4-Star Hotels in Kyoto Prefecture, Japan

The Urban Hotel is really good. There's one on Shijo and one on Gojo, and I've stayed at both. They're excellent. When I come to Kyoto, I usually choose this brand. They are very clean, and both locations have a large public bath, which I really love.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ I had a wonderful stay at Tokyu Stay Kyoto Sanjo-Karasuma. The location is excellent—situated in a quiet and pleasant Kyoto neighborhood while being just a short walk from Karasuma Oike Station, making it easy to get around the city. There are also plenty of cafés, restaurants, convenience stores, and shopping areas nearby. The staff were exceptionally friendly, welcoming, and always happy to help. Check-in and check-out were smooth, and the service throughout my stay was excellent. The room was clean, comfortable, and thoughtfully equipped. Having a washer-dryer and microwave in the room was especially convenient for a longer stay. Despite the central location, the hotel was peaceful at night, allowing for a good night’s sleep. Overall, Tokyu Stay Kyoto Sanjo-Karasuma was the perfect base for exploring Kyoto. I would definitely stay here again and highly recommend it to anyone visiting the city.

The room's cleanliness was, as always, excellent, and it was quite spacious. We booked a twin room, and the beds could be pushed together. However, the bathroom was exceptionally small, making it difficult to place toiletries, including cups and razors, freely. There's a self-service laundry room and an ice machine. The room only provides two bottles of water, and there's no water purifier. Although the bathroom sign indicates the water is drinkable, it actually has a strong chlorine smell, which persists even after boiling. This isn't very practical for those accustomed to bottled mineral water or water purifiers in their home country. All toiletries were provided, but I have two main complaints: the toothpaste came in a tiny 2x1 cm paper sachet, which was incredibly inconvenient – small, hard to tear open, and difficult to squeeze out. It was quite an experience! Secondly, unlike the first hotel we stayed at, there were no bath salts provided. Transportation is extremely convenient, with Kyoto Station directly across the street. Check-in was also easy, and our luggage was automatically stored by the front desk upon arrival.

I stayed for 4 nights from January 4 to January 8, 2026. From the hotel, you can walk to Nijo Castle in about 10 minutes. There are many small convenience stores nearby (7-Eleven and the like), as well as two large supermarkets — Life is open until midnight, which is a huge plus. You can buy nice gifts for friends and family late in the evening without wasting daytime hours. The transportation access is great too: within a few minutes' walk there's a subway station and a JR line (convenient for coming from the railway station), and right next to the hotel there's a bus stop. This is important because Kyoto's sights are scattered all over the city, and you often need to use public transport or taxis. Speaking of taxis. Twice I asked the reception to call me a taxi, and both times the staff helped me — a huge thank you to them! It was especially important on the first day: thanks to a taxi, I made it to Kiyomizu-dera Temple in time and explored it without rushing. Check-in was very quick, and the staff explained where everything was. The room was quite spacious — or maybe it just felt that way. I comfortably unpacked my suitcase and took out everything I needed without feeling cramped. The room had all the essentials, and there were kettles near the elevator that you could take to your room if needed. I did, and had some tea before bed (on the first floor, you can grab a free tea bag if you don't have your own). The air conditioner worked for both cooling and heating — which was very useful on some evenings. Honestly, I only used the hotel to sleep, and it was perfectly fine. Every morning, breakfast is served on the first floor. To be honest, I expected something simple since the room rate was quite affordable. That's why the breakfast was such a pleasant surprise! My eyes wandered every morning at the variety of delicious food! A huge selection. Every day I had rice with various toppings, amazing salmon, cod, and various vegetables (the okra here was especially good). There's a small smoking room on the first floor with good ventilation. My overall impression of the hotel is extremely positive. I will definitely stay here again on my next visit to Kyoto.

The cleanliness was a minor letdown; there were a few strands of hair on the tatami mats. However, the staff's response and service were exceptional. They always smiled and communicated slowly, even with my broken English and translation app. There was even a staff member who spoke Korean. I didn't try the public bath, but I added the private bath, and it was perfect for washing away travel fatigue. It would be great for families or couples. I also ordered breakfast but unfortunately, I was too tired on the third day of my trip and slept through it. The location is fantastic – just a 3-minute walk from Kyoto Station, and it's tucked away in an alley, making it very quiet. If you want to experience a ryokan with a touch of luxury, I highly recommend it.

Every time I visit Kyoto these past few years, I always stay at this hotel. The location is excellent, right in Sanjo Kawaramachi, very close to the Kamo River. There are tons of shopping and dining options nearby. The hygiene is good, and toiletries can be conveniently picked up from the lobby. The room attendants are warm, attentive, and polite. However, the service standard of the lobby staff has declined; they just get the job done. Also, because the hotel is in a bustling area, there's always a huge crowd coming and going, which can be a bit annoying after a while. What I really need to complain about is the duvet. The fabric isn't 100% cotton, and there's a thin sheet liner inside, so it always ends up a mess by morning. This time, I was smarter and brought my own duvet cover, but it still didn't solve the problem. When I took it apart, I realized the duvet cover and duvet weren't secured with ties. For the rest of my stay, I had to make the bed myself to sleep more comfortably.

Might be more suitable for first timers or travellers who are into Kiyomizu temple or Gion(both location walkable from hotel) I'm a frequent traveller to Japan/Kyoto thus location does not work well for me but not a deal breaker. Hotel is pretty big as I feel the distance walking from elevator to room, decent size rooms with windows that can be opened for maybe 3 inches(?) Enough pillows and quiet room for good rest and also nice public areas with lotsa greens. Rooms need to be more throughly cleaned though as I found coffee/tea stains on the table top(not acceptable for hotels of this grade) The in room water dispenser is a great idea though. There's a bakery within the hotel itself thats open from breakfast if you are into convenience, delish but there are simply too many good bakeries(or other breakfast places) in Kyoto.

The hotel's location is super convenient; it's just a few minutes to Kyoto Station, whether you're heading to a tourist spot or catching the Shinkansen. However, make sure to confirm the correct exit from Kyoto Station beforehand – I went the wrong way the first time without navigation. Each floor has a water dispenser, ice maker, and vending machine, which is very handy.

Room was clean and spacious enough for two people. There was also a table with two chairs in the room, which was very convenient for me to work at during the evenings. The staff were very kind and helpful. Complimentary amenities were available in the common area, and guests could request pajamas from the reception desk. I forgot to bring a plug adapter and asked to borrow one from the receptionist. Fortunately, they had one available and lent it to me free of charge. The location is convenient, about a 7–8 minute walk from Sanjo Station and the Kamo River. It is also close to a bus stop, about a 5-minute walk away, making it easy to get to Gion. The breakfast offered a good variety of options. There were both Japanese and international dishes, and the quality was good and well-prepared. I enjoyed staying and just realised I didnt take any photos of the room but nutto during breakfast…🤣

Great hotel room, spacious and comfortable . Beds were soft and the toilet was big with two separate places to shower , sink and the toilet itself . Remember to close the window of the bathtub otherwise people can see you taking a shower (even it is far distance).  The onsen was great with sauna, cold onsen, outdoor natural hot springs and indoor.  The negative point is that every floor they have smoking área and the smell of cigarette was in my room every night . We had to turn on the a/c and the air purifier and in the next day ask staff to keep the windows opened for ventilation . The location is privileged just ten minutes walking from the train station.   There are supermarkets nearby and it is quite convenient to eat around , with meals of all ranges of prices .