RAKURO Kyoto by THE SHARE HOTELS

From the minute we stepped through the doors, we knew we had made the right choice to choose this hotel. The staff were really welcoming, very helpful and friendly throughout our stay. The breakfast was delicious and the rooms were really cosy and comfortable. The decor of the hotel was stylish and rather unique and had a really nice ambience. We also found the laundry facilities very useful.

Nothing really. The only small thing was that it felt a bit out of the way as we have two young children and so travelling to everything took time which was a bit of a chore. However, it is near the subway and many buses pass by which are convenient.

Friendly and efficient staff. We had breakfast in the cafe once during our stay - a worthwhile indulgence, but not enough variety to justify having every day of our stay. There is a shared lounge on entry level that is a wonderful communal space. Location was very good for us - close enough to “downtown” but we also found great local restaurants, shops and cafes. Everything else is only a bus or train ride away. The gardens at Imperial Palace are perfect for a quiet visit or a bit of exercise.

As in some other hotels, there is only one pillow on each bed, which can be uncomfortable if any neck or shoulder issues. Room was very clean, but there were some stains on carpet and soft furniture, which made it feel a bit dirty.

Central location, close to subway and train stations. Imperial Palace and gardens close by. Hotel rooms were a reasonable size, clean and comfortable. Our room came with a safe, fridge and seating area. We had issues with heating, staff came and checked it out and when it could not be fixed, they changed our rooms immediately. Staff very polite and ready to help with anything. Breakfast was a choice of Japanese or Western, with only one option of each. Lovely lounge area with free tea and herbal water that was made up fresh each day. Served cocktails from 7 - 10pm

Carpet was stained in bedroom. This is really nit picking

One of the best hotels I’ve ever stayed in. Gives you the authentic boutique experience without having to spend a pretty penny for a roykan stay in the Gion district. Large room, comfortable futon style beds, little tea corner to sit and chat or plan your day. Nice traditional tatchami flooring. Communal amenities were fantastic with a cafe in the lobby which serves GREAT cold brew coffee. Lounge area with lovely artwork, books, refreshments and scent lab (thanks for the water room scents). 2 minutes from the metro karasuma line. Around the corner from family mart and McDonald’s (for a late night snack) across the road from the imperial palace grounds. Super lovely and accomodating staff. Full room clean ever second day. Was one of my favourite stays ever and will definitely stay again when I come back to Kyoto

Only downside is the bathroom was a seperate entry door in a private hallway, so you had to leave your room door open or take your key with you to use the bathroom. Bathroom was super spacious and lovely however! And the traditional rice paper door concealing your private hallway was a nice touch of privacy.

Very cozy and clean hotel. Though located in a quiet area away from the city center, it’s near the station and has lots of surrounding parks and restaurants. I like the fact that the coin laundry is available 24/7 because we stay out pretty late. The rooftop is also a very unique addition to the hotel. It was so relaxing up there, admiring the sunset while eating konbini food. The breakfast is also superb. They put a lot of effort in it. The staff is courteous and attentive. There’s a cool modern lounge area/library that we forgot to visit often. Maybe next time.

The toilet and bath is separated from the main room and I don’t see the point in that. It was such a hassle having to leave the room to use the T&B and there’s also the issue of security because the sliding door has no lock.

Very clean, comfortable beds, good AC, quiet rooms, our 4-bed room was very big by Japanese standards, very close to a subway station, plenty of shops and restaurants close by, Japanese-style rooms and fresh breakfast.

The only thing I hated was the rock-hard pillows. The staff tried their best but their English level was not so good, however they were polite and tried to be helpful. The breakfast was fine but we got a bit tired of the same every day. They also put a lot of fish in the “Western-style” breakfast but you can ask them to make it without fish. It is nice that the breakfast is made fresh though.

The location was convenient and also near the imperial palace. The hotel rooms were clean with a very Japanese but modern style and original. The beds were extremely comfortable and the lights were made in a way to be adaptable to any time of the day. The table and chairs in the room could be used for working, relaxing and drinking tea, and many other things. The staff were very kind and helpful. The spacious stairs led to a gorgeous terrace and downstairs there was a lovely lounge with some free delicious tea (there were other delicious teas in the room too).

Unfortunately, our room had a small window through which not much light came through.

The location is just across the train station and bus stop. It is very accessible. There is a combini across the hotel as well. The room is very spacious, you can have enough room for 4 suitcases opened in the room. Bathroom facilities are very good too. Toilet and shower and bath area are clean.

The room does not have a safe to lock in your valuables, but you can always ask the front desk to keep it for you. I left mine with them and got it back with no issues. There is no wardrobe in the room where you can hang your clothes. There’s just a few clothes hanger by the entrance.

The bedroom was very cosy, and the facilities were excellent. The washroom was a good size, and had a good sized bath to relax in after a busy day of sightseeing. There was a lovely guest lounge available pretty much all day, and a rooftop terrace with an amazing view of Kyoto and the surrounding hilltops. The staff were very helpful, especially when we wanted to organise luggage delivery to another location.

The only thing that we needed to get used to was the pillows; they were much firmer pillows than we were used to.

Nestled in Kasaruma Marutamachi station, you can take exit 4 (stairs only), from there take a left turn and walk straight you will spot it further down. If you have luggage, take the elevator via exit 5 (just opposite exit 4). Its a quiet place yet centrally located, walking distance (below 3km) to most places ie Shijo Kawaramachi shopping area. The bus is a better option to most places as it stops closer as compared to the subway and most places are about half an hour ride away ie ginkakuji, kiyomozu, arashiyama, nanzenji . There are parks and river within walking distance making it a nice hangout spot. Staffs were nice and friendly and my check in was in ease. Opted for the twin room, and surprisingly it’s much bigger than I’d expected. The WC, bath and sink are separated, loves it as it doesn’t wet all over during shower. Basic amenities are provided at the lobby and a robe to use. They have a sharing area as hangout spot, reading and drinks were provided. Pretty good concept. There is also nice rooftop to chill at. To note there are limited bus and train back after a 10pm (depending on where you are), had to take a bus to the next nearest station and walk back.

I’d to say the kettle was not so clean so I had to clean it before use. There are stains on the carpet (probably some spilled tea or coffee) but wasn’t a big issue for me as it was in the corner.