5-Star Hotels in Kyoto Prefecture, Japan

Absolutely loved this hotel! The interiors are stunning and rooms are spacious and well decorated with ample amenities. The staff is very warm and welcoming. The breakfast spread was the best I’ve had in Japan … includes very good ala carte options as well. Would definitely recommend to all visiting Kyoto.

This is a 4-star hotel, very close to Kyoto Station, and they offer a free shuttle bus to and from the station. The shuttle picks up on the left side when you exit the *Karasuma Central Exit* (条口) of Kyoto Station. There isn't much to explore around the hotel itself, and very few restaurants. If you plan on taking the train or eating out, it's best to head to Kyoto Station. Kyoto Station is large and beautiful, a tourist attraction in itself, and even has a big Isetan department store! The breakfast restaurant on the 14th floor is a revolving restaurant with panoramic views of Kyoto. However, the Western set breakfast is quite mediocre. The breakfast restaurant on the first floor offers both Japanese and Western options, but the value for money isn't great. In terms of transportation, besides taking the train from Kyoto Station, you can also catch a bus nearby. It's a bit far from the livelier areas of Sanjo and Shijo, making it suitable for guests who prefer a quiet stay and want to be close to Kyoto Station.

Overall, I'm quite satisfied, although the 21 sq meter room wasn't as spacious as I'd imagined. The location is relatively quiet, with a Lawson and McDonald's downstairs, and Higashiyama Station is just a 3-minute walk away. Plus, the hotel offers a bus service to Kyoto Station, departing at 55 minutes past the hour and returning at 25 minutes past.

I absolutely adored the Mitsui Garden Hotel Premier Kyoto. First off, the hotel's design is stunning; both the restaurant and lobby offer breathtaking views of the central garden through floor-to-ceiling windows, where branches sway gracefully in the breeze – it's simply beautiful. Secondly, I was thoroughly impressed by the in-room washing machine, the Refa hairdryer, and the showerhead! I truly hope I can stay here every time I visit Kyoto in the future.

This hotel boasts a quiet location, tucked away on a peaceful lane, yet it's only about a 10-minute walk to the bustling city center and many attractions, which I really appreciated. The staff were friendly and polite, and the room hygiene met standards. The hot spring was uncrowded and clean, both inside and out. The only thing that wasn't ideal was the hotel restaurant. I had dinner there once, the tempura set, and it was all tempura, which was quite greasy. The combination of dishes wasn't very healthy or refined. Other than that, I was very satisfied and would choose to stay here again on my next trip to Kyoto.

My main goal for this Kyoto trip was to revisit Kiyomizu-dera and Fushimi Inari-taisha, and explore Kibune. So I chose to stay near Kawaramachi, and ended up picking this Hilton. The hotel is right by Shiyakusho-mae Station on the Tozai Line. I'd recommend using the Kawaramachi Plaza exit, as it's the only one with an escalator; if you use Exit 1, you'll have to carry your luggage yourself. Technically, you can't see Honno-ji Temple's graveyard from the hotel, but it is close to the road and can be a bit noisy at night. In the mornings, there are fewer motorcycles, and Sundays are quiet – I even slept through breakfast one day! You can walk to Keihan Sanjo Station, enjoying the Kamo River along the way. If you prefer, it's also just one subway stop. It's not far to walk to Kawaramachi Shijo either, and there are plenty of dining options nearby. This time, I surprisingly opted for a breakfast and dinner package. The variety was better than at Mitsui Garden Hotel Kyoto Sanjo Premier, but they don't change their menus, so eating the same thing for three consecutive days can get a bit monotonous. As for a drawback, I'd suggest the hotel checks the elevator buttons – the static electricity is quite bad; I got shocked almost every time.

It's relatively close to the station, about a 20-minute walk, but they offer a shuttle service, which is convenient. It's a pretty upscale hotel. Getting to nearby attractions isn't far either. Kyoto is a lot of fun; you can visit multiple times and never get bored.

The biggest advantage of Hotel Gajoen Tokyo is definitely its location. Beyond its prime spot in the city center, there's a direct walkway from the hotel's third floor straight to Takashimaya. You can walk along the green passage into the mall, turn a corner, and be at Din Tai Fung – it's incredibly convenient. This stay, I specifically booked a corner room to experience the lounge. The room was spacious, and the bathroom had a great four-piece layout. The large windows let in plenty of light, and catching a glimpse of the beautiful Higashiyama scenery in the distance was a pleasant surprise. The lounge is also on the third floor, so after browsing Takashimaya, it was lovely to just tap my card, go in, and relax with a drink. The breakfast selection wasn't huge, but most items were high quality. I ate there for three days and didn't get bored. The ham, salmon, and homemade yogurt sauce were all excellent, and the latte was delicious too. Furthermore, the cleanliness of this popular hotel exceeded my expectations. Daily housekeeping was impeccable, and they didn't compromise on standards under the guise of being eco-friendly, which I really appreciated. Huge thanks to the staff.

This is an excellent hotel! While it's a bit pricey, the service and quality of the stay are absolutely worth it. The front desk staff were all incredibly friendly during check-in and even upgraded our room. We had a fantastic view of the sports ground, and the room itself was spacious. The bathroom with its wet/dry separation was very comfortable overall. Breakfast was also a pleasant surprise. Although the Western breakfast only offered one main dish, it tasted great. The buffet section had fresh squeezed juice and a good variety of salads. My only complaint was the lack of meat; it was all vegetarian. The only meat options were smoked meats like bacon and eggs. I also tried the Japanese breakfast one morning, and it was equally exquisite. Each small dish even had a label indicating the origin of its ingredients. In short, the breakfast presentation was 10/10. One thing to note is that there were hardly any Asian faces; about 90% of the guests were from Europe, America, or the Middle East. Additionally, the hotel has an exclusive lounge for guests with a good selection of drinks and mainly rice cracker snacks that go well with alcohol. Most importantly, the location is super convenient. It's within walking distance to attractions like Kamo River and incredibly close to Shijo shopping street. Everything for shopping and sightseeing is within walking distance. I'll definitely stay here again!

Located on the 2nd floor, accessible by elevator from the central square exit, this hotel is incredibly convenient. It exudes the charm of a classic, established hotel. For breakfast, there's Ogawa and Yakiniku Hiro right across the street. We also found the best value for money meal near Komero Park – picture 4 shows a meal that was only 5000+ yen! Kinkaku-ji and Kiyomizu-dera are definitely worth visiting, and the Biwako Valley ski resort was stunning. The aquarium is good too. Kyoto is a city you can easily spend 3 days exploring.