Shiki Suite Kyoto Umekoji Review 2026: Spacious & Budget-Friendly Stay

*My Honest, Self-Funded Review*

Kyoto Travel | Accommodation Recommendation

Shiki Suite Kyoto Umekoji

Within walking distance to Kyoto Station,

A spacious 28m² apartment-style hotel with incredible value for money

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (Recommended for 3-4 guests)

- 157 Kamiebisucho, Shimogyo Ward, Kyoto, 600-8242 Japan

- 10-15 minute walk from Kyoto Station

- Accommodates up to 4 people

---

📌 My Review from a Spring 2024 Visit ⓒ 2025. uow_diary All rights reserved Unauthorized modification, commercial use, or reproduction of content is prohibited.

Hello everyone!

It's almost cherry blossom season, isn't it?

Many of you are probably planning a cherry blossom trip,

and looking for a place to stay in Kyoto.

Last year, during my Osaka trip, I stumbled upon an incredibly

value-for-money accommodation in Kyoto, and I'm excited to share my review.

---

With less than a month left to plan a cherry blossom trip,

the price of Kyoto accommodation during peak season was absolutely insane, you know?

Plus, with 3 of us, finding a suitable hotel wasn't easy.

After a lot of deliberation, this is the place we finally chose.

📌 Our Selection Criteria

​

-Price (Cheaper than the surrounding market rate)

-Location (Close to Kyoto Station)

---

Shiki Suite Kyoto Umekoji is

an apartment-style accommodation located in a residential area near Kyoto Station.

Completed in July 2018, it's a relatively

new hotel.

The rooms are a generous 28m²,

a size that's hard to find in typical Japanese hotels.

They boast a very spacious layout.

In addition to the bedroom, there's a sofa bed in the living room,

meaning it can accommodate up to 4 people.

157 Kamiebisucho, Shimogyo Ward,

Kyoto, 600-8242 Japan

Located a 10-15 minute walk from Kyoto Station.

It's not in a bustling tourist area filled with hotels,

but rather in a slightly set-back residential neighborhood.

This means it's quiet,

without the noise you'd find in a tourist hotspot.

While some might find the location a bit inconvenient,

I personally prefer easy access to the airport.

Being able to walk to Kyoto Station at

this price? I couldn't say no!

At this price, it's totally acceptable for me!

I'd do it a hundred times over...

The path to the accommodation

- Unlike typical hotels, its location in a residential area gives you

a less crowded, touristy feel and more of an

authentic Japanese vibe.

For reference, there's a big hotel nearby (Rihga Royal Hotel),

but it was over ~$69 more expensive,

so I'm really happy I stayed here!

If you're traveling from Kansai Airport and heading straight to Kyoto,

I think using the Haruka train would be the most convenient.

I, on the other hand, went from Arashiyama to the accommodation using the Randen train and bus.

That's because I really wanted to ride the Randen train, which is a must-do during cherry blossom season!

For room types,

there's the Junior Suite and the Jacuzzi Suite.

ㄴ The difference is the presence of a jacuzzi.

If you're looking to enjoy a private jacuzzi

experience in Kyoto,

I highly recommend the Jacuzzi room.

At other places,

it would be hard to enjoy a jacuzzi at this price.

---

​

Now, for the most important part: the accommodation price!

Since this isn't in a main tourist area,

you can stay here for a more affordable price than other hotels.

May Weekday Price Search - TOP 3 Lowest Prices *Prices searched on March 19th*
Agoda	~$87~	Check Prices Now3ha.in
Tripbtoz	~$100~	Check Prices Now3ha.in
Booking.com	~$117~	Check Prices Now3ha.in

Surprisingly, Airbnb wasn't the cheapest option...?

It seems to be because it's a site without promotions, unlike other platforms.

(✔️Based on the same date, May 6th: ~$121)

* Due to promotions or events,

hotel prices vary depending on the check-in date, booking date, etc.,

so please check all platforms using the price inquiry links above

and try to find the lowest price *

​

📌 For those who find it a hassle,

I checked Naver Hotels and found that,

this hotel is generally cheapest on Agoda!

(Me, who went through the trouble of checking each one...?! Amazing!)

On Agoda, prices start from around ~$83.

+ A free cancellation option is also available for less than ~$97.

Since the hotel only has 10 rooms, it might get fully booked,

so I highly recommend booking in advance.

Check Prices on Agoda

---

Just so you know, I booked during the peak cherry blossom season

for 3 people/2 nights/around ~$331.

During peak season, you should probably budget around ~$173 per night.

You might be thinking, "That's not cheap, is it?"

but Kyoto hotels during the peak cherry blossom season are incredibly expensive,

with prices soaring. (I looked it up, and they can go up 3-5 times higher lol...)

At that time, other hotels near Kyoto Station for 3 people

were around ~$414 - ~$483,

and luxury hotels were, well, don't even get me started...

Check-in time is from 4 PM to 10 PM.

Staff are always present during these hours.

Check-in is possible outside of these hours,

but you need to contact them separately.

Since I arrived after 4 PM,

I was able to check in at the reception.

Also, they say luggage storage is available.

After checking in, they handed me the key.

This accommodation is a small apartment-style hotel

with 10 rooms across a 3-story building.

I got room 204!

The layout of the Junior Suite room I booked is as shown in the picture:

Entrance - Living Room - Kitchenette - Bathroom - Bedroom - Balcony.

*The Jacuzzi Room

has a Jacuzzi on the balcony*

The Junior Suite room is 28m²,

which is quite spacious compared to other hotels.

In addition to two beds, there's also a sofa bed.

Plus, there's a kitchenette right in the room!

As you enter,

you'll find a small living room.

This area has a sofa bed, so

you won't have to worry if 3-4 people are staying.

(The sofa bed isn't super big -

it might be a tight squeeze for two adult men to both sleep on it..?)

​

If there are just two of you,

it would be great to use it as a relaxation space.

Behind the living area, there's also a **compact kitchen**.

We didn't actually use it ourselves, but...

Seriously,

it's a place that truly has everything!

The **bathroom** was surprisingly large and spacious.

The bathroom layout features a bathtub, sink, and toilet all in a row.

When you travel, you do a lot of walking,

so I love soaking my feet in a bathtub.

**The bathtub was clean, which was great.**

I'd also recommend buying bath bombs or bath salts

from Daiso.

The **bedroom** has two beds.

It's not a large hotel,

but a smaller apartment-style accommodation,

so I was worried it might not be well-maintained.

Fortunately, all the bedding

was spotless.

Thanks to that, I slept wonderfully!

On the first floor, there's a bar operated by a Westerner.

(Is it a popular spot? It felt quite crowded.)

In front of it, there's also a space where guests can sit

and relax!

I even used it to plan my routes.

The walk from the accommodation to Kyoto Station

takes just **15 minutes on foot**.

Surprisingly, at that time,

it was 6:30 AM...

For a morning flight, an accommodation close to a major station is the best!

On the way to Kyoto Station, I saw

a small café.

It must be a coffee hotspot because it was already bustling

with locals in the morning.

For those with a bit more time,

I think grabbing a coffee here would be wonderful.

Kyoto Station is about a

15-minute walk away.

While not right on the doorstep,

it was great to be able to get there on foot.

It's convenient for morning flights to Kansai Airport,

and a great location for shopping at the Isetan Department Store at Kyoto Station!

---

**Shiki Suites - Kyoto Umekoji Review**

1. More affordable price than surrounding options

2. Walking distance to Kyoto Station

3. Spacious accommodation

4. Hotel that can accommodate up to 3-4 people

Overall Rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

While it's not located right in front of tourist attractions or the station,

being able to walk to Kyoto Station,

combined with its great value, spaciousness, and suitability for 3-4 people,

I'd likely visit again for our next family trip!

>Book at the lowest price on Agoda<

*There are only 10 rooms, and they fill up fast, so I recommend booking right away!*

#KyotoAccommodation #KyotoValueAccommodation #KyotoHotel #KyotoValueHotel #KyotoStationAccommodation