We chose the Royal after reading about numerous hotels in our guidebook (but didn't check TripAdvisor). It's well located close to the Pontocho and Gion geisha districts but has little else to recommend. We arrived in Kyoto's rainy season for a 4-night stay. Since the weather was a little dreary, we were hoping for a room we could spend some time in after a day's slog through the rain. Imagine our surprise when we arrived in our room only to discover that our large picture window was OPAQUE... completely frosted glass! THere was a tiny tiny section that could be levered open 2 inches, but other than that we were in a hermetically sealed box. The room was moderately sized, but incredibly bland. THe prospect of staying in Kyoto locked in this featureless, windowless room was too much to bear. We called the Hotel Granvia, which we marveled at while arriving on the Shinkansen, and immediately canceled our room at the Royal. I will give it to the courteous staff that they let us cancel with no penalties. The Granvia was slightly more expensive, but worth every penny! See my Granvia review for some photos.

I have mixed feelings on giving this hotel only a neutral rating. The hotel is in a great location, with a nice lobby (though the outside is bland) and the service was absolutely wonderful. Kudos to Kodama the concierge. She was the absolute best we've ever encountered and we travel extensively. In addition, there is an English style library bar which has a happy hour every evening from 5 to 7 with cocktails 50% off. So, what's the problem? In a word, the rooms. Very tiny with small twin beds, a view overlooking a dirty rooftop, and a bathroom right out of a Motel 6. This hotel wasn't cheap (we paid US $190 per night). For that kind of money, the room should have been far better. We only stayed two nights and then moved on to the Hotel Granvia for our remaining three days in Kyoto. The Granvia blew the Royal out of the water. I hope Kodama moves over there in time for when we return!

The Royal was a little pricey, but the service couldn't have been more accommodating. The rooms are a little small and antiquated, but perfectly serviceable. Location is excellent.

The location is perfect - two blocks from Gion, two blocks from Teramachi covered arcade, one block from the subway. The Heian shrine is within walking distance, too.

The rooms are reasonable in size and comfortable and well-maintained. Service is excellent, as one would expect in Japan. It is a mid-range hotel, with just about everything one really needs.

There is no in-room high speed internet, but the lobby (including the bar!) is a free wireless hot spot. That is quite adequate for keeping up with e-mail and other routine computer use.

Highly recommended!