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The Gate Hotel Kyoto Takasegawa by HULIC is known for being a hotel whose part was formerly a schoolhouse that was renovated and turned into a hotel.
When I arrived in front of it, I could really see it. The hotel has a unique architectural design that reminds me of a school.
As I made my way in, I noticed several nice restaurants, bars, and shops on the first floor. I boarded the elevator and when up to the lobby floor. Actually, the lobby is located at the top of the hotel.
It is a vast, spacious area with great views of Eastern Kyoto and the mountains behind it. I went to the desk and started my check-in procedure. The staff were very helpful, ensured I understood everything about the hotel and what it offers, and even helped me confirm my dinner reservations.
While they were completing the check-in procedure, I enjoyed the view a bit more and looked around the rest of the lobby floor. There was an interesting bar with many different kinds of drinks displayed and a restaurant further down the hall where I was told I will be having my dinner later today.
When the check-in procedure was completed, I was escorted to my room, which was in the schoolhouse wing of the hotel. So before, it was probably a classroom, and now it’s a spacious and modern renovated room. The room was big and had a large foyer, and a spacious main area separated into two areas with a large central TV shelf.
There were two TVs in the room. Yes, you heard it right, two. One was pointed towards the bed and another towards the sofas. The bathroom was also very large, had a big counter and lots of space for all the toiletries, towels, and additional equipment.
The shower was a large walk-in shower, which I always prefer, as many of you know. Also, there was a Japanese-style toilet in a small separate room attached to the bathroom.
As I said, there were many high-quality toiletries and additional equipment in the room. Basically, everything I would need and expect from a room of this class was there and available.
But the thing I loved the most about this room was its unique position in the layout of the building. It was located on the corner, well, actually on two corners of the building. So I had a view in three different directions through many large windows in the room. And when I say large windows, I really mean huge windows that were probably designed for the classroom.
I had a great view of the two streets outside and the small river that was flowing right underneath the window. And I loved how there were some trees around the hotel as well, which made it feel cozier. I would just chill by these windows, looking down at the small street and the tiny river while drinking my coffee. It was great.
After relaxing a bit in the room and going on a short walk around the neighborhood, I headed to the restaurant called Anchor Kyoto, located on the top floor, to have my dinner. This bistro restaurant focuses on seasonal ingredients and local Kyoto vegetables and has a great wine selection. I’ve heard many good things about the dinner here, and I was looking forward to it.
The kind staff member seated me next to the window so I could enjoy the night view of Kyoto below. He was also very helpful and explained everything I would need to know about the dinner, such as what sorts of dishes I would be served, and recommended some of the drinks they offered.
Throughout the dinner, I tried this several different delicious dishes. You see, it was a multiple-course dinner. I got everything from appetizers and soup to the main dishes of cartoccio with Barracuda and stewed lamb with chestnuts and amaretto. Of course, there was also a dessert. In my case, it was a Shine Muscat pie with lemon flavor. The dinner took me about an hour and a half and was pleasant throughout.
After dinner, I decided to go out a bit more and explore the area around the hotel since this was one of the most popular nightlife areas in Kyoto. There were so many people around, and I wanted to feel the city’s vibe a bit more.
In the morning, I made my way to the same restaurant, which now served breakfast. Once again, I had the pleasure of sitting next to the window, and this time I could enjoy the morning view of Eastern Kyoto. For my main breakfast dish, I had the option of selecting between Eggs Benedict, French toast, or a Japanese set.
I decided to have a french toast set because I loved it, and I needed the energy for the day since I had a lot of things to do. The breakfast was really delicious, expertly made, and presented. Enjoying it next to the window and the amazing view of Eastern Kyoto made the whole thing even better.
After finishing my breakfast, I went back to my room to rest a bit more. I had some afternoon plan to sightsee but decided to spend a bit more time in the hotel to check out what it offered. A staff member told me there was a fitness room, so I decided to go there a bit to burn some fat after this delicious lunch.
The fitness room has treadmills and bicycles and is free for the guests of the hotel. You get complimentary drinks there, as well as towels. The only thing you need is to have your own clothes to wear to the fitness room, so keep that in mind.
One of the interesting things about this hotel are the many experiences it offers this guest. You see, there is a large central traditional-style room in the schoolhouse wing of the hotel, which is used to host many of these different workshops and experiences that you can have there throughout the week, such as yoga or Buddhist sutra readings, etc.
If you are looking for a place to relax inside the hotel, the Lounge&Patio is the place for you. You can spend time reading books curated by the Rissei Library and unwind next to the warmth and sound of the bonfire on the Patio. It’s a good place to chill and meet some of the guests of the hotel. While I was there, the weather was a bit rainy, so it wasn’t open, unfortunately.
I mentioned before the location of the hotel is really good. It’s located right in the middle of Kyoto’s busiest nightlife area along the west bank of the Kamogawa river. It is well connected with the rest of the city and surrounding area thanks to the several subway stations in walking distance, such as the Kyoto-Kawaramachi, Gion-Shijo, Sanjo, and Kyoto Shiyakusho-mae stations.
The entire area is exciting to explore, especially at night. I really enjoyed walking around the street that runs parallel to the hotel and checking out all the bars and restaurants located there.
The Kamogawa river is also very close, and you can easily come down to the riverbank, where you can find many young people, especially students, hanging out. So it’s a pretty good place to be and probably one of my favorite parts of Kyoto.
If you want to do some sightseeing, there are a couple of interesting attractions within walking distance, such as the Sanjo Bridge, Nishiki-Tenmangu Shrine. and the Gion area with its many interesting spots like the Hanamikoji street.
As you can see, there are plenty of things to do when you stay here and in this area. My personal recommendation is to rent a bike. Kyoto is a perfect city for cycling and that way you can explore it easily.
I had a great time, and I highly recommend this to anyone who is looking for an affordable, stylish hotel in downtown Kyoto. You will surely be satisfied by booking The Gate Hotel Kyoto Takasegawa. If you think this will be a good fit for you. Check out their website to learn more.
