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 really liked my stay in Tokyu Stay! The hotel is located quite near the train station, doesn’t give any anxiety when getting to the train station with our luggage’s. It is also located near a lot of food places. I like that there was a washing machine provided in the room, it’s so convenient! There are free sake and coffee at the hotel lobby. There are two hotels under Tokyu Stay on the same street so don’t panic if you went to the wrong one, because this outlet is just down the street.

Excellent location, right across from Kyoto Station, making it super convenient to get anywhere. Taking the bus from Osaka Airport directly to Kyoto Station is a breeze. There are plenty of restaurants around the hotel, so dining out is easy. The breakfast is good, and the hygiene is excellent. There's also a large supermarket nearby.

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.

Service: The room was incredibly spacious and clean, and the staff even helped lay out the futons. The service was very warm and welcoming. Shopping: The first floor has a great selection of souvenirs and pastries. They're affordable and a bit more refined than what you'd find at Don Quijote. Plus, hotel guests get a 10% discount. Unique Experiences: You can experience a traditional tea ceremony in the lobby on the first floor, and there's a really comfortable communal bath on the basement level. Location: It's super close to Kyoto Station, just a few minutes' walk. There's also a large temple nearby. Food: There are tons of dining and shopping options around. Right across the street, there's a Kobe beef restaurant, and just a short walk away, you'll find a popular fried beef cutlet place with a long line. There are also izakayas and more. Shopping (cont.): It's also very convenient for shopping. Just a few steps away is a large multi-purpose commercial center with everything from clothing brands like Uniqlo and GU, shoe stores like ABC Mart, to stationery, cameras, electronics, and headphones.

We stayed at Hotel Gracery Kyoto for two nights and overall had a very comfortable stay. The hotel has two sections, and we stayed in the South building. The room was very clean, and the space was used efficiently, which is typical for Japan. The bathroom layout was a bit unusual. The toilet and shower are separate, which is convenient, but the toilet cubicle itself is extremely small. The shower is positioned in an odd space between the bath and what seems to be the shower floor, and the shower head cannot be adjusted up or down. That said, the water pressure and temperature were excellent, which made up for the layout. Bottled water was provided on the first day, which was appreciated. The TV, however, was very limited with only Japanese channels and no access to Netflix or other streaming services. The location is excellent. The hotel is right by Nishiki Market and surrounded by shops and restaurants, with multiple subway lines nearby. There are also many fantastic local restaurants in the area, which we highly recommend, especially when the market gets overwhelmingly busy. The hotel provides a wide range of amenities in the lobby, including face wash, toner, lotion, razors, combs and mouthwash. While convenient, the large amount of individually packaged items does not feel particularly environmentally friendly. We checked out the breakfast one morning but decided not to purchase it as it was 2750 yen per person, and there are plenty of better and more affordable options nearby. The staff were very friendly and welcoming, and we also appreciated that the hotel offers free umbrella use on rainy days, which was a thoughtful touch. One downside was the room cleaning timing. We left early in the morning and only returned after 3pm, but the room was still being cleaned when we got back. We were asked to wait around 30 minutes, which was quite inconvenient after a long day when we wanted to rest, shower and freshen up before heading out again. Overall, a clean and well-located hotel with a few minor design quirks and service timing issues, but still a very pleasant stay.

My stay here was absolutely wonderful; I felt comfortable and relaxed throughout. The hotel's location is super convenient for getting around. The entire hotel is spotless and well-maintained, with public areas that are tidy, quiet, and elegant. My room was immaculately clean, the bedding was soft and comfy, and the layout was practical. All the amenities were complete and fully functional, making for a cozy and secure stay. The staff were incredibly warm, polite, and respectful. Check-in and check-out were handled very efficiently, making the whole experience smooth and hassle-free.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ I had a wonderful stay at Miyako Hotel Kyoto Hachijo. The location is fantastic, just a short walk from Kyoto Station, making it incredibly convenient for exploring the city. The staff were also very accommodating. After I decided to extend my stay by two more nights, they kindly arranged for me to remain in the same room, which made everything so much easier. I really appreciated their excellent service and hospitality. I would happily stay here again.

Overall, a solid three-star experience. The location is excellent, right next to a temple and close to the station and main attractions. Breakfast is Japanese style, and there's always something to eat. Housekeeping is every three days. Coffee and sodas are available 24/7 from a machine at the reception.

The hotel boasts an excellent location, just a few minutes' walk from Kyoto Station (depending on your luggage size and amount). It's incredibly convenient for exploring various attractions from Kyoto Station, which also offers a wide array of shopping and dining options. The hotel's service and cleanliness are outstanding. You can pick up disposable amenities yourself from the right-hand corner of the lobby, facing the front desk. Both the hot spring bath and the laundry/drying room are located on the 10th floor.