We booked the Hotel Monterey based on its very favourable reviews on TA and were not disappointed. In my view, the location, only steps away from Karasuma Oike subway station, with its access to both subway routes, is one of its major benefits. It’s also close to several convenience stores and coffee shops and a fairly funky shopping and restaurant complex. It is a little further to the bus stops that serve many of the famous temples, shrines and other major tourist attractions, but no big deal. These are mostly located in the hills at the edge of the city, and I'd rather be nearer the centre and be more conveniently located to dining and shopping options. Within a 15 minute walk are innumerable restaurants of all standards and price, stores, a market and a few tourist attractions.

The hotel lobby itself takes a moment to find as you have to take a corridor that runs behind the ground floor café bar, that passes the valet parking bay and wedding chapel. The hotel is clearly fairly new and everything seems fresh, clean and efficient. The architecture and interior decoration of the hotel is more amusing than offensive, but is a little bit kitschy and fake European. The reception staff spoke good English and were polite and helpful. The hotel has very good guest security.

Our room was a non-smoking standard double. The room itself is quite small by by US standards, but average by European and Japanese standards. The double bed itself was huge, firm and very comfortable – US king size. The room had basic rather than plentiful storage, very efficient A/C and was coordinated in nice brown and taupe tones with dark wood. We looked out onto the rooftops of surrounding buildings, which we were happy with as we felt this was possibly a much quieter option than facing Karasuma dori itself. The bathroom walls were finished in a somewhat eye poppingly jazzy stripy laminate, but it was spotlessly clean, the shower was terrific, the spa water a nice touch and the towels large and soft. It had the usual level and quality of complimentary toiletries found in hotels of this standard in Japan. Of course, it was also rather compact.

As we never ate in the hotel (as breakfast tended to be a quick coffee and pastry in a coffee shop on the way to some tourist sight) I cannot comment on the hotel's own restaurants or the food.

One minor point to take note: The hotel's website gives the correct location of the hotel, google maps show the hotel in a completely wrong location.

We took the shinkansen from Tokyo into Kyoto station. The Metro was not as easily interpreted as there was no English on the signs/boards. The Karasume-Oike stop for the hotel did not have escalators or elevators so we had to trudge our suitcases up two flights. The hotel was two short blocks to the right, towards the direction of Starbucks.

Check in was efficient and as in most places throughout Japan, extremely polite. Our floor required the guest to touch the key tag on a console to open the glass doors to the area containing the geust rooms. This is probably due to the fact that the hotel has a popular restaurant on site and a courtyard used for weddings and other receptions so there is a considerable amount of foot traffic.

The lively shopping area of Shijo-dori is blocks away which is wonderful for exploring. The local Nishiki-Koji food market open during the daytime was fun to explore and be amazed at the price of fresh fruit in Japan.

The rooms are small but expected in Japan. Furnishings were modern and in dark hues. The best part was that the bath water is the same mineral water used in the spa so I did my share of relaxing soaks in the bathtub after four full days of sighsteeing.

We used unlimited day bus passes to visit most of the temples, gardens and palaces. We happened to be in Kyoto during the Nightime Lantern Festival in Gion so we spent two nights enjoying the flower shows, temples lit at night, shops and restaurants of Gion along with the rest of Kyoto. We ordered street food at the stalls with the longest lines and had a blast.

This art deco hotel is a wonderful combination of location, comfort, service, convenience, and cleanliness. The hotel and the neighborhood are immaculate, and there's shopping, fine dining, and sightseeing all within walking distance.

We recommend this as a fine choice.

A great hotel, english speaking staff, five minutes walk from markets, shops. With a basic map you have cracked it.
Near the subway easy to run round kyoto. Way better than staying near the main station.
I have been to Kyoto twice before but next time I will stay here again.
Hotel does a great breakfast service and there is a Starbuck near if you want a change.