More about Granvia
I LOVE this hotel!
by TripAdvisor Member Bbpink
I booked through the hotel website for a night at the rate of 16,170 yen wihtout breakfast as it costs much more with breakfast, I think about 29,000 yen.
I stayed in Westin Miyako Kyoto for the first night and then Hotel Granvia Kyoto for the second. Hotel Granvia Kyoto IS much much better than Westin.
Was showed to my room which is comfy and decent size, much bigger than Westin. The bathroom is nice with the best selection of toiletries. The bed is comfy and the view is quite amazing. I can see a huge tower which looks quite cool at night. The location is perfect as I went to and leave Kyoto by Shinkansen trains. I wanted to check emails but didn't ve a laptop with me, they have computers at the conceirge and I was charged 100 yen per 10 mins which I think is more than reasonable. (Looking at earlier comments, I guess they changed their policies n it is not a free service anymore.)
What impressed me the most is the service of conceirge. I did a bit of research before I went as I want to learn something during my short stay in Kyoto. I found somewhere where I can learn to make Kyogashi n somewhere to have a fan painting session. However, if u do not speak Japanese, it is basically impossible to enquire n book. The woman helped me call n book n even colour photocopied a map n marked where the shop is exactly. As the Kyogashi shops were closed when I got to concerige, I went back to the conceirge early in the morning next day to see if they can help me to book. The woman who helped me the night before already printed out all the info n the man instantly picked up where she left off n started calling for me. I was able to do both n was really happy about that. They really go over the board to help you.
Love the whole experience and would not hesitate to recommend this hotel. If I ever go back to Kyoto, I won't ve to look elsewhere.
Convenient location and large rooms
by TripAdvisor Member jstro
My husband and I recently spent a week at the Hotel Granvia Kyoto. This hotel was wonderful for the location in Kyoto Station. It was really nice being able to get off the train from Tokyo and just walk upstairs to the hotel without dragging our suitcases around town. It is not very close to many of the tourist sites, but the subway and buses are right there. The lobby was very elegant, but always very crowded. The staff were very efficient and polite, and even the cleaning staff always said hello and bowed to us. The room was very large for Japanese standards. We had a king size bed with two chairs and a coffee table. Lots of room to move around compared to our hotel in Tokyo. My only complaint about the room was the carpet was stained and looked like it needed to be replaced. I loved the water warmer that was kept on while we were there so I could make tea at any time. I think we were lucky to get a room with a view of the city. We tried two of the restaurants in the hotel, Grace Garden Buffet for lunch, and Le Temps Cafe for dessert. Grace Garden was very good, but the prices have gone up since the last Frommer's Japan book came out. It is now 3,000 JPY for lunch. They had a good selection of seafood and meat choices, plus many desserts and ice creams. I'm not sure it was really worth the price, but it was convenient on the day we arrived. At Le Temps we had the green tea ice cream and pudding (flan). Both were very good and the prices were reasonable. If you are looking for a more reasonable breakfast, try the Vie de France bakery which is three floors down from the hotel in the Cube shopping area in the station. We ate breakfast there every day. The pastries are very good and I loved the kiwi banana soymilk smoothies. Prices are very cheap too.
Disappointed service and reservation arrangement
by TripAdvisor Member cbym
When I made my booking, I was informed that the hotel does not have non-smoking superior double bed room. So I agree to take a twin room instead. However, when I proceed to the check-in, the staff told me they did not arrange a non-smoking room to us as the request was not guarantee. I tried to explain I have booked it and it's showed on my hotel voucher. With my insistence, they offered me a non-smoking double bed room eventually.
If you are business traveller and need to bring your own laptop, you need to consider it to stay there or not - THERE IS NO SAFE BOX IN THE ROOM ! You need to keep it at the receiption. Hey ! Doesn't it 4 star hotel ?
Also, pls try to bring your own adapter as the hotel would charge you 5000 yen if you borrow it from housekeeping and cannot give it back upon check-out - SO MEAN !!!
You would be so trustrated during shower as the water pressure is so weak.
But I may stay there again as the location is so convenient !
Superb hotel, ideal location
by TripAdvisor Member inspdeck
The Granvia is clearly the best place to stay in Kyoto if you are looking to make Kyoto your central hub for touring Japan. The hotel is owned by Japan railways and is right over the Kyoto Central station, which has all major train lines servicing it, including the shinkansens (bullet trains). As for Kyoto itself, the city is navigated by buses and taxis and the Granvia has all major bus routes servicing it. As for the hotel itself, it is impeccable from the 5star hospitality to the classical music playing in the elevator. The rooms are spacious, well appointed with new carpeting and linens. The bathroom is rather large by Japanese standards. The hotel has plenty of top notch restaurants serving all different styles of Japanese cuisine. If you find it too expensive, there's a great mall complex adjacent to it with plenty of dining options. In short, I would never return to Kyoto unless I stayed at this hotel. My only gripe was paying for internet service in 15min intervals.
Eh.
by TripAdvisor Member toonceswindtalker
I had heard a lot of good things about this hotel but in the end found it very impersonal and run-of-the-mill. It's saving grace is its location by all the major bus lines and the train station. That, of course, is very convenient and welcome. Other than that though, I found the hotel lacked the service and warmth I'd encountered in other hotels in Japan, especially hotels of this caliber. There is also a distinct feeling of being gouged, everything costs extra, from breakfast, to pool entry, to coffee in the room. At one point my husband and I (dressed casually I will admit) attempted to have an end-of-evening cocktail in the hotel bar and were summarily dismissed by the man at the door. He said, "there was no room." I believe he dissapproved of our attire (jeans). I'm not particularly sympathetic to that as we were well groomed in other ways and just felt like it was reinforcement of the cold and sterile service I observed while there. I gave it three stars because the location just truly cannot be beat but other than that...not so great. Despite the convenient location I would choose another hotel if I were to stay in Kyoto again.
No surprises, good location
by TripAdvisor Member marbella50
After much searching , thought etc., booked the Granvia for a 2 night stay at the start of Golden week after a 2 week Asian cruise. Booked directly through the hotel as I had problems trying to book with Asiarooms.com. I asked for a room with breakfast and they actually apologized for the high price being charged as it was Golden Week. That said, they asked a couple of times if I wanted to upgrade to a room with a view. As I was already paying 30,000 yen, I took my chances, hoping they might upgrade us anyway, but was not surprised. A nice room with a view of the glass roof of the train station. The room/floor was VERY quiet. Had a buffet breakfast both mornings on the 15th floor with a lovely view.Food was quite varied--Western, Japanese and European and was quite good. Mostly Japanese visitors in the restaurant and for that matter, the hotel itself. Excellent service at the front desk. Housekeeping was also excellent.
The room was above average. For comparrsion , we saw our friend's room at the Rihga Royal which was actually a little larger and was also nicely appointed and a fair bit less money.
The location is, as stated often, very handy for taking subways, trains etc. Not so handy (if you have a few pieces of luggage) for taking the airport bus which is on the opposite side of this huge train station and across the street.
I was quite surprised to see so many hotels, some of which are critiqued on this board, right in the immediate vicinity. Yes the Granvia is a handy location, but so are several other hotels.
I would recommend the Granvia , and if price is good, would stay there again.
Doublecheck the room description
by TripAdvisor Member MLOTE
I agree with all the descriptions about the location. It truly cannot be beat. The rooms are very clean, the bathrooms are large by Japanese standards, the restaurants are wonderful (and if you choose to go elsewhere, you are convenient to the CUBE at Kyoto Station, as well as the wonderful offerings at the ISETAN department store's basement. The main drawback was my disappointment in the "superior city view" room. We did have a city view, but it was in the 20 series., thus you ahd a view but it was not superior by any means. When you make a reservation, you should try to get a room at 01, 02, 03 or even 04 as you will have unobstructed views of the city toward Kyoto Tower. The room at 20, for example 1120 or 1220, has its view blocked by other rooms of the hotel which jut out toward and overlooking the busstop and taxi stands. The staff were accommodating. I was surprised to learn that it is not easy to have late checkout of even one hour before you are charged, though it wasn't not a big problem. I would still highly recommend the hotel for its convenience, especially if you do a lot of train travel or bus travel with the station as a base. The city buses are all very convenient to the hotel.
Fantastic hotel and great location!
by TripAdvisor Member lisa_quan
We just stayed at the Hotel Granvia in Kyoto. I booked a superior city view room on the internet averaging $175 per night for two people. As all the reviews said, this hotel is so convenient as it is at the Kyoto Station. We arrived from Tokyo via the shinkansen and just rolled our luggage right upstairs. One tip though, coming out of the Shinkansen, go to the Central Gate exit, and then follow the escalators up to the hotel lobby. We took the long way around and somehow missed the escalator. We got room 1001 on the 10th floor and had a perfect view of the city and Kyoto Tower. The room was spacious, the beds and bedding were luxuroius, and the bathroom was quite large for Japan. The little amenities in the bathroom were also generous. The closet was also quite large; we were able to stow away 3 large suitcases. The service at check-in was speedy and the gentleman spoke english. We had a 3rd person staying with us for 2 of the 3 nights, but had not had a chance to change the reservation. There was no problem at all adding a bed for an additional fee.They took care of everything without any worries. We went out for a late night bowl of ramen at the recommendation of the Bell Person, and returned to our room with the extra bed and extra towels, amenities, and even robes and slippers. The hotel staff even removed the bed the 3rd day. They didn't overlook a thing.
The high speed internet was a plus, as I brought my laptop.
Having this hotel as a a home base in Kyoto is ideal if taking the bus, subway, or train. Everything is only a few steps away. After long days visiting temples and gardens, it's so nice to be able to take about any bus back to Kyoto Station, and just be an escalator away from the room. The station seems endless as the escalators rise into the sky. It is worth taking a stroll through the many floors of the mall, Isaken, and the Cube. There are so many restaurants and deli's to choose from. Anderson's on BF2 is a great place to get a pastry and then go next door for coffee. Tell them you want to have coffee, and they will bring your pastry over and add it to the check. And just like most basement level food courts in Japan, this one is excellent, with samples and choices galore.
Hotel Granvia has a great location. If traveling by train to and/or from Kyoto, it is so worth it. You don't need a taxi at all if you're staying here. Just take your umbrella, your bus or train pass and explore the many sites of Kyoto.
Forum Posts
Tokyo to Kyoto
by PSash
Hi all
This forum has been very useful to me. Thanks for having this forum.
I am planning a trip to Tokyo and Kyoto in Dec. I know the way to get from Tokyo to Kyoto is by the rail and I intend to buy the 7 day JR pass as recommended. But I am only doing these 2 cities, is there a cheaper JR regional pass that I can get?
I intend to stay around the rail station and one hotel I have singled out is New Hotel Hankyu. Any comments on the hotel? I am looking for a modern, clean, quiet hotel. Though I very much prefer Granvia, it is very pricey and haven't been able to get a internet site that offers a good rate (prepared to pay about US$160).
An option for me is to cover HOkkaido in this trip if I am getting the JR pass. Is it worth travelling 12 hours from Tokyo to Hokkaido just to spend 1-2 days there? I heard during winter, it is very cold and not worth the travelling time to spend only 2 days there as there is too much to see. Moreover, going on my own can be dangerous bec weather conditions are not predictable. Is it through? I have been to Europe during winter and is there anything different from Hokkaido (during winter)? Anything else I would miss if I skip Hokkaido?
Thanks for assistance.
Rgs
RE: Tokyo to Kyoto
by nemesiz
[quote]Though I very much prefer Granvia, it is very pricey and haven't been able to get a internet site that offers a good rate (prepared to pay about US$160). [/quote]
Sometimes the Hotel's website has a special rate which surpasses the offers available from the specialist discount websites. In this instance Granvia Hotel, Kyoto has a special rate available for Single Occupency of a Twin Room for 15,000 Yen without breakfast or with the JR Rail Pass Holder 16,170 Yen with breakfast. Check the official English website for the Granvia Hotel for further details.
http://www.granvia-kyoto.co.jp/e/
Also try the following discount hotel websites for special offers pertaining to Kyoto hotels.
http://www.mytrip.net/en/index.html - Rakuten Travel.
http://biz.knt.co.jp/jho/sys/index.asp - Japan Hotels Online.
http://www.asiahotels.com/countries/Japan.asp - Asiahotels.
Also try the following website for information and reviews about hotels.
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotels-g298564-Kyoto_Kinki-Hotels.html
http://travel.yahoo.com/p-travelguide-191501639-kyoto_vacations-i;_ylt=AgypR7GTXeeWYn6BVy9qa5LlDmoL
[quote]Is there a cheaper JR regional pass that I can get? [/quote]
The link to Japan-guide.com provides an invaluable source of information about Japan, and especially the various passes available.
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2361.html
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2357.html
Hope this helps.
Shane/ Nemesiz
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