ROKU Kyoto
- K
- May 22, 2023
- 4 min read
Updated: Jun 4, 2023
Stay details:
Dates: 30th April 2023 - 2nd May 2023
Average room rate*: 101,500 JPY
Room type: Deluxe Room King
*Average room rate during stay period. It may not represent the amount I paid, it may also have been a redemption stay.
I arrived at ROKU Kyoto expecting the worst. A quick search on Google and you'll find many reviews bashing everything about this place - from the breakfast options to the service.
However, everyone seemed to agree that the hardware of the hotel is among the best there is and after checking out the website and scrolling for abit I decided I would book 2 nights at ROKU Kyoto for the Kyoto leg this trip.
Location and Getting there
I'll begin by saying that ROKU Kyoto is in a very inaccessible part of Kyoto. If you stay here, you have to be prepared to regularly take a taxi to the places you want to go, or to walk 15-20 minutes to the nearest train station.
Upon arriving at Kyoto Station, I took a taxi to ROKU Kyoto as I had my luggage in tow. Travelling past the familiar sights of the ancient capital for the first time in three years, that feeling was pretty indescribable.
The taxi then turned into a small road and started driving well into it. After awhile, the entrance greeted us.
The Hotel
A very stately entrance with a large roundabout to accomodate taxis dropping guests off. There is also a nearby carpark for guests who choose to drive to the hotel.
Upon alighting, I was immediately relieved of my luggage and escorted to the check-in area.
The hotel is structured such that upon dropoff, guests first enter the foyer. To the right would be the check-in area and to the left is the Tea Room. The tea room is open 24 hours and guests can head there for free coffee (which is available in-room too).
I entered the check-in area and was immediately guided to a seat. Then, these were placed on the table in front of me.
I love warabimochi and have eaten alot of it. This is a very decent version and I'd gladly pay for it.
Check-in was brisk and no longer than it should be. I was given a run through of the hotel's main features - that there was a thermal pool available for use, a 24 hour gym and so on. For someone who has not stayed at a luxury hotel of this level before, the experience so far was pretty awesome and I could not see why people would complain about this place.
After check-in was completed, I was escorted to the room. A staff member accompanied me all the way to the room and offered to explain the features in the room. Call me suaku but this has honestly not happened to me before, though I understand this to be a norm for luxury hotels at this level.
The Room
When I entered the room, I was just blown away by the view. The endless Takagamine mountain range, the stunning garden at ROKU in the foreground it is a mesmerising view to wake up to for sure.
A strange incident occurred while the staff was explaining the features. She mentioned that this was not their usual tray of welcome snacks and that it had been prepared for another guest but I was free to enjoy it.
It included a platter of fruits (it was obvious it was prepared for 2 people) and a bottle of wine. So while everything was excellent, I couldn't help but wonder if I was checked in to the wrong room and the staff were secretly scrambling to arrange a similar setup in another room upon realising the error...
Double sinks are one of those things which you'll never think of if you haven't experienced them but once you have, you need them.
The very spacious bathtub which could open to views of the room and scenery. There was a Balmuda speaker available in the room, so long soaks in the tub with music blasting became a nightly (and morning-ly) affair.
Breakfast
One of the key features of any hotel, especially luxury hotels, is the breakfast. Here there was a buffet selection together with an ala-carte menu. So you pick one item from the ala-carte menu then help yourself to the buffet.
The buffet had the standard items of sausages, smoked salmon, cheese and so on. Pretty decent!
On the ala-carte menu, there was an option to order beef for an extra 1600 JPY or so. A few reviews have criticised this as coming across as penny-pinching, especially for a hotel which charges 100,000 JPY as a base room rate. While I can see where they're coming from, I also struggle to think of another hotel which offers a ribeye steak as part of the breakfast menu. Again I can't help but wonder what those reviews want, surely it isn't realistic to expect them to not charge extra but keep the steak on the menu, given that no one else is doing it right?
So I got the Japanese plate option, and it was very good. Succulent fish, flavourful miso, decent sides like mentaiko.
Summary
At least from my experience, ROKU is an amazing place to stay. Amazing hardware, spectacular views, the only bad point I can pick out is the location. I cannot, despite trying very hard, think of reasons to bash this place like so many others have done.
Perhaps, when I experience more such hotels, I'd be able to pick out a few reasons. Ignorance is indeed bliss.
Kommentarer