4-Star Hotels in Kyoto

This onsen hotel in Kyoto was a delightful find. It's just one stop from Kyoto Station, and only 200 meters from the exit, making it super convenient. As a traditional Japanese onsen hotel, guests can enjoy complimentary access to both public and private hot spring baths, available 24 hours a day. They even offer complimentary ramen as a late-night snack after 9 PM, which is a lovely touch. There's a 7-Eleven right outside and a bus stop nearby, making it easy to get around and explore areas like Kawaramachi for shopping and dining. Highly recommended, I'd definitely stay here again.

The room's cleanliness was, as always, excellent, and it was quite spacious. We booked a twin room, and the beds could be pushed together. However, the bathroom was exceptionally small, making it difficult to place toiletries, including cups and razors, freely. There's a self-service laundry room and an ice machine. The room only provides two bottles of water, and there's no water purifier. Although the bathroom sign indicates the water is drinkable, it actually has a strong chlorine smell, which persists even after boiling. This isn't very practical for those accustomed to bottled mineral water or water purifiers in their home country. All toiletries were provided, but I have two main complaints: the toothpaste came in a tiny 2x1 cm paper sachet, which was incredibly inconvenient – small, hard to tear open, and difficult to squeeze out. It was quite an experience! Secondly, unlike the first hotel we stayed at, there were no bath salts provided. Transportation is extremely convenient, with Kyoto Station directly across the street. Check-in was also easy, and our luggage was automatically stored by the front desk upon arrival.

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 decided to book Nogha whilst we were in Kyoto so we could relax a little more than in previous locations. We opted for a bigger room to have some space and it didn't disappoint. The bed was huge, the room for two was a really good size. It was clean and well decorated. The bakery downstairs was a great addition, we had breakfast there on our consecutive mornings. I would thoroughly recommend it if you're looking for a nice four star hotel and something a little quiet. Staff were also lovely and our luggage had been taken to our room when we checked in.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ I had a wonderful stay at Tokyu Stay Kyoto Sanjo-Karasuma. The location is excellent—situated in a quiet and pleasant Kyoto neighborhood while being just a short walk from Karasuma Oike Station, making it easy to get around the city. There are also plenty of cafés, restaurants, convenience stores, and shopping areas nearby. The staff were exceptionally friendly, welcoming, and always happy to help. Check-in and check-out were smooth, and the service throughout my stay was excellent. The room was clean, comfortable, and thoughtfully equipped. Having a washer-dryer and microwave in the room was especially convenient for a longer stay. Despite the central location, the hotel was peaceful at night, allowing for a good night’s sleep. Overall, Tokyu Stay Kyoto Sanjo-Karasuma was the perfect base for exploring Kyoto. I would definitely stay here again and highly recommend it to anyone visiting the city.

Room was clean and spacious enough for two people. There was also a table with two chairs in the room, which was very convenient for me to work at during the evenings. The staff were very kind and helpful. Complimentary amenities were available in the common area, and guests could request pajamas from the reception desk. I forgot to bring a plug adapter and asked to borrow one from the receptionist. Fortunately, they had one available and lent it to me free of charge. The location is convenient, about a 7–8 minute walk from Sanjo Station and the Kamo River. It is also close to a bus stop, about a 5-minute walk away, making it easy to get to Gion. The breakfast offered a good variety of options. There were both Japanese and international dishes, and the quality was good and well-prepared. I enjoyed staying and just realised I didnt take any photos of the room but nutto during breakfast…🤣

The hotel's location is great, right in front of Kyoto Station. If you exit from Hachijo-guchi South Exit, it's only a 5-minute walk. The hotel entrance isn't very noticeable, and there's no lobby on the ground floor, so it's easy to miss. Check-in is on the third floor. I arrived quite early, so I dropped off my luggage and went out to explore. Check-in is at 3 PM, and check-out is at 11 AM. The room isn't large, but unlike many Japanese hotels, it has a separate wet and dry area, and the toilet is also in its own room. The bathtub is larger than most hotel tubs. The breakfast ingredients were also quite fresh. They provide a check-in guide in Chinese, which is very convenient, even if your English isn't perfect. The only drawback is that the cleaning wasn't thorough enough. I'm a bit of a germaphobe, so I always inspect the room. I found residual hair in the bathtub and stains on the toilet seat. I put on gloves and disinfected everything twice with alcohol wipes. I hope the hotel improves its cleaning standards; otherwise, I'm quite satisfied with everything else.

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.

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 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.