Cross Hotel, Kyoto, Japan
This is definitely a hotel worth considering, with decent sized rooms in Japan, where most good accommodation is pricey and rooms generally on the small side…..
The hotel has a minimalistic exterior design and walking up to the hotel, it is obvious that it is new & modern ~ a nice little zen garden on the one corner with some lush shrubbery in the background and a little stream trickling past.
The location is good ~ walking distance to shopping malls and areas, loads of restaurants in the other direction and easily accessible via public transport.
Upon entering through the front door, a fragrant and spacious lobby awaits with friendly & courteous staff ready to help and assist with the check in process. Just beyond the reception counters there is a seating area with comfortable chairs and sofas, facing outwards and providing views of the zen garden through floor to ceiling windows ~ all this while enjoying complimentary coffees.
The ambience & atmosphere of the hotel & interiors are dark and moody, creating a sense of calm and quiet.
The rooms are not excessively big, but the interior design and layout is very effective, efficient and modern ~ every part of the rooms are used & utilized to make it is convenient & comfortable as possible.
The rooms are equipped with the standard drinking water, tea & coffee facilities, safety deposit box, toiletries and even an air purifier. The air can become a bit dry and uncomfortable during those winter nights.
One small thing I noticed and loved, is that magnets are used on the outside of the doors to indicate “Do Not Disturb” and “Please Make Up Room”. (A short video of the room can be seen on my YouTube channel)
The dining room on the ground floor is big, with a private area for groups, a bar, open kitchen counter, general seating area with raised tables and bar stools, normal tables and chairs, as well as an outside area for summer days.
The breakfast offers a good selection of hot dishes, cold dishes, meats and cheeses, fruits, cereals, juices and tea & coffee. They even have some Japanese breakfast dishes that can be ordered. (A short video of the breakfast can be seen on my YouTube channel)
My one and only issue I have, is that the breakfast dishes are exactly the same, every day…. Same fruit, same juices, same cold meats, same cheese, same cereals. The only dish that varied was one of the hot dishes. Guests staying for a few days might become a bit bored and frustrated with the daily selection….
Apart from this ~ I thoroughly enjoyed staying at this hotel and couldn’t fault them on anything. Rooms are clean, well equipped and comfortable, staff is friendly & helpful and amenities new & modern.
Well worth staying here when exploring Kyoto!
