From the street, the Mitsui Garden has an unassuming look: It's a simple squat building fronted with an arched modern awning. Inside, the lobby resembles a conservative bank, with a tall ceiling, beige marble floors, and dark wood walls. There's little seating aside from hard benches and stools, but guests remark that the lobby and other common areas of the hotel are more upscale than the rooms. Down the hall from the reception, a rock garden with a giant red parasol relaxes the tone a bit. The on-site Japanese baths (or onsen) has more relaxed decor, with white, 60's-style modern chairs and polished wood floors, but it's still streamlined and free of color.

The central location of the Mitsui Garden Hotel Kyoto Shijo makes it popular with business travelers and tourists. Several bus lines run near the Mitsui Garden Hotel Kyoto Shijo and the Shijo Nishinitoin stop is just a two-minute walk away. Public transportation can be taken to several popular tourist attractions, including Kinkakuji (30 minutes), Nijojo Castle (15 minutes), Gion (18 minutes), and Fushimi Inari Shrine (27 minutes). The Karasumaoike subway stop is a 10-minute walk away, and the main Kyoto train station is a 30-minute stroll or an eight-minute cab ride. Travelers arriving at the Osaka International Airport will need about 50 minutes to get to the hotel by car. While there are historic streets nearby, shopping centers and plenty of restaurants are within a 10-minute walk.

The rooms at Mitsui Garden Hotel Kyoto Shijo are simply furnished, but not unpleasant, with a dark, masculine color palette of grays, tans, and dark brown. Platform beds made up with crisp white sheets, and dark-wood furniture, including good-sized work desks, center the room. But the mattresses are smaller than what's typically found in the west (which is to be expected), and the furniture layout is tight. There's free Wi-Fi, mini-fridges, slippers and robes, and electric kettles with green tea in every room. Air-conditioning is standard, and microwaves can be requested. The bathrooms are a bit cramped, but do have shower/tub combos and toilets with bidet functions. Toiletries are free and plentiful in pump dispensers.

The communal Japanese bath is the most notable amenity in the hotel with plenty of room to relax before and after taking a dip. Massage chairs extend the pampering services beyond a simple soak. Breakfast is available for a fee, though note that dishes tend to be Japanese, and the hotel doesn't serve other meals. A business center is available for working travelers. The meeting rooms come in a variety of sizes offering space for VIP get togethers or larger presentations. On-site coin-operated laundry machines are also a boon for business men and women on an extended stay.