Hotels in Ohara/Kibune/Kurama, Kyoto

The Okura Okazaki Bettie is a beautifully designed modern hotel and was the perfect choice for our combined business/leisure visit to Kyoto. The location was reasonably close (short taxi ride) to excellent restaurants and sights in the culturally historic area east of the river. The guest room quality, cleanliness and comfort is excellent - finished to a high standard with large windows overlooking the garden below and temples beyond. Breakfast was served in the restaurant overlooking the hotel's own zen garden. The choice of either ”Kyoto”or ”American” breakfast was amazing, beautifully presented bento style, exceptionally fresh, plentiful and delicious. Indeed this was one of the best hotel breakfasts ever. Finally the service level is exceptional. Both management and staff did everything they could to make our stay enjoyable and hassle free. Neither the most nor least expensive option in Kyoto - just simple great value. We look forward to returning next time.

this hotel is in a good location, it is not a family hotel, breakfast was good,the only gripe we had is that we asked for non smokers room and the room smelled of tabaco, they did move us to another room which did not smell of tabaco but had not been used for a while and did have dust on the furniture. they did try to please and make our stay pleasant

Aman Kyoto - Japanese hospitality ????? Having travelled around the globe for decades either visiting staying or working in some of the best luxury hotels it came somewhat as a surprise that the Aman Kyoto refused the family access today to see the lobby or have a coffee or drink in the lobby. In fact the Four Seasons Kyoto where we are staying recommended we visit the Aman. Sabine my wife who also works as a Luxury Travel Advisor. Kyoto is not that busy today. The lady at the entrance called mentioning we were 4 Seasons Guests and that my wife a Travel Advisor - all to no avail. Alas we had to wait in the heat and return to the Four Seasons Kyoto …. A very sad experience and indeed the only dark side of what has been a wonderful visit to Japan - the Ritz Carlton in Tokyo Hyatt Toranomon Hills and the Four Seasons Tokyo has been amazing …. This has to be a one of … I can’t believe such a respected and leading brand such as Aman would treat guests in such a manner ….. there has to be a better way to show why you are the best in class. It cannot be by being arrogant and aloof and snobby. I am sure you will work it out ..... I hope this helps find a solution on how this can me managed in the better way and not leave such a sour taste in such a beautiful and hospitable country like Japan

Just stayed 2 nights in a club twin and a club king room. First the positives - 1. The rooms - for a oldish hotel and a round one at that, the room was outstanding - it was spacious and i don't mean spacious by Japanese standards but really by any international one. The rooms looked pristine - i don't know if they did some renovations during covid but it did not look in the least worn. The bathtub was great and the room looked out to some nice greenery and trees. The sheets was really nicely made - taut and smooth just as it should be and the bed comfy. Adequate outlets. 2. The lounge is a nice respite with it's nice vantage looking out to a nice pond and garden. The staff were very friendly and explained about the macha tea. Dinner choice was reasonable with about 5 choices of food and plenty on alcohol to choose from. 3. Just opposite hotel is the conference centre (which is why i stayed at Prince) and the subway. 4. The area surrounding is green and peaceful and lush. One of my colleagues even saw a deer at night near the hotel. Now the not so good. 1. It's not near any shopping or restaurants (unless you count the cafe in the conference centre). There is a McDonalds about 8 minutes walk away (if you walk a bit briskly) and a Daiso about 15-20 minutes walk. Some other small restaurants within 10 minutes walk. 2. The hotel restaurants - they are not exactly family friendly in their fare. Set meals more for formal dining. Given the paucity of very nearby restaurants, the hotel could consider increasing the repertoire of simple kid friendly food. Strange how none of the restaurants offer this but some choices available from room service i.e. spaghetti. My daughter ended up with room service and me trekking to Mcdonalds to supplement her meal choice. I had trouble with Uber Eats or that's an option too. 2. Breakfast is a bit forgettable - i had the buffet one day - not quite befitting a Marriott Autograph hotel standard. I tried the western set another day - it was really quite nice but staff a bit inflexible. My daughter liked the bread so i asked for more only for the ultraman no sign to be invoked and the reply that they were out of stock (i guess that's their diplomatic way of saying you only get your one basket of bread and that's it. So I'm giving the hotel a 4/5. Nonetheless, there are enough positives to make me want to come back in future

From the moment we arrived at Roku Kyoto, we felt completely taken care of. From the warm greetings we received as we got out of the taxi to the genuine smiles and hospitality given to us at Reception. There is a pride that exudes from everyone at Roku Kyoto, and for good reason. It is an absolutely extraordinary hotel. But it's not just the beautiful accommodations and the incredibly thoughtful design throughout the property. Nor is it just the sumptuous food stunningly presented at every meal. It is the people who work there and represent the true heart and soul of what the Roku Kyoto experience is all about. My wife and I have traveled all around the globe and we have rarely encountered such a level of excellence. The architectural design, the interior design, the facilities and the grounds are all stunning. In fact, the photos from their website do not do it justice. The room we had on the 4th floor was gorgeous and the bed was perhaps the most comfortable bed we have ever encountered (and we travel often!). The tranquility, the views, the attention to detail throughout the hotel are are not just glorious but absolutely inspiring. The gorgeous pool is filled with water from the natural hot springs that abound in that area of Kyoto. It is a sumptuous experience to swim in that very special pool. We only had breakfast at the hotel, but it was the best we encountered in Japan. The food was beautifully prepared , the choices were extensive and stunningly displayed and the service was impeccable. In fact, service is another thing that sets this extraordinary hotel apart. It's not just well done, there is a pride and a joy that emanates from every member of the staff, no matter what their position. It's what gives this place true heart and soul and it's what elevates the experience. We will never forget our stay at Roku Kyoto and cannot wait to return! We would like to especially thank Kayo Naskagawa. Her attention to detail, her inherent ability to go the extra mile for a guest. Her sweetness and ease. Her ability to listen and use that information to heighten the Roku experience for a guest. Kayo, for us, represents everything we love about Roku Kyoto and why we cannot wait to return.

Stayed for 4 nights, the overall experience was great! First of all, before check-in, the hotel team set up a WeChat group to understand our check-in needs, and provided Kyoto tour and dining suggestions. They also helped us book some very good restaurants and gave us many practical tour suggestions; During check-in, the team's 24-hour WeChat group standby was very considerate and timely to meet our various needs during our stay! Room experience: The room design is advanced, and it can be seen that the hotel has spent a lot of thought on hard and soft furnishings, taking into account both aesthetic expression and various life functions, making our stay very comfortable. The room is equipped with a washing machine, microwave oven, coffee machine, induction cooker and kitchen island. The single room area is more than 60 square meters, and it also has a tea break terrace, which is very suitable for family long-term travel. The geographical location is also very advantageous. The bus station and subway station are within 5 minutes of walking, and it is 3 stops away from the bustling area of ​​Kyoto. Convenience stores and delicious restaurants are all within 7-10 minutes of walking. In front of the hotel is the Kamo River Jumping Stone. My daughter goes to the Kamo River to play in the water every morning. In general, the geographical location is excellent and impeccable. The staff is very high-quality and considerate. Without exception, they can serve us from the perspective of guests, making us feel at ease like going home. This hotel has indeed become our home in Kyoto! Next time I go to Kyoto, I will experience another hotel under the same brand. I am looking forward to it! Thank you Kamo Residences By reflections! Thx all! See you next time~

It took us a while to find this hotel. It is situated in the side streets of Kyoto. A bit far from everything. Not much cafes and restaurants are found within the vicinity of this hotel. The check in process is a bit frustrating especially if you’ve traveled far and walked a long while prior to check in. There is no personnel to assist you. No complimentary bottled water. No convenience store nearby which is odd if you are in Japan. The nearest Family Mart is probably 300m away. The room is planned well. There is ample space to walk around despite having 3 luggages. There is a little tub in the bathroom and electronic toilet.

The hotel is adjacent to Okazaki Shrine. Kumano Shrine is also within walking distance. On the day of our stay, there were three buses parked there, which looked like they were for school trips, but it seems that they use the East and West buildings separately, and we did not see any students in the West building. The lobby is spacious. The alcohol disinfectant bottles were dressed in kimonos, which is typical of Kyoto. There were also artificial cherry blossoms in full bloom on display. Photo panels of Murasaki Shikibu and Michinaga are lined up in honor of the NHK Taiga drama ”To You, the Light”. Their faces are carved out so that you can take commemorative photos. The rooms on the 6th floor are spacious. Everything you need is provided. We took a bath in the large public bath ”Shiun no Yu” in the evening and morning. The room wear is only for use in the room, so you have to change clothes to go to the large public bath. The downside is that there are no restaurants around the hotel.

This is what happened to me. I booked through booking.com, they confirmed everything and even charged the full price of the reservation 7 days before check-in. On check-in day, they sent me a message saying they had some issue and I would not be able to check in and have to find somewhere else to stay. Imagine me, coming from a foreign country, currently on the shinkansen from Tokyo to Kyoto at that point, which was 10pm. There was nothing I could do, I tried to tell them they had to honor the booking and let me check in. They still refused. I had to escalate the issue to booking.com, which cancelled my reservation and promised to make the hotel refund me. Guess what, they never did! After that they simply ignored all my messages and never refunded my money, for a stay that never happened, because of their own dishonesty and irresponsibility. My vacation was ruined from the stress of finding a new place to stay at midnight, and so was my subsequent month trying to chase this refund. These people should go to jail. P/S: don’t even try removing my review. I have it as a note, I will repost until I die. Because people like you should never be able to scam people again. Shame on you.

This is a hidden gem. We were surprised that it was not fully booked. The front desk had English speakers. Check-in was a breeze. We were able to leave our luggage with them before Check-In time. When we did check in our bags were already in the rooms. The rooms had elegant tatami mats and the room details were very traditional and beautiful. The bathroom was elegant with a furo tub as well as a shower. Our rooms looked out over a beautiful Japanese garden. The place seemed to be brand-new. Yukatas and slippers were provided. The highlight for us was the dinners we enjoyed in a beautiful dining room with a traditional setting with a gorgeous painted screen backround with the tables overlooking the Japanese garden. The food was prepared by Chef Terada Kazoyoshi , who was classically trained and has cooked for the Imperial Family. He is an artist and his dishes were as beautiful as they were delicious. He was happy to explain each dish and seemed to enjoy preparing the meals as much as we did eating them! He explained that he is the last of the generation that learned how to prepare and display the food the way he does. It was the highlight of our two weeks in Japan. The ryokan is off the beaten track but just a short walk to a busy street with excellent bus connections to the rest of Kyoto. We highly recommend this ryokan for an authentic Japanese holiday experience.