I was surprised Westin concierge refused to call a local restaurant and make a reservation for us. Their reason was we want to dine at the restaurant on Friday but we are checking out on Thursday. I have never had issue with restaurant reservation requests at other hotels in Japan. Other than that, the room, breakfast, and onsite onsen were great, hotel staff were professional and polite except for the concierge.
starstarstar Ethan Shen
The Japanese emperor and family stay at this hotel when visiting Kyoto, and perhaps this is why the price is very high. The hotel was formerly known as the Miyako and joined the Westin brand some years ago. The reception area is very interesting, with a quite Japanese decoration theme. There is no lobby bar. The elevator capacity is decent, but in the morning you may find that you have to wait because many are taking the elevators at the same time. The rooms are spacious, clean, and with nice interiors. The bed is extremely comfortable with various pillows to choose from. The bathroom features a typical Japanese stool and washing bowl for your morning routine. The room has all the amenities you would look for, including a Nespresso machine, and everything you may need in the bathroom.
The breakfast is very good, and we review that separately.
The location is a bit off, and you need to take a taxi to get to the old restaurant district or many of the temples and shrines and other attractions in Kyoto. Alternatively, it is a short walk to the subway which is an easy way of getting around in Kyoto. The hotel is in the outskirts of Kyoto, closer to the mountains. There is a very limited amount of restaurants around the hotel, and the hotel restaurants are quite pricey. There is a large shrine, with one of the biggest gates in Japan about 15 minutes walking from the hotel.
The staff is very professional, and the English capabilities are good. The hotel accepts large groups of tourists, and when we stayed at the hotel it seemed about 80% of the guests were Chinese. During our next stay we will look for a different hotel with a better location, and with less focus on selling group packages.
Location: 2/5
Ambience: 3/5
Food: 5/5
Staff: 5/5
Price/quality: 2/5 (very high price)
starstarstarstar Bull Dogg
One of the most traditional, oldest and largest hotel in Kyoto. They’re conveniently located just a few minutes walking from the Keage train station (Tōzai Line) and also bus transportation. Their employees are extremely attentive and caring. Most rooms have been renovated within the last couple of years giving it a modern but functional appear. The amount of amenities, services and assistance quite exceeded my expectation. Guest would barely need to bring almost nothing except their clothing. There are many restaurants on site as well as a bar an a tea room. The Raqou offers daily buffets with ample selections between local and western cuisine. A spa visit is a must. The gym entrance was undergoing renovations but the inside is large and fully functional. There is an indoor pool. Travelers would be wise to spend more than a couple of days to fully take advantage of their hospitality and services. $$$$$
starstarstarstarstar Jesus-Daniel Gutierrez (JD)
The Westin was incredible! Their concierge service booked bikes for my sister and I, with pickup and drop off at the hotel, and they booked two dinner reservations. This was a huge help as I don’t speak much Japanese, and it was also a huge time saver. Their onsens were on a whole new level, with 3 indoor pools, 1 outdoor pool, and 1 sauna. Their grounds included a mountain with a shrine, an outdoor hiking area, and a members lounge for those with status. Overall would recommend this Westin!!
starstarstarstarstar Clare Mestre
Great hotel in Kyoto! Close to a subway line that you can use as a launching pad to other parts of Kyoto.
starstarstarstarstar Jay Peters
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