Elegant Four-Star Hotel in Kyoto: The Royal Park Hotel Sanjo

Stay in the bustling area of Kawaramachi Sanjo, the established chain 'Royal Park Hotel' opts for a low-profile, elegant, and exquisite approach. As a four-star hotel, it sets a high standard, with meticulous attention to both service and facilities. It offers many thoughtful touches and is reasonably priced. The hotel features a nightclub-style fashionable lobby, complete with charming butler statues to welcome guests. The lobby is stylish and upscale, making one wonder if the Royal Park's front desk staff have been handpicked for their beauty and friendliness, reminiscent of flight attendants, greeting guests softly as they pass by. The same level of service is observed at the breakfast buffet, where the staff are not just part-timers or casual workers, but professional and fitting even for high-end department store cosmetics counters. Considering the price, a standard twin room was booked for about $2500 per night including breakfast. The 7-ping (23 square meters) room features a small round table, chairs, and a bathtub. The facilities are simple, but the beds deserve high praise for their comfort. The silky sheets and bedding are smooth to the touch, and the mattress is of moderate firmness, likely pocket-sprung, with pillows that are also very comfortable, making it easy to fall asleep unintentionally. Breakfast offers a simple choice of Japanese and Western buffet styles, with a variety of dishes that change even when dining two days in a row. Special items include French toast, mini burgers or hot dog buns, vegetable soup, and curry, all of which are quite good. Observations during mealtime revealed that the hotel is predominantly occupied by Western guests, with fewer Eastern faces. Interestingly, the Western guests seemed to have a particular fondness for cereal, often inquiring if it was Cheerios. Next to the hotel is the famous bakery 'Jinjin-do', where guests can buy bread and enjoy tea. Royal Park seems to have a tea set arrangement with Jinjin-do. In summary, for those looking for a mid-range four-star hotel with high cost-performance value, Royal Park is definitely a safe bet.