During our two-week vacation in Japan, my husband and I visited six cities, and one of them was Kyoto.
Kyoto is genuinely charming and way less crowded than Tokyo, making it feel quite cozy. We spent three days and two nights in Kyoto and decided to stay in an apartment instead of a hotel.
We chose this particular apartment after reading some positive reviews and finding the price reasonable. Here’s a detailed review of our stay at the One More Heart Fushimi Inari apartment.
The apartment we stayed at is called One More Heart at Fushimi Inari, located at 58 Fukakusa Inari Nakanocho, Fushimi Ward, Kyoto, 612-0807, Japan.
To get there, take the Nara Line from JR Kyoto Station. Hop on a local train from platforms 8, 9, or 10, and get off at Inari Station.
After tapping out, you’ll step right into one of Japan's must-see spots, Fushimi Inari Taisha, which is directly in front of the station. The apartment is just a short 200-meter walk from there.
In terms of location, I highly recommend this apartment. It’s close to the station and major landmarks, plus the walk is lined with cafes selling all sorts of Matcha treats – which made me really happy!
If you need any essentials, there's a Lawson convenience store right next to Inari Station, super close to the apartment.
We booked through Agoda and chose to pay in cash when we arrived. The total cost was 13,500 Yen for a two-night stay.
We picked a one-bedroom apartment with about 25m² of space. It felt roomy and was more than enough for two guests.
Since this apartment uses a self-check-in system without staff, we were a bit unsure at first, worried about making mistakes. Thankfully, we had anticipated this and were ready.
When we arrived at the reception, there was actually a staff member present. I checked in with him to confirm if we could go straight in.
Since he didn’t speak English, he used Google Translate, showing me a message that read, "Have you received the email? If so, you can continue checking in by yourself." It turned out to be straightforward!
On the day of arrival, guests receive a confirmation email with detailed self-check-in instructions, including the password to access the apartment area, a few hours before check-in time.
The key is stored in a secure box, only accessible with this password. The instructions were clear, making the check-in process easy and hassle-free.
We had a unique experience during check-out. Since we opted to pay in cash upon arrival, we expected a staff member to be available when we were leaving.
However, when we were ready to check out, no staff were around. We tried using the intercom at the reception and even knocked on an office door, but no one answered.
Honestly, we felt confused – we hadn’t paid yet, so what should we do? Eventually, we reached out to the apartment via the Agoda app chat feature.
Thankfully, they replied (though we had to wait a bit), instructing us to simply leave the cash in the room. I was genuinely amazed – it was such a cultural shock for me! I couldn’t believe they trusted guests like that. It’s really something.
The one-bedroom apartment was fully equipped with everything you’d typically find in an apartment. It had a comfortable bed for two, a dining table, a TV, an open wardrobe, and a well-equipped kitchen.
For those who like to cook, there’s an electric stove, along with pots, pans, and utensils. Cutlery, glasses, spoons, and plates are also provided.
Additionally, there’s a large refrigerator, an electric kettle, and a microwave, making it easy to store and heat food.
The apartment even includes a washing machine, which was a big help for us since we only packed enough clothes for five days in Japan. It made it easy to wash and reuse our clothes during the stay.
Next, let’s talk about the bathroom. It’s fairly spacious, with separate areas for the bathtub and the toilet & sink.
Like most Japanese bathrooms, it includes a bathtub, perfect for a hot soak after a long, tiring day. In Japan, no matter how small the bathroom, you can almost always expect a bathtub.
The amenities are complete, with shampoo, body wash, and conditioner, plus hand soap at the sink. There’s also a hair dryer in the cabinet. However, there isn’t an iron provided.
The bathroom was spotlessly clean and very comfortable overall!
Overall, my husband and I had no complaints. Even though there wasn’t a staff member on duty when we wanted to check out, it wasn’t an issue – maybe that’s just part of the concept here.
Also, maybe Japanese people are very trusting and expect guests to be honest about payment, which was quite a surprise!
For the price we paid, the room facilities, cleanliness, and service were well worth it. It was a lovely experience, and I’d definitely stay here again if I return to Kyoto.
What do you think? Would you like to stay at this apartment?