In this post I’m reviewing the Citadines Kyoto, serviced apartments in Kyoto, Japan. What are serviced apartments? And what makes them so great?

Do you want to have the benefits of an Airbnb with the convenience of a hotel?  Then a serviced apartment may be perfect for you. Serviced apartments are similar to what we call extended stay hotels in the U.S.

I stayed at the Citadines Karasuma-Gojo location. It was centrally located and near many supermarkets, convenience stores, restaurants and more. This serviced apartment was booked through Cathay Pacific Vacation packages. (Checkout my post all about booking trips using airline vacation packages.)

Amenities

There is 24-hour service at the reception desk. Continental breakfast, daily housekeeping and laundry facilities are available for a fee.

It’s the best of both worlds. Pay extra for hotel amenities or live as if you were staying in an apartment rental.

The Apartment

My studio apartment at the Citadines serviced apartments in Kyoto was rather large compared to other similar places I’ve stayed in while visiting Asia. I booked a studio twin room, measuring 25 sq m (269 Sq ft). The room had all the hotel amenities you would expect, such as air conditioning, a safe, an iron, a TV and Wi-Fi.

It also included a kitchen. This had a microwave, electric stove top, electric kettle, ceramic teapot and toaster. All cookware and glassware were also included.

Cook as if you are staying in an apartment rental. You have all the pots and pans you need. Or choose to dine at the buffet and enjoy the continental breakfast.

The bathroom featured the luxurious bidet toilets Japan is known for. The tub/shower combo was very nice. The tub was perfect for soaking. A separate sink area had lots of storage and a medicine cabinet behind the mirror.

There was a desk right next to the table that held the TV. I appreciated how there was a slight separation between the kitchen area and the area where the beds were.

Certain areas of the room, especially the mattresses, showed their age. I would have preferred a softer bed.

The Citadines serviced apartments in Kyoto provided Yukatas (a Japanese robe) that we were free to use during our stay. These are generally provided at hotels that contain traditional onsen hot springs. We were not staying at that type of hotel. So, it was a special treat.

Location

These serviced apartments are in the Gojo neighborhood. This is walking distance to the famous ancient Gion neighborhood (known for Geishas and shrines). It is one subway ride away from the main Kyoto Station.

There are plenty of restaurants and convenience stores located nearby. These include Mar Cafe, 7-Eleven and an amazing ramen restaurant called Ginjo Ramen Kobota. We were also steps from a McDonald’s (Trust me. It’s way better in Japan.) Check out my Hidden Kyoto Gems post for detailed reviews of Mar Cafe (a burger place you will remember for the rest of your life) and Ginjo Ramen Kobota.

Two supermarkets are also located within walking distance of the Citadines serviced apartments. This is perfect for making meals in your apartment kitchen.

There is a beautiful river that runs through this area. The bridges are perfect for taking photos.

Is the concept of serviced apartments new to you? It really is the best of both worlds. In a lot of cases, I would choose it over an Airbnb.

Address: 432 Matsuya-cho Gojo-dori Karasuma- Higashiiru Shimogyo-ku Kyoto-shi Kyoto 600 8105 Japan

Website: Kyoto Serviced Apartments | Citadines Karasuma-Gojo Kyoto (discoverasr.com)