There's good and not-so-good things about the Kyoto Okura.

The best thing is location. It's in a great area of Kyoto, two steps from Ponto-cho and Teramachi-dori (covered pedestrian shopping area, connects to Nishiki market), and easily walkable to the main shopping streets and Gion. Plus, it sits on top of a subway station, with an indoor connection between the subway and hotel.

On the down side, the hotel looks and feels as if nothing has changed since 1964. The rooms and public areas lack any sense of modernity, and the staff are all in call-for-Philip-Morris bellboy outfits.