i enjoyed my stay at gion crystal hotel for a couple reasons. the double room i booked was more spacious than the other hotels i’ve stayed at in japan. the bed was huge, but there was plenty of floor space for day to day things like re packing, getting dressed, etc. the location of the hotel is down a small street that’s quiet, i never took the train once in kyoto as everything i went to was within walking distance. usually 25 minutes max. my only downsides were: no breakfast at the hotel, the bed was not so comfortable, the tv is on a weird angle on the wall so you are unable to watch from laying in bed without sitting on the edge, or laying at an awkward angle. the bathroom was very compact and small, i feel it could have been made bigger. the shower head wasn’t fabulous but it did the job so that’s really all that matters! i did appreciate the 11:00am checkout time and that the hotel staff will hold your luggage before check in and after check out if you have any sightseeing to do. there is also the yasaka shrine right across the street, and a starbucks 5 minutes away. nonetheless, i had a nice time in kyoto and at the hotel. if you’re not super picky and on a budget, this is a good option 😇