4-Star Hotels in Kyoto Prefecture, Japan

I benefited from other guests' reviews before my stay, so I'd like to pay it forward for future visitors. This hotel is incredibly close to both the Kyoto subway station and the Shinkansen (bullet train) station – just a few minutes' walk from the Shinkansen exit, making its location excellent. The bus stop for Kansai Airport is also very near, which was extremely convenient for us as first-time visitors to Kyoto. The room size is comparable to hotels in China, and significantly larger than those in Tokyo. The only downside was that our room faced the Shinkansen tracks, so we were woken up by the train passing by every morning. Check-in and check-out can be done easily via machine, which is very convenient. The only thing was having to pay a local accommodation tax during check-in, which wasn't charged at our Tokyo hotel. There are also plenty of shopping options around the hotel. Overall, it's a hotel I would definitely stay at again.

The location is super convenient. From JR Kyoto Station, take bus number 9 and get off at Shijo Horikawa. The bus stop is right in front of the hotel. There's also a 7-Eleven next door. The room isn't huge, but it's clean and tidy, and the front desk staff were very warm and attentive.

I want to share my gratittude to mitsui hotel staff & the services they provided. They provide good hospotality when we reach and they found out we come with a family of three, they even upgrade our room to 3 single beds room which make our stay even more comfortable during our trip to Kyoto! The room is clean and the Japanese Hot Shower bath they provided is really a good cultural experience for us as a foreign tourist. Their location is also spot on when you want to travel around in kyoto with walking distance bus stop which will brings you all around the hot spots of kyoto. Will definitely visit them again if we travel to kyoto.

The service attitude at the hotel was somewhat poor, and the check-in time was not very accommodating. Even when I arrived about 30 minutes early, I was told that no rooms were available, although the hotel did not appear to be fully occupied. Housekeeping did not change the bed sheets during my stay, which was disappointing. On the positive side, the hotel is conveniently located near the train station, making transportation easy.

Mitsui Garden Hotel Kyoto Station: During autumn, they have a display in the lobby showing the fall foliage status of several temples, along with the day's weather. The rooms are decent, and it's not too far from Kyoto Station, but there's no public bath. You can pick up complimentary toiletries by the elevators. Staff greetings are a hit or miss. The biggest downside is breakfast; it's quite poor compared to other Mitsui hotels, with limited choices and average taste.

This is the seventh hotel I've stayed at in Kyoto. I've evolved from initially choosing hotels near Kyoto Station, primarily relying on buses for getting around, to now staying in the city center and using the subway more often. It's best to pick accommodation based on your personal travel needs. The hotel's front desk has plenty of staff; the experienced young and middle-aged employees are efficient with check-ins and attentive to guest requests. Guests are always greeted warmly and politely by the front desk when entering and leaving the hotel. The rooms are relatively new, and the interior design makes for a convenient and comfortable stay. It's clean and tidy; whenever I hung out the 'please clean' sign, I'd return to a spotless room. The sheets and duvet covers were changed every three days. The down comforter was soft, though the bed was a bit firm. There are countless dining options and convenient shopping nearby.

Stayed at the Mitsui Garden Hotel Kawaramachi Jokyoji from 20-24 Dec. This was my 2nd stay there in 2 consecutive months, despite there being hundreds of hotels in Kyoto.  Location:  the hotel is located in the city center with Nishiki Market and Teramachi indoor shopping street located very closeby. Kawaramachi is also a big commercial street lined with plethora of shops and malls.  Train stations within walking distance.  Hotel Facilities and Amenities:  this is a very beautiful hotel next to a temple (and small cemetery). The rooms are exemplary clean and quite spacious for Japan’s standard. Many facilities such as a public onsen, on-site restaurant, vending machine, ice machine, etc. No gym, which is not a big deal at all if you are in Kyoto for a short tourist visit.  You will be doing a lot of walking anyway if you choose to.   I only visited the on-site restaurant for dinner once. The food was okay, but nothing to write home about. Service staff was accommodating (I had to use a wheelchair at the time); however, service was lackluster otherwise.   Hotel staff service:  cannot praise the service by the hotel staff enough. This time around, I had injured my foot and couldn’t walk for 2 days. I was touched by the staff’s incredible kindness - they went out of their way to really help me out. Overall:  if you want city center location with easy access to modern shops and an array of restaurants within walking distance, big and super clean room, and great hospitality,  I’d highly recommend this hotel.

This hotel is super convenient! It's just one stop from Kyoto Station on the E line, right next to the subway exit. **Facilities:** The room was very spacious, with a huge bed (over 2 meters!) that easily fit two adults and a child. There's also a public bath, which isn't huge but is very clean. The breakfast was okay, but I'm not a big fan of Japanese-style breakfasts. I mostly stuck to the bread, though the waffles and fried eggs were pretty good. **Service:** Excellent! My kids loved the train toys in the lobby, and the train-themed tableware at breakfast was a nice touch. We could easily walk to the Railway Museum and the aquarium without even crossing a road, and getting to Kyoto Station was a breeze.

The location is excellent, right next to the Kyoto City Hall. It's less than a ten-minute walk to Kawaramachi or the Kamo River. The breakfast features three special curries, with a different one served each day, which was absolutely delicious. There were also plenty of fried dishes. It's a shame there's no large public bath, but I went to the nearby Hatsune Yu which was also great.

This is my favorite hotel thus far across the 5 hotels I've stayed in Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka. It gives you the ”zen” feeling and services are great. We booked the room without breakfast, but the grab and go (bread, waffles, milk, tea, coffee,etc.) they provided are already sufficient for a quick breakfast before travelling around. I personally also like the smell of the shampoo and conditioner they gave (light tea smell).