Rumor Plaza makes for an interesting Japanese experience. Due to common sleeping and bathing quarters, it "caters to men" only. As a hotel, it is a capsule hotel, meaning small sleeping quarters which are about 1.5m height by width and about 2m long, stacked one above the other. The capsules have a TV (earphones supplied), light and ventilation control, and a bottle of water supplied. The other guests are quiet and the bed comfortable, so there is no trouble sleeping (there is also a clock to help wake up). In the morning an excellent and varied Japanese breakfast is served. Western style breakfast food seemed to be limited to toast and boiled eggs but the Japanese buffet is very comprehensive. The location is ideal, in the heart of Gion. The bathing facilities are on two levels, the upper of which is outdoors and features a medicinal bath and salt bath. One can also lie outside and watch TV (Japanese baseball seemed to be all the thing at the time of my visit). The lower level has the mandatory wash area for a good scrub before proceeding naked to the baths. There is a large and quite hot sauna, large hot pool, smaller cool pool, two very hot bath-size jetted tubs. Gion is of course the night life center of Kyoto, but also close to major temples and quiet areas on the Higashiyama hillside.
