5-Star Hotels in Kyoto Prefecture, Japan

This is a venerable super five-star hotel with an excellent location, though it's a bit out of the city center, making it quite inconvenient for getting to sights, attractions, and dining. However, the hotel shuttle bus to Kyoto Station is a lifesaver. The hotel was renovated a few years ago, but it still retains its 40+ years of history and luxurious decor, now blended with modern, clean design elements. Charging facilities and hygiene are excellent. I would definitely stay here again!

When we chose this hotel, we saw pictures and videos that made us think it was a resort estate, but it's not. There's very little to see inside the hotel; I could walk through the entire property in 5 minutes. Secondly, the hotel advertises natural hot springs, but the public ones reek of disinfectant as soon as you walk in, which is very unpleasant. The room itself was okay and had character, and the bathtub was very large with a pleasant woody scent when bathing. Finally, the breakfast – honestly, the taste was just mediocre. I wouldn't choose this hotel again at the same price point.

This was our first time staying in the Gion area, and Hotel the Celestine truly elevated the experience. The atmosphere is calm, elegant and very Kyoto. From check in to departure, everything felt smooth and professionally handled. The cleanliness was impeccable. The room was thoughtfully arranged with a perfect balance of modern comfort and traditional Japanese touches. Beds were extremely comfortable and the space felt well planned, not cramped like many city hotels. What makes this hotel special is the location. Stepping outside places you immediately in the charm of old Kyoto. Walking through Gion in the early morning before the crowds arrive was unforgettable. Service deserves special mention. The team was polite, warm and always ready to assist with genuine hospitality. A beautiful property for anyone who appreciates quiet luxury in a prime cultural setting. We would gladly stay again.

The room was very quiet, and the blackout curtains worked perfectly. The staff were super friendly and helpful; they even offered me an umbrella when it rained without asking for my room number, which was a lovely gesture and reminded me of the grand service of yesteryear. It's an easy walk to the bustling downtown area. Right next to the hotel is Foguang Temple, which has two huge ginkgo trees and is surprisingly peaceful with hardly any tourists.

The hotel's location is fantastic! The design is also very modern and forward-thinking. The front desk and concierge staff were all incredibly enthusiastic and always attentive to whether we needed any assistance. It was a very satisfying stay. We stayed in Japan for 7 nights and switched between 3 hotels, and this was by far the most satisfying five-star hotel experience!

Located on the 2nd floor, accessible by elevator from the central square exit, this hotel is incredibly convenient. It exudes the charm of a classic, established hotel. For breakfast, there's Ogawa and Yakiniku Hiro right across the street. We also found the best value for money meal near Komero Park – picture 4 shows a meal that was only 5000+ yen! Kinkaku-ji and Kiyomizu-dera are definitely worth visiting, and the Biwako Valley ski resort was stunning. The aquarium is good too. Kyoto is a city you can easily spend 3 days exploring.

Everything was good except the service in hotel restaurants, which was exceptionally bad: 1) breakfast: waited for food for 40 mins, reminded the server 2 times - still nothing; 2) bar: a too long wait for a cocktail. the server said that as apology said cocktail won’t be in included in the bill… but it was there; 3) afternoon tea: told the staff that I dislike dairy products, but have no allergy. So, for example I can eat most sweets, but not the ones with a strong taste of mascarpone cream. In the end they gave me just a plate of fruit and when I remninded them of the above they… did nothing ) I stayed at this hotel and had afternoon tea there last year too - everything was fine then. All of the above are 3 different restaurants inside the hotel, so I wouldn’t recommend going to any restaurant there. In all other aspects except services related to food the hotel is good.

It is a very nice hotel with attentive staff! The hotel is about a 7 minutes walk from Kyoto station. It’s a very convenient place to stay if you’re catching an early train or arriving from a late one. I don’t know if I’d recommend it for a longer stay since the area is quite boring. There’s plenty of restaurants and shops within the station but they’re very crowded and more expensive. It’s also quite far away from the main sights of Kyoto, so for a longer stay I’d recommend staying downtown. The included room amenities are good but nothing special. There’s shaving kits, towels, haircare, skincare, tea, water, and yukata robes (the robes are not souvenirs). There’s a pool, a spa area, and a restaurant, which all have an additional fee. My room was clean, but I found some scuff marks on the walls and a crack in my bathtub. From Kyoto station you can see Kyoto tower but it’s not an amazing sight hahaha. It takes about 25 minutes to downtown Kyoto from the hote

My main goal for this Kyoto trip was to revisit Kiyomizu-dera and Fushimi Inari-taisha, and explore Kibune. So I chose to stay near Kawaramachi, and ended up picking this Hilton. The hotel is right by Shiyakusho-mae Station on the Tozai Line. I'd recommend using the Kawaramachi Plaza exit, as it's the only one with an escalator; if you use Exit 1, you'll have to carry your luggage yourself. Technically, you can't see Honno-ji Temple's graveyard from the hotel, but it is close to the road and can be a bit noisy at night. In the mornings, there are fewer motorcycles, and Sundays are quiet – I even slept through breakfast one day! You can walk to Keihan Sanjo Station, enjoying the Kamo River along the way. If you prefer, it's also just one subway stop. It's not far to walk to Kawaramachi Shijo either, and there are plenty of dining options nearby. This time, I surprisingly opted for a breakfast and dinner package. The variety was better than at Mitsui Garden Hotel Kyoto Sanjo Premier, but they don't change their menus, so eating the same thing for three consecutive days can get a bit monotonous. As for a drawback, I'd suggest the hotel checks the elevator buttons – the static electricity is quite bad; I got shocked almost every time.

This hotel exceeded my expectations! The room was larger than average and exceptionally clean, with a separate shower and bathtub. The Refa showerhead and hairdryer were a nice touch and worked great. The room had modern amenities, and the trash bins were emptied promptly. The hotel's location is super convenient. There are many designer shops and delicious restaurants nearby, and it's just a short walk to Nishiki Market. Karasuma Oike Station is also right next door, offering direct access to Shijo and Kyoto Station. I was really satisfied with my stay; it offers excellent value for money! I highly recommend the wagyu BBQ restaurant next to the hotel (Wagyu Yakiniku Horumon Sankichi). The owner and staff were very friendly, the wagyu quality was superb, and the set menus were great value, plus you can enjoy all-you-can-drink!