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.

Excellent hotel in Kyoto! Located in a quiet area but still within easy walking distance of Nishiki Market, shopping areas, and many restaurants. We loved the hotel’s design—modern and comfortable while retaining a distinct Kyoto atmosphere. The complimentary foot bath on the ground floor was a nice touch after a long day of sightseeing. Free drinks, including sake, are available until 9 PM daily, which made the stay even more enjoyable. We had a wonderful 2-night stay and would definitely return.

This hotel is super close to Kyoto Station, just across the road from the south exit. I switched to this hotel for my last night from Kawaramachi so I could easily catch the Haruka train to Kansai Airport early the next morning. The room is quite small, especially the bathroom, which is very compact, but overall it's clean. My only complaint is that they couldn't put my two booked rooms on the same floor, and the front desk service wasn't as good as other hotels I'd stayed at in the Kansai region previously.

The cleaning staff was extremely friendly and helpful, which I really appreciated. Complimentary water and coffee at the reception were also a nice touch. The location of the hotel is good, and the bathroom was modern and very clean. Unfortunately, the sleeping area of the room was not very clean, which affected the overall impression. Also, the bed is only made every three days, which I personally found inconvenient for a hotel stay. The reception staff, on the other hand, did not seem particularly friendly or welcoming. Overall, the stay was okay, but there is definitely room for improvement regarding service and room cleanliness.

The cleanliness was a minor letdown; there were a few strands of hair on the tatami mats. However, the staff's response and service were exceptional. They always smiled and communicated slowly, even with my broken English and translation app. There was even a staff member who spoke Korean. I didn't try the public bath, but I added the private bath, and it was perfect for washing away travel fatigue. It would be great for families or couples. I also ordered breakfast but unfortunately, I was too tired on the third day of my trip and slept through it. The location is fantastic – just a 3-minute walk from Kyoto Station, and it's tucked away in an alley, making it very quiet. If you want to experience a ryokan with a touch of luxury, I highly recommend it.

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.

This hotel is decent. The location is great, and check-in and check-out are done via self-service machines. You also pay taxes at these machines. Overall, it's a pretty good hotel. When choosing, make sure to pick the newer building, not the old one, as the new building is recently renovated and generally much better. It's only about a 10-minute walk to Kyoto Station. There are laundromats nearby, as the hotel itself doesn't have a laundry room.

Choosing this hotel for my Kyoto trip was a brilliant decision! The overall ambiance is elegant and thoughtful, but I especially want to rave about the self-service drink machine in the lobby – it was such a delightful little bonus during my travels. The machine itself is sleek and blends perfectly with the hotel's style. The drink selection is incredibly diverse, from ice-cold sodas to warm beverages, and the cooling works really well. Coming back after a long day of sightseeing and grabbing a refreshing drink was incredibly therapeutic. Operating it was super easy with a quick QR code scan, fast recognition, and instant dispensing after payment. Being able to grab a drink 24/7 was a lifesaver; no more having to trek far just for a late-night beverage.

The hotel is very clean and upscale, I really loved it. It's close to the bus and metro stations, making transportation very convenient. You can also enjoy the hot springs, which was amazing! 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻 There are plenty of good food options nearby too, so no need to worry about late-night snacks.