5-Star Hotels in Kyoto

A Truly Exceptional Stay at The Ritz-Carlton, Kyoto Our family had a wonderful experience at The Ritz-Carlton Kyoto, and we left with nothing but gratitude and happy memories. From the moment we arrived, the service was flawless and heartfelt — the kind of genuine hospitality that makes a trip feel truly special. A huge thank you to Cecilia and Vinnie from the Guest Experience team, who went above and beyond to make our stay seamless and comfortable. Their warmth, attentiveness, and thoughtful gestures made us feel incredibly welcomed. A very special shout-out to Cecilia, who noticed my daughter’s love for Winnie the Pooh after our visit to Disneyland Resort. She prepared a beautiful card, a sweet message, and even a handmade Pooh origami and placed it in our room. It absolutely made our daughter’s day — such a thoughtful touch we will never forget. We also want to commend Yuki from the restaurant team for his warm and wonderful breakfast service each morning. His kindness and attention to detail set the perfect tone to start our day. The Ritz Kids adventure passport was a delightful surprise — engaging not only for our daughter but also enjoyable for us as parents. And of course, we loved the festive Christmas atmosphere, especially the beautiful Christmas tree and the amazing gingerbread house with the incredible aroma that filled the lobby. The Ritz-Carlton Kyoto truly exceeded our expectations in every way. We felt cared for, welcomed, and genuinely appreciated. We can’t wait to return again. Highly recommended for families and anyone seeking an unforgettable Kyoto stay.

After extensive research on various social media and travel apps, I chose this hotel, and my experience far exceeded expectations – it was truly worth it. The airport/station transfer was convenient, and the front desk staff provided excellent service, making me feel right at home. The room was spacious, and all amenities were exceptionally complete. The hotel's location is also superb; it's quiet at night, and various attractions are within walking distance, just across the street from the luxurious Capella. The public bath was a delightful surprise, much cleaner and more professional than many hot spring resorts in China. A soak before bed truly helped me recover and recharge. Regarding some reviews mentioning preferential treatment towards white guests and ***, I didn't experience any of that, except for one odd instance during breakfast where my half-eaten meal was cleared away prematurely. The breakfast selection was incredibly diverse and plentiful. Overall, a fantastic and worthwhile stay!

Our experience at Six Senses Kyoto was truly wonderful. As a new hotel opened in 2024, it exudes an elegant Japanese Zen style, and the public courtyard is particularly photogenic. The room was spacious enough at 42 square meters, and the attention to detail was impeccable. The breakfast selection was rich, offering both local Kyoto flavors and Western options, and the quality of the food was excellent. Its location isn't far from Gion and Kiyomizu-dera Temple, making it very convenient for sightseeing. The only slight downside is that it's a bit of a distance from the subway, so I'd recommend taking a taxi for getting around. The service was meticulous and attentive, making for a very relaxing stay overall, perfect for those looking to slow down and enjoy a holiday.

Very convenient, spacious, and modern Airbnb stay. The unit is well-equipped with almost everything you need, including a washing machine, drying rack, cooking utensils, grill stove, coffee machine, and other useful amenities. The space is surprisingly large and very comfortable, especially for families or groups. The location is also great, with a grocery store, restaurants, and other conveniences nearby, making daily needs easily accessible. One thing to note is that there is a cemetery directly behind the property. For guests who are sensitive to this, it may be something to consider before booking. However, if this does not bother you, the stay is otherwise excellent. The only issue we encountered was during check-in. The elderly front desk staff could not communicate in English and was initially unwilling to assist us. Even though our booking was fully paid and confirmed, we had to repeatedly explain the situation before he finally provided the check-in code. It appeared that the information was already available in the system, so the process was more frustrating than necessary. Other than the check-in experience, everything else was great. Overall, a comfortable, spacious, and well-equipped stay that offers excellent value for money.

We had a wonderful stay at Dhawa Yura Kyoto and wouldn't hesitate to stay here again. The location is excellent, right next to Sanjo Station and within easy walking distance of Gion, Yasaka Shrine, Nishiki Market and many of Kyoto's main attractions. It made getting around the city incredibly easy. The hotel itself is modern, stylish and immaculately clean. Our room was spacious and very comfortable, quiet and a welcome place to relax after long days exploring Kyoto in the summer heat. One of the highlights was the breakfast. There was an excellent selection of both Japanese and Western dishes, with fresh fruit, eggs, rice, grilled fish, noodles, miso soup, vegetables, pastries, juices and good coffee and English breakfast tea. Everything was fresh and well presented, and it gave us a great start before our early morning adventures. The staff were consistently warm, welcoming and professional throughout our stay. We particularly appreciated being able to hire bicycles from the hotel, which allowed us to cycle to Kiyomizu-dera at sunrise before the crowds arrived. It became one of the highlights of our entire Japan trip. Overall, Dhawa Yura offered the perfect combination of comfort, service and location. If you're looking for a boutique hotel in Kyoto that's close to everything while still feeling peaceful and relaxing, this is an excellent choice. Highly recommended.

It was extremely hot during our stay in Kyoto. Fortunately, the hotel is located right next to Kyoto Station, which made getting around much easier and helped us save energy in the intense heat. We chose to pay extra for larger rooms, and they were spacious and comfortable. Since we had a late evening flight, we paid around JP¥14,800 to extend one room until 6:00 pm for a late check-out. While it was convenient, we felt JP¥14,800 was quite expensive for just a few extra hours. One thing we found surprising was that hotel guests still had to pay extra JP ¥1,000 per person to use the swimming pool. We thought this was rather unusual for a hotel of this standard.

Excellent hotel, would definitely stay here again. The rooms are very spacious and bright, and the location is super convenient. You can easily walk to Takashimaya, Ichizawa Shinzaburo, and the Kamo River – it's just so handy. The only downside was the breakfast, which wasn't very good. So, you could opt for a room without breakfast and eat out, as there are plenty of convenient options nearby.

We stayed here for a family trip over Children's Day in May. Banyan Tree is such a renowned brand even in Korea, so I had high expectations when I booked our stay. However, we were hoping for a mountain view, but instead, we got a cemetery view – and on a dark, rainy night, it was quite enough to give us nightmares. If you're looking for a relaxing experience, like soaking in a Japanese cypress (hinoki) bathtub, you'll be satisfied, but I have to say the view was extremely disappointing. On the positive side, the Japanese tatami room vibe was very pleasing, and the aroma oil program at the spa was really interesting.

Wonderful, Convenient Stay at Hotel Nikko Princess Kyoto Rating: 5/5 | Travelled as a leisure tourist I recently spent a few nights at Hotel Nikko Princess Kyoto and could not recommend this hotel more highly - our entire trip was elevated by incredible service, an unbeatable quiet location, and seamless convenience for sightseeing around Kyoto. First and foremost, I want to single out a staff member Suga for her outstanding hospitality that turned our nice stay into an unforgettable one. Suga greeted us every day with a warm, genuine sweet smile and was very attentive to the requests we had which included local recommendations, transit guidance, and help sorting out travel logistics, Suga was super helpful, resourceful, and all with a great positive vibe. She made us feel genuinely welcome and cared for throughout our visit. The hotel’s location struck the perfect balance between peace and accessibility. Tucked in a calm residential neighbourhood, we slept soundly every night. Even better, the surrounding streets are lined with an amazing selection of local eateries: traditional kaiseki, ramen, izakayas and pizza, so we didn't have to travel far for delicious meals. Major subway and train stations are only a 5–10 minute walk away. Hands, Daimaru are about 15 minutes leisurely walk away. Nishiki Market and Gion are also a nice 30 to 45 mins walk. There is a 7-Eleven just a 2-minute stroll from the hotel entrance where we bought a lot of yummy yogurts and cup noodles. The room is big in Japan's standards, bed & pillows are nice and clean. Their bathroom is immense! My daughter and I showered together and there's plenty room left! Their breakfast selection is not a lot but it's good quality - offers Western and local Japanese selections. If you’re planning a trip to Kyoto and want a clean, conveniently located hotel with heartwarming, top-tier service, book Hotel Nikko Princess Kyoto without a second thought. A huge thank you again to Suga for such thoughtful, cheerful assistance - we will absolutely return on our next visit to Kyoto!

The hotel had an authentique Japanese feel to it , very spacious rooms , kind staff , and perfect location ! If you are coming from Tokyo to get another feel of Japan then this must be the perfect location ! Being used to major hotels in Tokyo , this came as a contrast , it felt like a traditional home but with all the luxuries you need. I highly recommend