Kyoto Tokyu Hotel

A beautifully landscaped water feature stretches from the outer entrance of the Kyoto Tokyu hotel to the atrium inside with leafy trees, pebbled pools, and stone waterfalls. Inside, the large lobby has a modern feel that's a bit corporate, with blue carpeted floors and large columns throughout, while escalators and elevators are available for navigating the floors. Guests can watch their food being prepared at Kazahana, an all-day restaurant with an open kitchen, or dine at a traditional low table while sitting on floor cushions at Tankuma Kitamise, a Japanese restaurant offering seasonal dishes. At the tea lounge and bar, guests can relax outside near the water while enjoying afternoon tea or an evening drink. The hotel mostly sees tourist families and couples, though business travelers stay here as well. 

Kyoto Tokyu Hotel is located on one of Kyoto's main roads, within a 10-minute ride from Kyoto Station on the hotel’s free shuttle. The hotel is essentially adjacent to the Nishi Honganji Buddhist temple complex, which takes less than 10 minutes to reach on foot. Nijo Castle is under 20 minutes away by bus, and Gion Geisha District is less than a 20-minute drive away. There aren’t a lot of places to eat nearby, but Pontocho, a vibrant alley full of restaurants and traditional tea houses, is within a 20-minute drive, or 30-minute walk for those who don't mind a stroll through the city. Osaka International Airport takes about 50 minutes to reach by car.

While many rooms at this large hotel have a straightforward, simple style to them, there are differences in decor between room categories, and some feature contemporary decor that's especially sharp. Standard and Superior Rooms at the 430 room hotel are classic and a bit bland, though, with white walls and gray carpeted floors. Furnishings include mid-tone wood veneer desks and waiting room-style chairs, while red bed runners and pillows add some color to the space. Premium Rooms are livelier, with light wood floors, contemporary off-white furniture, and stylish accent walls. Luxury Rooms share many of the Premium Rooms' design features, but add shimmery blue carpeted floors and extra space, including generous seating areas. All rooms have flat-screen TVs, minibars, and free Wi-Fi. Thoughtful extras include tea sets with green tea, slippers, and amenity kits with combs and toothbrushes, but no coffee- or tea-making facilities in Standard Rooms. Bathrooms have shower/tub combos, and some are quite small. Suites come with minibars, sleepwear, robes, and walk-in showers with separate tubs. Decor in higher category bathrooms is far more contemporary and sleek than in lower-level bookings, and come with premium toiletries.

Kyoto Tokyu has three restaurants -- two of which offer breakfast for a fee -- and provide a choice of Chinese and Japanese cuisine, including sushi. There’s also a bar and tea lounge with open-air seating next to the hotel's decorative pools. The hotel has a fitness center with hand weights, weight machines, and cardio machines, including two treadmills -- the equipment is modern, but limited. There are also a beauty salon and spa, as well as a souvenir shop. Eight rooms are available for private events, and the hotel has a business center with one computer and a printer. There’s a free shuttle to Kyoto station, and free parking is offered, along with free Wi-Fi throughout.