Kyoto Nakagyo Ward 5-star Hotels

The location is excellent and right in the downtown of Kyoto but not in the front street which will be too crowded and noisy, still there were some noisy from the restaurants and bar nearby which still played loud music even after 12:00AM, so not ideal for those people who needs total silence to sleep. This is probably the necessary evil when live in the downtown hotel, but the hotel is already in the back alley so felt a bit better. Cannot consider the service top quality since the hotel front desk is located at 8th floor, and there is only one person tending the luggage at ground level till 6PM, so no service can be offered at ground level, this is the part can improve since some of the high floor hotel do have ground floor service crew unless in a big commercial building complex. The room is nicely decorated and everything feels new, no complaint about the room. Although the breakfast is a bit disappointed given the very limited selection of foods and Japanese style breakfast can only offer limited number (25 serving per day?), this part can definitely make some improvement, at least inform the guest about the limited number so we can book in advance.

The transportation is convenient. Exit 3 of Kyoto Shiyakusho Station on the Tozai Subway Line leads directly to the downstairs of the hotel. Although the facilities are not smart enough, they are well maintained and easy to use. The service is particularly good. The Japanese breakfast set menu is exquisite and delicious, and the buffet breakfast has both Japanese and Western styles, as well as Chinese steamed dumplings and siomai. It is very close to Kamogawa. There are many delicious restaurants in nearby Kiyamachi (mainly Western) and Pontocho (mainly Japanese). The restaurant is relatively late. The three nearby commercial streets are also very lively, and most shops close early. The view from the room is great, as is the view from the breakfast restaurant.

I had a terrific four night stay at the Ace in Kyoto. The building design is stunning and set the vibe for the entire stay. The front desk staff were so friendly and so helpful with my many questions and requests. The room was spacious and well stocked with whatever you needed. The soaking tub was the prefect way to recover after a day running around Kyoto. I'm vegan, and the restaurants made sure I had plenty of delicious food to eat. The hotel centrally located within Kyoto, and right above a mall that had some great shopping. I recommend the Ace and look forward to returning.

Service: Excellent service from hotel staff, spoke English, accommodating, helpful and cheerful. Location : Quiet area, right next to a train station exit, convenient location. It is close to Kyoto Station by taxi ( approx 5-10 mins), located at an intersection and was easy to grab a taxi. It is not located that close to the main Kyoto shopping street, but it's just a peaceful 5-10 minutes walk away from the main stretch of shopping and food areas. Great to explore the quiet side of Kyoto. Lawson mart just opposite, the quiet lane opposite had lots of quaint cafes and bakeries. What a wonderful find just walking through the little lanes opposite. Away from tourists crowds, immersed in local Kyoto city vibes. Room style and space: Room furnishing decor colours were so soothing, stylish pale sage greens, light cream and oak, modern and pleasant , light cream tones. Fantastic huge single beds and pillows, fluffy and clean pillows, huge sofa, strong showers from rain shower in bathroom. Loved every corner in my corner room. Spacious work desk at the corner, perfect for a working business trip. The balcony flanked the entire room length.. absolutely wonderful.. sat outside on the balcony and people watched. Bathroom amenities and products included face and body moisturizers, combs etc, all wrapped in classic stylish Japanese style. Perks: We received daily vouchers which we could use for lounge cocktail hour (free flow great selections of wines, beers, sake, hot drinks etc drinks and snacks) or for high tea set in the lounge area. The lounge area was so cozy. Wonderful vibes. High tea set was amazing, provided by famous patissierie that's located in the hotel lobby. Wonderful chill experience just before we head out for daily dinners. Facilities: We checked out the mist room and onsen.. so clean and stylish. Felt like we were at a W hotel. Overall super fantastic experience, wonderful ambience, rooms were new, stylish and cleanliness was top notch. Property itself is very new and modern. Perfect for solo or couples. Very quiet (some traffic noise, but not a big deal), peaceful neighborhood, chic furnishings. I loved my stay in Nov so much, I will stay again in future. Downside: The rooms face a few offices opposite, windows are not coated with opaque film.. so just be aware and not walk around underdressed in the room in full view of opposite buildings. Windows are definitely see through! Nothing the day curtains can't fix.

This Ritz-Carlton location sitting on Kamogawa and Hagashiyama mountains, is one of the best locations to stay in Kyoto. The architecture is gorgeous on every level as you enter the hotel. You feel transported to a particular place that you will never forget. In addition, the quality of service the Ladies and Gentlemen provides goes above and beyond any other Ritz-Carlton location. Staying at the Kamogawa Executive Suite was an unforgettable experience. Approximately 1350 sq. ft., the suite provides luxury accommodations that exceed the highest expectations of any guest. The bathroom is gorgeous, especially the bathtub, where the wall and bathtub are decorated with sakura flowers. The bed is comfortable, and the living room is quite spacious. One thing I would have loved to see inside this room is a Genkan to place shoes as you enter the suite. Preserving the floor and rug is necessary and educates foreign guests about the importance of doing this. Another aspect that I loved about this place was Mizuki. Every morning I visited it for a Japanese-style breakfast, and it was a fantastic experience. In addition, I went to one of their sushi demonstrations and felt that I had a lifetime supply of sushi. Every bite was delicious, and the chef went above and beyond to make every guest feel special. Please make reservations for kaiseki, tempura, teppanyaki, and of course, sushi during your stay in advance. The spa is also a must if you are staying in this location. It is one of my most relaxing experiences, and the facilities are excellent. As you enter the spa, all the details regarding the walk to the counter or attendant, the changing room, and the pool area are planned quite well, so the guest can feel extra special and disconnected from reality. Finally, I must recognize the Ladies and Gentlemen's hard work and dedication at the Ritz-Carlton, Kyoto. Thank Ana and Naoto, for your friendly welcome to the hotel and making things possible during my stay. Chef Tomohiro Goda and his team provided an experience I will never forget at Mizuki. Naoki was friendly and helpful as I researched information. Pablo and Thain were attentive to my needs as I left the hotel and provided a great experience as I checked out. Special thanks to Carlos for leading such a fantastic Ritz-Carlton property in Japan and consideration prior to my stay. This is one of the top Ritz-Carlton properties I have stayed in, out of 25 Ritz-Carlton. I will cherish all the memories that I gained from this place and will make sure to come back in the future.

We stayed in this hotel for 4 nights during our first visit to Kyoto. This hotel is very clean with nice accessories and modern Japanese accommodations located in quiet neighborhood away from constant tourist crowds but at the same time in walking distance from the emperor palace and right across from Nijo Castle. It is only 10-15 minutes away on taxi from Gion district and other main tourist attractions that Kyoto can offer. I also would like mention Garrya Nijo Castle Kyoto staff that made us feel very welcomed and specifically to Timothy Hui (front office manager) who went beyond his duties and make special accommodations for us during our visit in Kyoto.

We were a group of 6 people staying at the Hotel Mitsui on a trek through Japan. Suffice it to say, that the group was all pleased that we stayed here. Our initial check in process was a bit bumpy (no tea service) as it was clear everyone was checking into the hotel for a holiday weekend. However, within 30 minutes, we were all on our way to our rooms. Overall, the hotel and the rooms are designed in muted tones and a modern zen vibe. Where other hotels would simply have drywall covered with pictures, the Mitsui has clearly thought about every surface. We were in a room that looked out to the central garden, which is beautiful. The room had a nice long marble bench at the entrance which was nice for putting shoes on or setting things down to pack / unpack. Further in the room, there is a bar area, desk area and a nice long padded bench by the window. Controls for the room are near the bed and you can dim lights or raise and lower blinds with ease. The bathroom is a very clever design with two pocket door entrances, offering a closet area, double sink, a wet room with tub and shower and rom for the toilet. The room for the toilet is wide and very peaceful. Of course, it comes with the fancy Toto Neorest toilet that raises and lowers the seat automatically, has a heated seat, has a bidet feature and more. The shower offers both a hand held and a rain head that with a fine spray. Bathroom toiletries are crafted for the Hotel Mitsui. Of course, robes were available (just ask if you need a different size). Let’s talk about sleeping…. The bed was among the most comfortable that I have ever tried (firm, with just the right amount of softness). Down pillows and a duvet complete the scene. And course, should you not like your pillow, there is a pillow menu. The rooms at the Mitsui are quiet with blackout shades. At night, gentle nightlights illuminate the path to the bathroom. In all, the sleep experience is well thought out and devine. One of the stand out features of the hotel would be the Thermal Springs in the basement. The Thermal Springs are a modern version of a traditional Japanese onsen. Access is open to everyone in the hotel, but the number of people permitted in is managed to in more than 14 people at a time. You have to call ahead to make sure there is space, but in our case, we were always able to get in. Anyone who out touring in Kyoto, should make time in their busy schedule to visit the Thermal Springs between their tours and dinner - it is a great way to wash off the city and relax before dinner - very civilized. This review is particularly fun for me as our stay at the Mitsui ultimately caused us to break up with our travel agent. He was SO insistent that we stay at the Ritz , he could not imagine trying something new like the Mitsui (nor was he willing o have his team check it out). In the end, I feel vindicated, we loved our stay at the Mitsui and would happily return

The room was very very nice! Don’t mention the 13 square meters shown on the introduction, it should be at least 50 square meters. There are guest rooms, rooms, and bathrooms are separated. The toilet is on the other side. All are covered with bamboo mats. It is very comfortable and clean, and the white socks are not stained with dust. When we arrived, the bath water had already been placed in the pine wooden tub, and everything should be put in a place where we could easily get it. There is a faint woody fragrance in the whole room, which is so healing. The service is very thoughtful and meticulous, even if you don't understand the language, you can also dance and communicate. The most memorable thing is that his food is so delicious, it is the most worthwhile hotel in Kyoto. The proprietress is very kind, and will definitely stay here again

After staying at minshukus, ryokans and western-style hotels over the last several days, it was a pleasure to end our Japan stay with 2 nights at Kyoto Machiya Fukune. The 2 of us appreciated the extra space of the Sangen machiya compared to our previous lodgings to just chill out, especially when soaking in your personal outdoor hot water (not onsen) bath or the indoor hinoki bath and looking out onto the compact zen garden. Beds were comfortable and bathrooms modern and clean. The included mini-bar (Asahi beer, sake, soft drinks and water) was an unexpected bonus! The welcome tea ceremony with traditional sweets (much better than that offered with the included entry price at the Okochi Sanso Garden in Arashiyama) was a far superior greeting than fronting a hotel reception desk even if one has to wait (about 10 mins) for Miki to arrive (which was forewarned in the pre-stay info); we were informed of our security code when we rang (using the complimentary phone in the separate arrival area) and could access the machiya while waiting. Miki was very helpful with local restaurant and sightseeing tips. Excellent pre-stay information was provided via email from Kyoto Machiya Fukune. While we didn’t use the laundry (complimentary) we did make use of the locker, which we found could store 2 large suitcases and 2 carry-on luggage with room leftover for shopping bags. It cost us ¥1500 for taxi/uber from JR Kyoto stn to the machiya. Once there it is only several minutes’ walk to various train stns or bus stops. Nishiki mkt’s western entrance is about a 10min walk away. This was my 3rd time in Kyoto with the goal to visit sights we hadn’t seen previously like Arashiyama’s bamboo grove and Fushimi Inari shrine. The Randen line’s Shijo-Omiya stn is just over 10mins walk away and the tram takes you into the heart of Arashiyama’s shopping *****, the Kimino forest and near the Tongetsu-kyo bridge. Then take your time to walk to the bamboo grove via Tenryo-ji shrine. They say it best to get to the grove early to beat the tourists, but it rained in the morning, so we took our time and got to the grove about lunch-time. While crowded, it wasn’t as packed as what we thought it would be, given it was a Sunday and also ‘golden week’ (maybe people were eating lunch). We also walked to and visited the Nison-in temple that was recommended by Miki; she highlighted the moss that covered a lot of the grounds; a very worthwhile diversion and IMHO better than the Okochi Sanso Garden we also visited). Had a late lunch in the local area then walked to JR’s Saga-Arashiyama stn; ¥220 to JR’s Inari stn (simple transfer at JR Kyoto stn) with the Fushimi Inari shrine entrance across the road. The place is pricey, but we’re glad we stayed here.

We really enjoyed our family stay (6 nights) at the Hiramatsu Kyoto. The room and food were great but what made it an amazing experience was the staff. Everyone was very kind, attentive, helpful and patient. The food was great and we enjoyed different breakfast menu everyday. Specially, we loved the miso fish and vegetables at the Izumi and the risotto at the Luce. Also, they had a Kids course that considering my son food restrictions, and he really enjoyed. The room was gorgeous, new and spacious. We had more than enough space for a family of three. Finally, as our first trip since the beginning of the pandemic, we were keen to avoid crowded restaurants and ensure social distance. The staff was very understanding and they accommodated such request so we could enjoy the delicious food without concerns. Special thanks for Sophie that started helping us even before our reservation. We really enjoyed our stay, so we highly recommend this hotel.