1 Taimatsu-cho, Shiokojisagaru, Higashihorikawadori, Shimogyo, Japan | (618) 248-8274
Located a 10-minute walk to Kyoto
train station
Rooms have minibars, air purifiers, and Japanese tea sets
Seven on-site restaurants
offering French, Japanese, and Chinese cuisine
On-site bar and revolving
top-floor restaurant with panoramic views
Indoor swimming pool,
whirlpool, and sauna (for a fee)
Free shuttle service between
the hotel and Kyoto Station
Computers and printers available for guests' use
Free on-site parking
Free
Wi-Fi throughout
Some rooms can feel cramped
Fee for in-room coffee
and tea
Fee for using the
pool, whirlpool, and sauna
Dated decor (scheduled for renovation in 2016)
Smell
of cigarette smoke in public areas
This large-scale, three-and-a-half-pearl hotel, with
482 guest rooms and suites, is within
a 10-minute walk of Kyoto Station, the city's main transportation hub. The hotel has seven
on-site restaurants -- including a revolving top-floor restaurant and bar -- a florist, and a gourmet food shop. But use of the indoor swimming pool, whirlpool, and sauna entails a fee. The general decor is seriously dated, and
the hotel will close for large-scale renovations beginning in February 2016 and reopen the following fall. The nearby New Miyako, with pleasant contemporary rooms, six restaurants, and an on-site shopping mall, makes a good alternative.
Disclaimer: This content was accurate at the time the hotel was reviewed. Please check our partner sites when booking to verify that details are still correct.
Scene
Large hotel with a corporate atmosphere and decor slated for renovation
RIHGA Royal Hotel Kyoto occupies a huge imposing
building with a gray, concrete facade, like the other buildings on the street. Interiors have a generic corporate look, with shiny tile floors but few decorative details to distinguish the large lobby area. The colorful wall murals and maple leaf motif carpets look dated, as do the ‘80s-style leather-look sofas in the reception area. Many
of the public areas and hallways smell of stale cigarette smoke, which
can be off-putting. But renovations, slated for 2016, could address these issues. The lobby can get busy with tour groups, which are often
booked to stay here, and the hotel's proximity to Kyoto Station makes it popular with business travelers.
Location
A 10-minute walk to Kyoto Station
The RIHGA Royal Hotel Kyoto is about a 10-minute walk to Kyoto Station, the city’s main train transportation hub, and the hotel offers free shuttle service running every 15
minutes between the hotel and the station. There are lots of dining choices in
the immediate vicinity, and there are three shopping centers within walking
distance.- 19-minute subway ride to Kyoto International Manga Museum
Rooms
Clean but dated rooms varying in size
The 482 rooms at the RIHGA Royal Hotel Kyoto range from Singles to Suites, and while most are spacious, some, especially the Singles, can feel cramped, with little extra space for storing luggage. Decor varies among the rooms, but the mix of different colors and motifs
often clashes, creating a garish effect. The dark furniture is generic and not
particularly stylish, while bathrooms tend to be small, with shower/tub combos and little counter space. In Deluxe Twin Rooms, the wine-and-cream colored walls jar with the floral-patterned sofas and patterned carpet with a butterfly motif. Suite
Doubles are more pleasant, decorated in more harmonious tones of cream, beige,
and brown. Some of the Suites have spacious bathrooms with separate toilet,
bath, and shower areas. All rooms have air-conditioning, air purifiers,
flat-screen TVs, minibars, electric kettles, Japanese tea sets, free Wi-Fi,
hairdryers, and toiletries in the bathrooms. Tea- and coffee-making
facilities come with an extra fee.
Features
Eight on-site restaurants and bars, indoor pool, whirlpool, and sauna
RIHGA Royal Hotel Kyoto
offers a dizzying choice of restaurants. A buffet breakfast, not included in the room rate, is served every
morning in the Corbeille restaurant. Lunch and dinner are buffet or a la
carte. The Top of Kyoto is a revolving restaurant on the 14th
floor, serving French cuisine amid panoramic 360-degree views of the cityscape
and mountains. Gourmand Tachibana is another fine-dining French restaurant
open for lunch and dinner. Other lunch and dinner options include
Royal Ryuho, serving Chinese dishes; Teppan-yaki Aoi specializing in “Omi beef”
and seafood; and Tankuma Kitamise, which serves Kyoto-style cuisine. Bar Granada
is open in the evenings for drinks, while the Lounge, a cafe, serves light
meals and drinks throughout the day.The hotel has 17 banquet
halls of varying sizes, which can accommodate up to 1,000 people. The
business center has two computers, printers, a photocopier, and two vending
machines selling drinks. Use of the indoor pool, whirlpool, and
sauna entails an extra fee. Free parking is available in the large
on-site parking lot, and free Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel.
