Hearton Hotel occupies a blocky, nondescript gray building typical of this business area in central Kyoto. The lobby is neat, tidy, and functional -- to a fault. There's no decorative elements to make it feel warm or welcoming, and the lack of artwork or color, even in the form of plants or flowers, reads as cold. A few sleek, contemporary sofas in austere black and white make up a sitting area next to large floor-to-ceiling windows looking out onto a small central courtyard. The decor of the rest of the hotel is similar: Neat and functional with very few dashes of color, with the exception of the restaurant, where a large flower bouquet, a collection of teacups, and a few colorful Japanese prints bring in more signs of life. Catering to business travelers, the hotel has many Japanese businessmen staying here, as well as independent leisure travelers, and many tour groups.

Hearton Hotel is located in central Kyoto on a quiet street just off a main road leading to Kyoto City hall. The subway is just around the corner: It’s a four-minute walk to Karasumaoike subway station where the Karasuma and Tozai subway lines interconnect. Kyoto train station is three subway stops away, a 14-minute ride. There are many shops, cafes, and restaurants in the immediate vicinity.

• Three-minute walk to Kyoto International Manga Museum
• Four-minute walk to Karasumaoike subway station
• 10-minute walk to Kyoto City Hall
• 13-minute walk to Nishiki Market
• 13-minute subway ride to Kawaramachi shopping district
• 14-minute subway ride to Nijo Castle
• 18-minute subway ride to Kyoto Imperial Palace
• 16-minute bus ride to the historic Gion area
• 34-minute bus ride to Ryoan-ji Temple
• 34-minute bus ride to Ginkaku-ji (the Silver Pavilion)
• 40-minute bus ride to Kinkaku-ji (the Golden Pavilion)
• 90-minute drive to Kansai International Airport

The guest rooms at Hearton Hotel are neat and clean, with no extra frills. Floors are covered in wall-to-wall carpets with geometric patterns; wood furnishings are simple; and platform beds are topped with crisp white bedding. Small Japanese framed prints hang on the otherwise bare white walls. The look is simple, but not unappealing. However, on closer inspection, the furniture shows scuff marks, scratched veneer, and other signs of wear and tear. All the rooms have flat-screen TVs, electric kettles, mini-fridges, hairdryers, air-conditioning, free wired Internet, and some have a balcony. Like the rooms, the bathrooms are clean and functional, but unremarkable, with shower/tub combos and free toiletries. By Japanese standards, rooms are a reasonable size, but not very spacious. But some of the rooms (like the Singles) are cramped, and have limited floor space for storing luggage. 

A Western-style breakfast buffet is served each morning in the large breakfast room on the first floor. On the second floor is Hamatoku, a casual dining restaurant overlooking a patio, which is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner and serves Western-style cuisine, as well as traditional Japanese dishes. The hotel also caters to business meetings and conferences, as well as banquets, and it has several rooms of different sizes available for these purposes. There’s a coin-operated washer and dryer available for guests’ use, as well as three computers at the Internet corner, and free Wi-Fi connection in public spaces and in rooms. There’s also a small souvenir shop, and a few vending machines selling drinks.