Tokyu Hotel: Kyoto Refinement in a Western Hotel”

I will remember the Kyoto Tokyu hotel as the only hotel that's ever caught my breath at all points of my arrival, from the atrium garden with floating Christmas tree isles near the check-in desk, to turning the door handle and entering an unexpectedly elegant, harmonious, clearly thought-out, considered, and yet streamlined hotel room. No, we weren't in a suite, but it was obvious that a meticulous care went into the room's zen-yet-sensual decor, from the paper-and-wood sliding window screen, to the frosted-glass-and-chrome bathroom door. My traveling companion and I knew right away that this wasn't a room that relied on carpet remnants and discount paintings to "fill in the blanks" of what makes a room. Well, sort of. The rooms in the hotel were designed around a catalogue of sumptuous fabric pieces, which were used as a touchstone to base the rest of the aesthetic for an "assigned" room. The small samples are integrated into the decor as matted works of art (the only wall hangings), and where a Gideon's Bible would normally be, there is a book detailing each of the fabrics used in the hotel, and an explanation of how they were used. Despite this significant amount of thoughtfullness and integration of the room's aesthetic, this minimalism had its pitfalls, especially in regards to storage. There is no dresser to speak of, and I was forced to use an overhead cubby to store the bulk of my clothes. There is a closet with two racks and hangars, so your jackets, shirts, and dress pants are cared for, but socks, jeans, and t-shirts are another matter. There is a small counter with two drawers for luggage and clothes, but for two people, this wasn't adequate. I had to look at space under the refrigerator to fit all of my winter clothes. The only other major victory of form over function was the chair to the built-in desk, which was okay for my diminutive height (sans lumbar support), but was a pain in the back for my taller roommate.

Kyoto Tokyu Hotel”

We found the Kyoto Tokyu Hotel was an amazing hotel to spend 7 nights. My daughter and I felt like royalty from the moment we arrived to the moment we left. Most staff spoke some English. There is an English speaking person to help organise tours and transfers if you need help. Room service left our room spotless every day. The area in which the Hotel is located is away from the shopping areas but this was not a problem as the Kyoto Railway station was only a 10-15 minute stroll away. There is a bus stop handy and for 500 yen you can buy an all day bus pass. Well worth buying. There is a gift shop at the hotel and internet access. 100 yen for 10 minutes.

Absolutely loved the hotel”

We booked our stay at the Kyoto Tokyu Hotel last meinute when another hotel didn't work out. The staff were very friendly and helpful from the minute we arrived and went out of their way to take care of us. The room was very clean, quite and secure and we actually had quite a nice view. We enjoyed all the ammenties (tea, slippers, etc), and even had our luggage stored free of charge after we checked out. It was very centrally located in Kyoto - we found it very easy to take the bus and taxis from the hotel to anywhere we wanted to go. I would highly recommend this play to everyone.

Great Hotel Near Kyoto Station”

On arrival at the Tokyu Hotel, we were already impressed by the elegance of the hotel: having paid such a low price, we were expecting something dirty and small. But the hotel is simple and attractive, as are the rooms. The location is also great: it is a 10-15 minute walk (or 4 minutes by bus) from Kyoto station, so we were able to get off the shinkansen in the morning, check into our room, and go exploring immediately. The hotel is also close to several temples, including Toji shrine, which is a must-see. We chose not to eat in the restaurant because it was a bit pricey, but everything else about the hotel was user-friendly and efficient. All in all, a great deal for the price.

Be the best temple's neighbour”

We believe that the best of Hotel Tokyu is that it is right behind Nishi Honganji Temple which is one of the best temples in Kyoto. Nobody will make noises in such a divine area and therefore you can expect an extremely quiet neighbourhood and a kind of divine atmosphere at night if you walk around the hotel. Kyoto is probably one of the cities worldwide enjoying the largest amount of well-preserved historical temples and several of them are famous worldwide. However, the Nishi Honganji Temple left us the best impression because there are not many tourists and you can really feel the divinity. If we did not stay in Hotel Tokyu, we would very possibly miss the Nishi Honganji Temple. Tokyu's environment and facilities are of typical Japanese standard - clean everywhere, well-organized, nice flavour, small but cozy room. As Kyoto has been quite old, we found that Tokyu's furniture is a little old compared with other hotels we stayed in Japan. Even so, generally, it was a pleasant stay. Kyoto is the best city Japan with the traditions and temples which are not easily seen in other parts of Japan. Should have stayed in Tokyu for a few more days.

Very nice upmarket hotel, large rooms”

I really enjoyed my stay at the Kyoto Tokyu hotel. The building is very modern and spacious on the inside, almost like a small shopping centre with it's various restaurants and small shops. The rooms are large by western standards which is hard to come by in Japan. All the usual amenities are up to standard, with a comfy bed, clean modern bathroom and large TV. The only downside is no wi-fi in the rooms; ethernet only. This is a very modestly priced hotel for Kyoto, but with the service you might expect from a 5 star hotel.

A dynasty in Japan”

The hotel is in a very convenient location relative to the main railroad station in Kyoto. There is a major Temple whitin walking distance, actually in the next block that can be visited very easily. It is beautiful and it can be visited as soon as you check into the hotel. The hotel also provides daily pick up for half day and full day tours of Kyoto as well as Nara. You are picked up in the hotel lobby and brought back to the hotel at the end of the tour. Unless you are willing to pay equivalent of $8 US for a cup of coffee or hot chocolate (as we accidentally did one afternoon), the hotel restaurant is not a good option. There is a restaurant across the street with reasonable prices, but we did not very much enjoy the food there. It is sort of like the Japanese version of Denny's restaurant. I did , however, found a small grocery store whithin walking distance two blocks towards the railroad station on the opposit side of the street which helped us out a lot. We bought milk, beer, wine, and other foods for breakfast and lunch at very reasonable prices there. The room has a refrigerator which helps in storing food in the room. All in all, the hotel was a great experience for us and I would recommend it highly.

Kyoto Tokyu Hotel Stay”

We really enjoyed our stay in Kyoto Tokyu Hotel. Locality was good. Not far from the Kyoto Station and the staff are all very helpful. Rooms were clean and is reasonable in size. Near to most tourist attractions and shopping precint. Would recommend this hotel and will stay in it again should we decide to come back to Kyoto.

Enjoyable stay in Kyoto ”

We enjoyed our visit to Kyoto and stay at Tokyu Hotel. It was convenient location with shuttle bus service to Kyoto station every 15 mins. Upon checkout, we left baggage with bell boy service. Staff was very friendly and staff Naomi was very helpful. My daughter misplaced her phone and was able to recover from shuttle bus. We recommend this hotel.

A REAL JAPANESE EXPERIANCE”

WE HAVE STAYED IN THE TOKYU HOTEL IN KYOTO FOR SIX NIGHTS IN OCTOBER 2008. WE REQUESTED A LOT OF SERVICES FROM THE GUEST RELATION MANAGER, INCLUDING RESERVATIONS, INFORMATION LOCATING ATTRACTIONS AWAY FROM KYOTO. THEY WERE EXTREAMELY HELPFUL,WROTE LETTERS FOR US, MADE PHONE CALLS AND DIDN'T GIVE UP UNTIL THE GOT SATISFACTORY RESULTS. THIS IS ONLY ONE OF THE REASONS WHY WE'LL GO BACK TO THIS HOTEL.

Kyoto Tokyu Hotel”

Kyoto Tokyu Hotel is a beautiful, elegant and well furnished hotel which is within walking distance of many attractions and places of interest. Rooms are very well clean and attractively furnished. We spent a night there and wish we could have stayed longer. Restaurants are great too. Staff were very friendly and helpful.

Kyoto Experience”

The Tokyu was a fantastic hotel that suited our needs in Kyoto. It was very easy to find and the location was accessible via the efficient Kyoto bus services and within close proximity to the Kyoto Station. The dining especially for a hearty breakfast was fantastic. The staff were very friendly and helpful. The hotel amenities were second to none. We would recommend this hotel to our family and friends.

Excellent”

We had a great stay overall at the Tokyu. It rained one day and they had complementary umbrellas which was nice. The shuttle is essential as the hotel is not in a touristy area, we had to search a bit to find local places to eat but there is plenty at Kyoto stn. And the handy phone was a great help! We stayed in the bottom of the spectrum room but it was very nice, spacious, comfortable with good ammenities. Hallway on level 6 stinks like stale cigarette smoke but absolutely not an issue inside the room.

stay at okyu hotel kyoto”

the hotel is centrally located and quite near the JR railway station. it is easily accessible from the rail station. it is a well-appointed hotel and noting the japanese courteousness and their trait of deference, I would say that the hotel staff is tops - from the concierge who was very accommodating, to the front desk personnel who were as efficient and to the porter who provided service at every opportunity like giving directions, suggestions on places to eat and in helping out with the luggage - I have no complaint. The hotel staff knew pretty good english and could communicate well. with respect to the accommodations, the room was comfortable, clean, complete in all accessories and I say, nicely designed. it was spacious for a japanese hotel. the location is the best. it is near a buddhist temple and not too far from the nijo castle and the imperial palace as well as to other historic sites in kyoto. overall, I rate the hotel with a 5 star.

Good choice”

As this has been stated in the many reviews of this very site (which led me to go to this hotel), the Kyoto Tokyu Hotel is a well maintained, 4 stars hotel, with nice, english speaking staff, decent sized rooms, and a beautifull and relaxing lobby. It's location is okay, close to a few temples, and near walking distance of the commercial heart of Kyoto, where you will be able to go out, eat, shop, and play some arcade video games ! Great value for your money !

The hotel is awesome and relaxing”

Although we need to walk 15 mins from the kyoto station, the shuttle bus service is convenient and the drivers were helpful when we were carrying luggage. The environment is very comfortable, away from the hustle in the city. There aren't many restaurants near. But you can still find convenient stores near the hotel. People can take the free shuttle bus in JR station. In the hotel room, the room was bigger than we expected, with a 160cm bed and a nice view. The room is clean and tidy, and the hotel offered a branded shampoo and everything for us. If you want to have a relaxing holiday, away from the city noise, I think this hotel is the best choice. I will definitely come and stay in this hotel again! :)

Staff was incredible and great attention to detail”

A free shuttle is provided to and from the Kyoto JR station and was extremely useful. The hotel is located just outside the busy areas, but was only a short taxi drive to downtown Kyoto. There are also bus and subway stands just around the corner. There is an Amazing water feature that is in the centre of the hotel, with fine dining restaurants located around the hotel. Its probably more like a "business" style hotel, but their attention to detail and cleanliness was unmatched.

elegant hotel”

I stayed at the Kyoto Tokyu Hotel for two nights and got a great deal for a 4-star hotel through agoda. When I arrived, I was greeted accordingly and was shown to my room which ended up to be on the the far end of a very long corridor. Not a problem, but first thing, when I connected my laptop to the ethernet cable, guess what?...you must pay Y1260 for internet service per day! The room was generally acceptable and clean but was showing its age in its design, furnishings and noticable wear.(Hence the reason for the discounted price)So to conclude, the Kyoto Tokyu Hotel is a nice place to stay, but it is in need of an update to be competitive with the newer 3-star hotels which isn't really saying much for a its 4-star rating, especially when you factor in that, as standard practice at this level, internet service is usually provided free of charge for hotel guests anywhere around the world...even in developing nations.

Nice”

The hotel is very good. Big rooms, clean, full of amenities. Very elegant in japanese style. Excellent the breakfast buffet. Many western choices, sweet and salted things. Free shuttle bus from/to Kyoto station to the Hotel, very convenient. It has been a perfect choice in Kyoto. I really advice this hotel

Excellent. ”

Staff speaks English and were very professional and kind. All the service was exceptional, and the room was spacious and clean. The only “cons” are that it was a little hard to get around Kyoto, but that’s not really the hotel’s fault. They offer a free shuttle service to Kyoto station for guests, so that was a very nice bonus. There is also a small accommodation tax as well, so be prepared for that. There is a major temple about a block away within walking distance. Overall I would stay again if in the area.