This article is a translation of the following Japanese article into English. Some expressions may not be accurate.
This is a travel blog entry from my trip to Kyoto in February, during the winter. We stayed at Sequence Kyoto Gojo.
To Kyoto after 10 years
Night Shinkansen ride
Even though I traveled to Osaka for work every week, Kyoto was always skipped. Finally, it’s time for the long-awaited trip to Kyoto. I think the last time I visited was the year I started working, so it’s been about 10 years.
Kyoto sightseeing has always been associated with early mornings, and now with various circumstances, hotels are quite affordable, so I decided to stay overnight.
For dinner, it’s a nori bento!
It’s a bit pricey, but it’s a satisfying bento. Though, I might prefer salted salmon over grilled fish.
It seems like they’ve been gradually expanding their stores recently.
The Kyoto trip starts with an overnight stay.
sequence KYOTO GOJO
We stayed at Mitsui Fudosan’s hotel, Sequence Kyoto Gojo. It’s just one subway stop from Kyoto Station, and a short walk from Gojo Station.
Self check-in and facial recognition
Check-in is not at a manned front desk, but rather self-service at this table. And upon check-in, you can register your face for the room key, allowing you to navigate the premises with facial recognition.
Each room’s entrance and the spa are equipped with cameras and displays.
The recognition rate is quite high, with hardly any failures. The use of IT throughout the hotel premises reminds me of the ‘Hen-na Hotel’ concept.
You can control the room using a tablet, which also allows for easy check-out. It’s very convenient!
Simple guest rooms
The guest rooms have a sleek and minimalistic design, with a very simple feel. The predominant use of gray creates a calm atmosphere.
The bathroom only has a shower, no bathtub. However, since there’s a large public bath, it’s not a problem at all.
Healing fatigue in the large communal bath
One of the highlights of this hotel is the communal bath. There are two types: ‘THE BATH,’ featuring a large tub, and ‘THE SAUNA,’ which has a steam sauna room. They alternate between men and women on a daily basis.
It was men’s turn for ‘THE BATH’ that evening. I was delighted because I wanted to soak in the tub at night!
Inside, there were only shower booths (without mirrors) instead of regular washing areas, which felt chic but left me wondering about practicality… (laughs)
The hot stone benches weren’t as warm as expected, so I couldn’t really warm up. It remained a mystery how to use them best…
I also used ‘THE SAUNA’ the next morning, but I felt that the steam sauna could be a bit hotter. (Just my personal opinion)
For breakfast, I went to Takagi Coffee Shop nearby.
It seems that at Sequence Kyoto Gojo, the all-you-can-eat breakfast until check-out time is very popular, but this time I decided to eat outside. (I want to do some sightseeing and I won’t eat multiple times)
I headed to Takagi Coffee Shop, which was just a short walk away!
I’m going to have their famous ‘Rich Morning’ here. Hot coffee and…
A plate of toast, eggs, and sausages!
You can choose from butter, jam, or cinnamon for the toast. Thick slices of toast eaten at cafes always taste so delicious. Thank you for the meal!
Since check-out is at 14:00, I’ll head out for sightseeing after breakfast while leaving my luggage at the hotel.
Exploring the Kyoto Imperial Palace.
With a smartphone guide in hand,
I took the subway from the hotel to Kyoto Imperial Palace. Admission is free, and so is the audio guide app. Very generous!
This is the former Imperial Palace.
The Kyoto Imperial Palace served as the Imperial residence until the Imperial Family moved to Tokyo. It seems that there were also mansions of court nobles around the Kyoto Imperial Palace, but they are no longer present, leaving behind a feeling of scattered buildings on vast land.
I wander through the palace grounds with the app in hand. It’s interesting to see various architectural styles since each building was constructed at different times.
The corridors with vermilion coloring are a distinctive feature. This area reflects the architectural style of the Heian period.
And here is the ‘Shishinden’ (Purple Hall), the main hall. It’s really huge.
The garden is also very spacious and impressive. (As expected)
The photo captures only a small part of it. As I leisurely strolled around, I couldn’t help but wonder what kind of world once existed here.
After leaving the Kyoto Imperial Palace, I head to the Garden of Fine Arts Kyoto.
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