Hotel Emion Kyoto: Simple But Classy
The Emion Hotel in Kyoto was centrally located and a popular spot for both tourists and business travellers. I booked a room for my stay and was quite happy with the hotel. The best part was how close it was to Kyoto Station.
As soon as I entered the lobby and reception area, I was quite charmed. It had those classical and straight Japanese lines and felt very warm and welcoming.
It was simple and uncluttered with modern furniture and lots of accent lighting. All the wood gave the space an elegant atmosphere.
There were some lovely L-shaped sofas and coffee tables where guests could sit down and chat. There was that signature calm, Zen-like aura to the whole place which made it seem all the more inviting.
Right behind the seating area was the reception desk. A few of the hotel staff were busy at the reception desk. I could see a few people checking in ahead of me.
I really liked the ceiling lights. They almost looked like art installations.
There were lovely designs on the lamp shades and I could see rock gardens and trees around the lobby.
The garden was protected behind a layer of glass so that guests could not enter or touch anything.
There was a board in the reception that showed all the attractions in the area, like Umekoji Park and the Kyoto Aquarium.
Another interesting signboard showed information about the shops and restaurants at the hotel (by the way, I also had breakfast here). There was a European café and restaurant as well as traditional Japanese restaurants. All the dishes were made with local market produce, including Wagyu beef.
Other than that, one board gave information about traditional Kyoto experiences. Guests could take part in a Japanese tea ceremony, attend pottery workshops and also learn the art of flower management. I thought it was really cool that the hotel was offering such unique experiences for their guests. It would allow me to really experience the traditional culture and lifestyle in Japan (just like during my visit to Nijo Castle).
If tourists wanted to pick up souvenirs or special items in Kyoto, then they could check out markets with the traditional handicrafts. Pottery and paintings were some of the things that were available. Kyoto confectionery and sweets were also well-known and would make for a great treat!
Once I had finished looking around the lobby and reception area, I decided to head towards my room. My check-in went smoothly and I took the elevator to my floor.
The room had the same warm brown and earth tones as the reception. It was a popular color scheme in Japan. I liked it just as much as the neutral grays and blues that are always so common in hotels. There was a pair of twin beds on one side of the room, under a black and white painting depicting trees and flowers.
The room that I had booked was a sort of suite. There were four twin beds in total, separated from each other by a seating area.
It was a long room and windows covered one whole wall.
There was a couch, a coffee table and an armchair. It did make the room feel a little cramped but it would be a good idea if you were a part of a big group.
There were mirrors above the bed and pajamas and tote bags sitting on top of the beds. Everything was arranged very comfortably.
The whole room was carpeted for warmth.
There was a TV with a huge screen right opposite one set of beds. The Wi-Fi password was given on the TV and there were all kinds of streaming services and websites that were available. I could see Hulu and YouTube.
There was a nightstand in between the two beds where guests could keep their phones and watches and other things.
It would be very convenient to lie in bed and watch a movie or TV show on that large screen.
Then I decided to check out the bathroom. There was a separate area for the wash basin and another area for the toilet and bath area.
There was a huge mirror above the two basins. Hanging lamps in front of the mirror gave enough light to get ready.
Hand towels and other toiletries had been placed on the counter so guests could use whatever they needed.
Folded at the bottom of the shelf were thick and fluffy bath towels. There was also a folded laundry bag on the shelf.
I was impressed by the number of toiletries and products that the hotel had provided. They had thought of everything! I wouldn’t need to call housekeeping.
There was a small bathtub in one corner of the bathroom.
Right next to the bathtub was a huge showerhead. So anyone who preferred to shower could use that instead of the bathtub.
There were bottles of shampoo, conditioner and body wash. The bottles had been filled almost till the top.
I thought that the bathtub was a little bit on the small side. Otherwise, it was a nice and spacious bathroom.
The wash basins being outside the main bath area would also be quite convenient if there were more guests.
There were bedroom slippers kept in one corner of the room, right in front of a long mirror.
The toilet had a lot of different settings. And two rolls of toilet paper had been provided.
There was even an extra washbasin inside the main bathroom area.
Then I went out into the bedroom again. I wanted to take some pictures of the bedroom area to remember this trip.
I liked how simple but classy the furniture was.
The large windows had both sheer and thick curtains pulled across it. I pulled back the thick brown curtains for more light.
But there were also lamps scattered around the room.
It was bright and warm-toned.
There was a cool alarm clock and a telephone and intercom system on the nightstand.
The lamp almost looked like an old-fashioned torch and was illuminating the corner. A humidifier stood on the floor right next to the lamp.
