린 하나야초 아사기리

It had a nice feeling, cozy yet so roomy. Very private and quiet. Wonderful interior that felt worth more than I paid.

静かで京都らしく雰囲気がとても良かった アメニティも充実してたしまた利用したいとおもった

We stayed at Rinn Hanayacho Asagiri during our family trip to Kyoto, and unfortunately, the experience left a lot to be desired. While the accommodation itself was reasonably maintained, I firmly believe that a property is only as good as the people managing it. Hospitality is not simply about providing a clean room. It is about how guests are treated, how situations are handled and whether there is any genuine consideration for the people staying there. Unfortunately, this establishment fell significantly short. THE CHECKOUT EXPERIENCE — COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE We were travelling with our 18-month-old baby, who was struggling with jet lag, changes in routine and the general exhaustion that comes with international travel. The property has a 4:00 PM check-in and a 10:00 AM checkout, which I already consider unnecessarily restrictive, particularly for families. On our checkout morning, we politely requested an additional 30–45 minutes because our baby was having difficulty adjusting and we genuinely needed a little more time to get ourselves organised. The response? “Cannot accept. You must get out of house now.” This was communicated in an extremely rude, dismissive and unnecessarily harsh manner. We weren’t demanding anything unreasonable. We weren’t asking to stay for several additional hours. We simply requested a little flexibility because we were travelling with a young child. I completely understand that late checkout is subject to availability and that establishments have policies. However, there is a world of difference between politely declining a request and treating paying guests as though they are an inconvenience. The complete lack of empathy was astonishing. STAFF — ROBOTIC, INFLEXIBLE & UNWELCOMING Throughout our stay, the staff came across as mechanical, rigid and remarkably unaccommodating. There was very little warmth, understanding or willingness to consider individual circumstances. Everything felt institutionalised, as though guests were expected to follow a set of instructions rather than receive any actual hospitality. Frankly, the approach was cold, impersonal and deeply disappointing. I have stayed at numerous hotels and accommodations across different countries, and I don’t expect special treatment. However, I do expect basic courtesy, professionalism and respect. Being able to enforce rules is not the same as knowing how to treat people. If the people managing an accommodation cannot demonstrate basic empathy towards a family travelling with an infant, then the overall hospitality experience is fundamentally lacking. LOCATION — INCONVENIENT FOR SIGHTSEEING The nearest bus stop is approximately a 12-minute walk away, and reaching many of Kyoto’s attractions requires multiple transport connections. The nearest convenience store is around a 10-minute walk away. For families, especially those travelling with young children, this becomes inconvenient very quickly. If you want to explore Kyoto comfortably without spending significant time navigating public transport connections, you’ll likely find yourself relying on taxis. Those additional costs can add up considerably over the course of your stay. CHECK-IN & CHECKOUT POLICIES — POORLY SUITED TO FAMILIES A 4:00 PM check-in combined with a 10:00 AM checkout is particularly inconvenient. What made this worse wasn’t simply the policy itself, but the manner in which it was enforced. There appeared to be no consideration for circumstances, no flexibility and, most importantly, no effort to communicate with guests respectfully. MY RECOMMENDATION I would not recommend this property to families, particularly those travelling with babies or toddlers. Couples or solo travellers who are comfortable with strict instructions, limited flexibility and a relatively inconvenient location may find it manageable, but I personally believe Kyoto offers better accommodation options. I would strongly suggest looking around Gion, Kiyomizu-der