardest things to do. Let me share that Kyoto is relatively large, with several districts that offer fantastic tourist sites. So, I needed to find a centralised hotel, and the Travelodge Kyoto Shijo Kawaramachi Hotel was the one.
Looking at Kyoto through Google Maps, I was pretty confused as the Gion district, the Kawaramachi downtown area, the Kyoto Station area, and the famous Kamo River ran through all three. But after inspecting it closely, I realised that the Kawaramachi downtown area was the most suitable because, compared to the other two areas, it is within walking distance of many tourist sites.
When I started looking for hotels, the Travelodge Kyoto Kawaramachi was the best option in terms of location and price. Yes, the hotel was located along the main street, with easy access to all areas. There were also four main bus stops outside the hotel, while the subway station was a mere five-minute walk away.
Travelling from Osaka to Kyoto

We took the midnight flight with AirAsia, arriving at Kansai International Airport early in the morning, so we didn’t have to waste one day travelling. From Kansai (KIX), we caught the Haruka Hello Kitty express train to Kyoto Station, which took about two hours.
At Kyoto Station, we changed to the Nara Line from the Kyoto Station, stopping at the Tofukuji Station and changing again to the Keihan Line to stop at the Kyoto Sanjo Station. From here, it was a 7-minute walk to the Travelodge Kyoto Kawaramachi.
Travelodge Kyoto Kawaramachi First Impression

Arriving in the early morning, most of the shops along the way were not open; therefore, it was easier to locate the hotel. The hotel entrance wasn’t grand, and there was a relatively small entrance at the side of a restaurant. Upon entering the main street, it opens into the lobby with a lovely Japanese garden in a special glassed area inaccessible to visitors.
The reception is simple, with friendly staff who speak English and will ask you for your passport as part of the usual check-in process. Once you are done checking in, room key cards are given to you. The Travelodge Kyoto Kawaramachi may look small from the outside, but the rooms are plenty— there are 232 rooms in total for a three-star hotel.
The facilities are simple and functional, with a laundry room and a section for vending machines. The exciting thing about this hotel is that it shares the breakfast area with an existing Italian restaurant in front of it.
Travelodge Kyoto Kawaramachi Room Review

When I opened the room door, I was expecting the worst, but to my surprise, it was perfect. It is a little smaller than expected, but again, this is Japan, and most reasonable 2-3-star hotels have tiny rooms unless you opt for a superior or deluxe room, which is slightly larger but costs a little more. Anyway, my objective was to see Kyoto and spend less time in my room.
One thing I love about Japanese hotel rooms is that they think of everything a traveller needs. Hence, many small details are considered for your convenience. Of course, the bed and bathroom are my priorities; these two are always well taken care of in Japan.
The queen-sized bed is balanced to be a medium-hard, so it’s not too soft or too hard. Pillows are single each, but you can request additional ones. The space is just-nice for your standard check-in luggage, so if you bring one of those monster-sized luggage bags, you may have a space issue.

A large flat-screen TV is positioned in front of the bed, so if you love watching TV, this is great. However, I only put it on when I return to watch those crazy Japanese TV commercials, which can sometimes be entertaining.
Bedside amenities are interesting as they compact everything in one section. Here, you find the TV remote control, a classic small clock, and, most importantly, the plug point to charge your gadgets. Don’t forget to bring an international adapter to use your general plugs here. I always bring an adapter with a four-gang extension plug to charge all my gadgets.

The bathroom always gets me curious, and Japanese ones are some of the best in the world. I say this because of the heated toilet seats, which are fantastic in winter. However, they also tend to look into the well-being of travellers by providing all the basic amenities inside a toilet.
Shower gel, shampoo, and conditioner are usually branded and of high quality, while other items like shaving cream, razors, cotton, and so on are provided. Now, many do not know that Japanese tap water is drinkable; therefore, this is superb for those who drink a lot of water.
Observant travellers will notice all the more minor details. Therefore, I will leave the surprise to those planning to stay in Kyoto. I guess that is one of the fun parts of travelling: discovering exciting facts that the Japanese people thought about.
More Photos of Travelodge Kyoto
Since I did not want to overload this review with photos of the hotel room and facilities, I posted the Travelodge Kyoto photos on my Facebook page, and you can check them out there. Remember to follow or like my David.my Facebook Page. Below are some random photos of the hotel.




For more information about this property and booking, please visit the official Travelodge Kyoto Kawaramachi website. Once you are on the website, check out some of their promotions, especially if you sign up for membership. Remember, Travelodge is a large brand with several hotels all over Asia; there are even hotels in Malaysia with that name.
Conclusion
I explored this fascinating historical city for five days, visiting parks and gardens, temples and shrines, shopping, and street markets. On two occasions, I also rented a bicycle in Kyoto to move around quickly. Apart from the general touristy things that most people will do, I allocated some time to birdwatching at Kamo River, one of my main hobbies when travelling.
I hope you enjoyed my Travelodge Kyoto Kawaramachi review for anyone looking for a great place to stay. Also, check out my other articles on Kyoto, which I will post occasionally in my travel section. Apart from Kyoto, I also spent some time in Osaka before returning.