4-Star Hotels in Kyoto Prefecture, Japan

I chose a hotel near Kyoto Station for my 'oshikatsu' (fandom activities) trip to Kyoto. It's just across the road, super close to Kintetsu Kyoto and the Shinkansen. However, on my first day, coming from the subway, I got completely lost trying to find my way to the south plaza… The single room was quite spacious, actually, and the whole place felt very comfortable and clean. Both check-in and check-out were self-service, and no one disturbed me during my stay. I even got a corner room, which was really quiet and peaceful. The only minor issue was that the water pressure and temperature in the shower were a bit inconsistent – sometimes scalding hot, sometimes lukewarm.

Mitsui Garden Hotel Kyoto Kawaramachi Jingo-ji A truly unique experience, only available at a hotel integrated with a temple, is the 'Morning Service Experience' (500 yen). Exclusively for guests, this Jodo-shu Buddhist service is held daily in the lobby. I received a paper detailing the service flow and participated from my seat. It was a refreshing and optional activity. [Accommodation] Mitsui Garden Hotel Kyoto Kawaramachi Jingo-ji [Address] 620 Sadatoe-mae-cho, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto City, Teramachi-dori Shijo-dori Shita [Access] 1 minute walk from Hankyu 'Kyoto Kawaramachi' Station 1 minute walk from Exit 10 of Subway Karasuma Line 'Shijo' Station 7 minutes walk from Keihan Main Line 'Gion Shijo' Station [Check-in/Check-out] 3:00 PM / 11:00 AM

Nice hotel to stay! The room is not very big for a family of 2 adults and 2 children, but that’s acceptable by Japanese standards. The onsen is simple yet nice and relaxing. The hotel even prepared a card and small biscuits for our anniversary — such a touching and thoughtful gesture! ❤️ Location-wise, it’s just one station away from Kyoto Station. The surrounding area is quieter and not as lively as Shijo, but it’s very suitable for families. Umekoji Park, the railway museum, aquarium, playground, and the train station are all nearby. 性价比很好！早餐也不错，整体体验非常满意。👍

This was my first stay at Mitsui Shijo, and its location helped me discover several delicious and affordable restaurants nearby. Overall, the stay was great, but I really can't recommend the public bath. It was crowded, and none of the tubs were being filled, which made me worry about the hygiene. It would be perfect if there was a microwave next to the ice machine. I was also very happy to receive a small horse as a New Year's gift when I checked out! Plus, there's a Pokémon store on the second floor of a nearby shopping complex.

I had a great stay at Agora Kyoto Karasuma. The hotel has a calm, elegant atmosphere, and the rooms are thoughtfully designed with a minimalist Japanese style that feels both modern and cozy. The location is perfect, close to transportation, shops, and great local restaurants, which made getting around Kyoto very convenient. The staff were kind, welcoming, and always ready to help with anything I needed. Their hospitality made the experience even better. Overall, it was a wonderful stay, and I would definitely choose Agora Kyoto Karasuma again on my next visit to Kyoto.

The rooms are typically small, but the hygiene is excellent. You can do your laundry, but getting a slot is tough; I suggest going early in the morning for the wash and dry, though I could never wake up that early myself. The hotel's location is good, with a direct bus to Kyoto Station. There's no breakfast, but you can grab a meal at Sukiya right outside, which is pretty good value for money. If the hotel were a bit cheaper, it would be great, but for weekend prices, I'd probably look elsewhere.

Fantastic hotel, great amenities, great onsen, very good staff, and very nice breakfast buffet. We had a two single beds reservation and asked if they could put the two together to make one large bed... they said ok, and upgraded us to a larger room... we are very grateful to the front desk lady and the staff. The hotel has a superbe top deck with a nice view all over Kyoto. The Kyoto aquarium is 9 minutes away on foot from the hotel, and their is a bridge from the hotel straight to the JR station. We will book it again.

This is also a Mitsui Garden Hotel, but unlike the typical 'Japanese' style I usually associate with them, it's much more modern. The public areas are excellent, and the steam room and sauna are definite highlights! They also maintain that modern aesthetic. All the showers are stand-up. The decor and material quality in the rooms and on the guest floors are a bit subpar and overly simplistic. Because the 'base color' is so dark, it tends to show dust bunnies more easily (not necessarily dirty, but it doesn't look good) 😂. The bed, however, is comfortable, and the curtains are great at blocking out light (though it's a shame the windows don't open, I just wanted some fresh air). The TV is high-definition, but its use is limited if you're out all day. The hotel is conveniently located near a bus stop, making it easy to get to attractions like Kiyomizu-dera and Eikan-do. It's actually not far from Shijo and Kyoto Station; on a nice day, you could easily walk, but if it's cold, judge your own stamina. The Gojo subway station entrance, right outside, isn't very friendly for those with large luggage as there's no elevator. Overall, the hotel service deserves a thumbs-up. The front desk staff, both male and female, speak good English and are very friendly and proactive in offering assistance. I noticed a larger number of Western guests during my stay. Just a heads-up: room trash is only collected every two days.

Location, location, location! This hotel boasts incredible convenience, situated right next to the east wall of JR Kyoto Station, just a one-minute walk away. Unlike other Mitsui Garden Hotels, the Kyoto branch is generally smaller and doesn't have a hot spring. However, the surrounding area offers fantastic access to food, transportation, and shopping. 7-Eleven, FamilyMart, Lawson, Don Quijote, Aeon, and Isetan are all within walking distance. The Osaka Airport limousine bus also departs from Kyoto Station.

Hotel location wise a 10 min walk to Shi-jyo the high street of Kyoto and a 20 min walk to Kyoto Station. It is on Karasuma a major N-S street in Kyoto chess-board like -city plan, with metro stations and bus stops within walking distance and easy to get around to tourists sights. The hotel has a big dining area for breakfast and the staff attentive and helpful. The room is clean and provided with pyjamas instead of Japanese yukata. There is a bicycle rental shop Sunshine, 5 min walk away. Major road in Shij-jyo has strict hours where bicycle is not to enter