Sonoda Racecourse

We had a wonderful stay at NOHGA Hotel Kiyomizu Kyoto and would highly recommend it to anyone visiting Kyoto. The location was excellent, within walking distance of many of Kyoto’s must-see attractions, making it easy to explore the city without constantly relying on transportation. Our group included multiple generations of family members, and everyone thoroughly enjoyed the experience. The hotel was comfortable, welcoming, and a great home base for sightseeing. One of our favorite features was the rooftop bar. It was the perfect place to relax at the end of the day while enjoying beautiful city views.

The room was comfortable, well-appointed, and surprisingly spacious for Namba. The air conditioning and television were also very easy to use, which is a welcome touch for non-Japanese-speaking travellers, as hotel room controls in Japan can sometimes be difficult to navigate, even with AI translation tools. What let the hotel down, however, was the breakfast experience. There were lengthy queues each morning simply to be seated, as only one hostess was managing the process. Most guests do not want to begin their day by waiting in line for up to 15 minutes, particularly when there are plenty of vacant tables available in a large dining area. It seemed unnecessary for guests to have to wait to be formally seated. Once inside, there was further congestion due to there being only one coffee machine and one toaster, resulting in even more queuing in what is clearly a very busy hotel. Overall, the room itself was excellent, but the breakfast operation would benefit from some improvements to better accommodate the number of guests.

We had a wonderful stay at Hotel Monterey in Japan. The rooms were exceptionally clean, comfortable, and well maintained, making it easy to relax after a long day of sightseeing. Everything felt organized and spotless, and the overall atmosphere of the hotel was excellent. The only downside was finding the entrance to the parking area. The logistics and access were somewhat confusing at first and could benefit from clearer signage. Once we located it, everything went smoothly. Overall, this was a fantastic stay with excellent accommodations, and I would gladly return on a future trip to Japan. Highly recommended for anyone looking for clean, comfortable rooms and great service.