Hotel Okura Kyoto

It’s an extending stay of another 2 nights! The service was consistently good, the girls at the front desk defiantly speak better English than the guys. Our second room was facing to the west, there’s been some weird humming noise that you can hear in the room time to time. We didn’t bother to report it to the hotel as we were out for sightseeing most of the day. The breakfast was not as good as for example swissotel in Osaka. But it’s good enough to let you have a good start of the day!

This was our favorite hotel stay on a 2 week trip to Japan. The location couldn’t be more convenient as it connects to the rail station. Outside the doors on the bottom level of the station are several restaurants, making for a convenient quick dinner. The concierge was wonderful in recommending a fabulous sushi restaurant. The hotel is located right by the river and close to Nijo Castle and the Gion District. The best part was their breakfast room with a fabulous view of the city and a great buffet spread.

The best hotel on our 2-week guided tour of Japan. Bigger rooms than usual in this hotel class in Japan, excellent and varied breakfast buffet with great views over the city. Close to Nishi Market with its shops and many informal dining options.

Worst hotel stay ever. Except for the central location, all the rest was a nightmare. Very old hotel with old furniture, old appliances, old style, old carpets, old multimedia (if it can be called as such...). We stayed in a family room (where couples are supposed to sleep in separate beds), which was supposed to be non-smoking and the previous guests clearly smoked in there. Interestingly, under Okura Kyoto definition, swimming pool is considered part of the "fitness club" and kids below 18 aren't allowed. We were offered the kids club option, which is actually a baby club and only available upon reservation with 24h notice. On top of all that, it would have helped if the hotel manager and reception manager would have shown some understanding, however, they were focus on insisting on their definitions and providing stubborn answers. In short, if you want a modern, fresh, flexible and kid-friendly hotel, this is not the hotel you're looking for. If you want something old, inflexible and with unsupportive staff, this is your dream place!

Had a great stay for a work trip. Friendly staff. One of the taller buildings in Kyoto so it has great views.

Nice, conveniently located hotel. The staff were very friendly and helpful. The room felt small with two large and two small suitcases. The bathroom was a bit dated but worked fine. The western buffet breakfast was great with lots of options and even curry with naan bread!

Located where it’s very easy to get to and from the hotel and where ever you may be going for the day or night. It is a little dated but they do make up for it with their welcoming staff. Enjoyed our stay.

Stayed here with a group on a tour of Japan and was quite happy with the hotel. The location is great. The room was comfortable and large. The concierge was terrific. If I have one minor criticism it’s only that the breakfast buffet line could be better designed to avoid lines when it opens. And there’s an odd quirk with room numbers as they seem to be the floor plus ten (ours was 1935 on the 9th floor) for some reason. But overall a very pleasant stay

This was our favorite hotel during our 10 day trip thru Japan. First of all, the hotel allow you to adjust the temperature in your room below 20C, which was not the case in the other hotels we stayed at. You had to stay in suites or complain to the front desk, but I found it very annoying. It was not a problem here. Anyhow, the rooms were large, clean and beautiful. The staff was polite and very helpful and food in the restaurant was good. The hotel was located in a good spot to get to the trains and other sights by foot. Very nice hotel, well priced for what you got and I would stay here if I visited Kyoto again.

Our stay at the Okura Hotel was excellent. Located right next to Kyoto City Hall, it's incredibly convenient, with a subway station directly in front of the hotel. Although we arrived early and couldn't check in immediately, the staff allowed us to leave our carry-on luggage with them. Since we had sent our larger suitcases ahead to the hotel, we were free to start exploring Kyoto right away. The room was spacious, especially for a hotel in Japan, and I was very pleased with it. The service was exceptional throughout our stay. If you're someone who enjoys breakfast, I highly recommend booking a room with the breakfast option, as most places outside don't open until 10 a.m. Overall, it was a great experience!

One of the best things about Japan, well...it's the toilets. The Toto toilet has a heated seat, different self and manual flushing speeds, warm water that squirts up to clean your butt and whatever else you may have. The toilet also cleans itself! It is magical! And it is all over town. No matter where you are you can find a clean public toilet. Hotel Okura is a rather old but famous luxury Kyoto hotel. It is across the street from the Kyoto city hall. The rooms, contrary to more modern Japanese hotels, are rather large. Two people do not smash into each other when they pass thru the room to the toilet. The bathroom is large, consisting of a full size tub, shower, sink, large counter, and...a very smart Toto toilet! The furniture is a bit frumpy but very clean and polished. The amenities are top notch and plentiful. The staff is very friendly and the service is excellent. The only drawback was the wedding taking place in the large lobby when we checked in. Totally weird!

We arrived from the train station in a taxi. So I'm not too sure about their whole parking situation. Upon entering, the people working here are very friendly. Every time you walk past them they always greet you and bow. Checking in was very easy and they bring your bags to your room for you. Their lobby is huge and very clean. One thing I noticed is that their elevators are VERY slow lol. But that did not matter. The decor in the room is pretty outdated. If you've been researching this place I'm sure you already heard that they are. From my experience the people working here know little to no English, so a translator app is much needed. The rooms here are big which is a huge upside. Their bathrooms have a standing shower and a separate tub. The water pressure is VERY good. Little things like this goes a long way. The rooms also have a humidifier which blows strong cold air too. They have a small fridge that has beer and soda and a little drawer with hard alcohol. The bathroom comes with disposable razors, toothbrush, his and her hair combs, q-tips, cotton balls and expensive shampoo and conditioner. I forget the brand but my wife said it's really good. We had their breakfast buffet on the top level. They had a mix of American and Japanese food, tons of fruit, pastries, every beverage imaginable and views to die for. There is plenty of seating and a little omelette station that is super good. 3,600 yen per person. 6am-10am I believe. Totally worth it! Enjoy your guys' stay!

Pro: nice staff, restaurant & stores located downstairs, taxi outside on stand by, Japanese and western buffet offer, room are nice, subway station near by. Con: no microwave or laundry. My experience here at the 5 star hotel has been mostly good for my stay here in Kyoto. Upon first checking in we were given room keys and explain about the amenities of the hotel such as a buffet and shops down stair of the hotel. Downstairs also has a train station and an atm machine for the people connivence. The elevator has a sensor that you put your card next to and it will automatically choose your assigned floor. The room while not the most modern is pretty decent with a small tv, big bed, and a shower with high pressure. The hotel does have taxi on standby outside for guest. The hotel is in close proximity to restaurants and connivence stores. They do not have any microwave or washer/dryer area so out of luck there. All in all, it was a decent place to spend a few days at while we explore Kyoto but I wouldn't recommend such a high price hotel if you plan to only stay in Kyoto for a few days.

Kyoto Hotel Okura. Location is perfect. A few blocks away by foot are many bars and restaurants. The hotel will make bicycle rentals for you, which we arranged when we visited Kiyomizudera. About 15 minutes away. Best way to travel. Spacious rooms ( by American standards), highly efficient, courteous, informed bilingual staff and the train station downstairs! Excellent breakfast buffet on the 17 th floor with a view. Many dining options, a bakery shop downstairs, and right now a Van Gogh art exhibit in one of its annexes. So very comfortable. Rates vary depending on the day and if you get a single or double room. Really, you can't beat this location. And my favorite paper store Kyukyodo's main location (established in 1663) is a five minute walk away! You can relax at the Okura knowing you are in good hands.

Kyoto Hotel Okura was a great place to stay in Kyoto. I contacted the concierge a few months ahead of time to see if she could help me get reservations at a nice restaurant. She was able to secure a reservation within a day and sent me the confirmation in advance. When I arrived, there was an envelope waiting for me with the reservation and directions to the restaurant. The hotel is located walking distance from the Sanjo Station and within feet of the Kyoto Shiyakusho-mae Station. The staff here speaks very good English and every single person here was so nice and accommodating. They truly make you feel welcome. The hotel itself is pretty large and very nice. There is a huge lobby area, shops and restaurants on the bottom two levels, a nice gym (about $25 per day) and some restaurants spread throughout the hotel. Our room had a nice bed, beautiful view and standard bathroom. The bathroom has a separate shower and bathtub. Hotel provides shampoo, conditioner, toothbrush, toothpaste, etc. The hotel also provides two complimentary bottles of water each day. The hotel is also walking distance from many restaurants and bars located on Kiya-Machi Dori and Nishi-Kiyacho Dori. What really makes this hotel stand out is its service. Everyone here was so welcoming and helpful. I even left my tablet in the room after check-out and they immediately called me and offered to ship it to me. Luckily I was still int he area and they had it waiting for me, wrapped in bubble wrap when I arrived. Top-notch service.

Amazing hotel view!! Excellent customer service, hands down! Staff are very friendly and efficient. --Clean room with no funky smell. --Big restroom. --Awesome toilet (bidet or spray option)! --Two separate showers in the same bathroom (standing shower stall or tub). --Free Wifi throughout the hotel. --Great room and lobby decors. Definitely would come back here if I visit Japan in the near future!!!

We stayed at this hotel for 1 out of the 2 nights we were in the Kyoto area. The other night was spent at a hot spring hotel. "Okura"-branded hotels are one the top 3 oldest/traditional Japanese hotels in Japan -- at least that's what our guide told us. It's quite famous in town, and we're happy we were able to stay here for at least one evening. The lobby area is huge, and spacious. People are friendly as well. Our room was nice, tastefully decorated, and minimalistic. We had a view of hills surrounding Kyoto. Morning breakfast - we selected the Japanese style breakfast, where you sit at a table and you're served a bento box full of Japanese breakfast delicacies, including congee, miso soup, fish, marinated veggies, tofu, etc. The assortment was so cute, and tasty too. One of the best Japanese breakfasts I've had on my entire trip. :) Outside of the hotel, you have easy access to the shopping area and lots of eateries nearby. You can even take a leisurely stroll down to the Gion district as well to visit the geishas!

4.5*Kyoto Hotel Okura Located across the street from the City Hall Close to Nijō Castle and Imperial Palace Fantastic reception and concierge staff Great breakfast, places to eat

Their service is way beyond my expectations. I booked my hotel from Agoda a month a ago but later noticed we have to add extra beds in some rooms. I then addressed my concerns to hotels reservation team and got fixed right away. They also offer shuttle mini bus to the Kyoto train station. Free of charge! What really impressed me was their hotel clerks were super polite and friendly. Our rooms were spacious and super clean. I couldn't appreciate more about what have offered me. But wait. Japanese people consider its an offense to try to tip them. So don't tip them even when you received maybe best service that you ever had in your life. Just spread the words and let everyone know they deserve 5 stars.

The Kyoto Hotel Okura is a luxurious hotel choice for any tourists staying in Kyoto. From the service, to the beautiful and spacious lobby, to the rooms, everything made for the most comfortable stay. The room I stayed in contained two queen beds and had more room than I even needed - with the long desk with large mirror, to the side table and desk, and the HUGE bathroom with toilet, tub, AND shower, it was an incredibly comfortable stay for my 2-night visit. The hotel itself contains some shopping centers on the various floors and is within walking distance of Kyoto shopping district, Shinkyogoku. The food options are also fantastic at the Kyoto Hotel Okura. The Western and Japanese breakfast buffet offers the best of both worlds, with your traditional continental breakfast pastries done with a Japanese-flare, popular treats like bacon and sausage, and the Japanese options like rice porridge, tofu, miso soup, and grilled fish. The traditional Japanese breakfast restaurant, Irifune, also provides a new experience of very delicate bento box and side dishes for enjoyment - for those hooked on coffee, plan to get it elsewhere because Irifune only serves water and tea! And last but certainly not least, the top floor Teppanyaki restaurant, Tokiwa, is phenomenal. Teppanyaki, loosely translated to iron grill, is like your "benihana" type experience, except the cooks are not completely outrageous and they do not do perform any knife tricks. Just simple, basic, iron grill cooking for your viewing pleasure. Something as simple as grilled fish and mushrooms was done so well. Most enjoyable, was the ohmi beef, which was costly, but so worth it! With a variety of grilled vegetables, soy sauce, and three different salts - two mountain salts and one sea salt. Interestingly enough, one of the salts had an egg flavor (maybe from the sulfur), which was nothing like I'd ever tasted. Would highly recommend this special dining experience.

A female friend of mine was engaged in the design of his resort condominium-like hotel. She has been working for a major construction company as an architect. She guided me around this hotel. First we had cake buffet about 20 years ago, next we reunited again after 20 years. When I first came here, it was a brand-new hotel and I was surprised at its layout. The guest rooms looked like a condominium. Different from other hotels between the guest rooms facing each other a stairwell is installed. I was impressed by its novel and stylish design. At the reunion we had iron plate lunch on the top floor and enjoyed panorama from the large window.

You basically have to pay for everything but the room. The TV quality is really bad and they use keys instead of keycards.

I'm really surprised at all the great reviews but notice they're all about a year old and (I'm sure I come off judgmental) written by people who are impressed by having properly folded towels or whatever else. Also I'm not sure if management has changed recently but the service now is really poor. I am actually currently staying at the Kyoto Hotel Okura and after staying at the Hotel Okura Tokyo last week, I have to warn any international travelers used to the level of service at other luxury hotels to stay away from any of the Hotel Okuras in Japan. I work in finance (private equity) in the U.S. and travel frequently for work. I'm a Starwood Platinum member but also frequently stay in other hotel chains so I'm used to having great service. I'm not sure if this is because my family and I were visiting from America but we have candidly received some of the worst service I have ever received at any hotel chain, even budget chains. The biggest issues: 1. I misplaced my briefcase on the shinkansen and enlisted my assistant as well as the concierges at the Hotel Okura Tokyo and the Kyoto Hotel Okura to help locate it. My EA suspects the concierges literally did nothing because they are still asking whether I got my briefcase back and my EA located it and hired a courier to bring it back that same day. If they had actually spoken to the lost and found, they'd know this already. 2. I have a formal dinner in Tokyo that I need a dinner jacket for so I purchased one here with the intention of getting it altered. I asked the concierge to help me locate a tailor. She replied, "Sorry, I don't know." Then please look one up and get back to me. This happened for other requests as well. Don't be fooled into thinking that this is Japanese custom--I've had exemplary service from other hotels in Japan, just not any of the Hotel Okuras. 3. There's this general baseline of unhelpfulness from the concierge desk which is likely one of the worst concierge desks I've ever encountered. If they don't know an answer, they don't tell you that they'll "get back to you." They just say no. And they don't follow up. They occasionally even just leave requests completely unfulfilled. I'd give this hotel zero stars if I could and will be taking my business elsewhere. The only positives? The rooms are fine enough (though a bit oudated) and the location great. Every taxi driver knows where it's located and there's a taxi lineup outside.

This hotel encompases the comfort and luxury of Japan completely. It is relaxing and caters to your every need and want.

Had an awesome time. Great location, right at the end of all the shops and restaurants on main drag. Super friendly staff.