More about Hyatt Regency Kyoto
cold as ice
by TripAdvisor Member maymaywong
We stayed at Hyatt Regency Kyoto for 5 nights last month but found the service to be somewhat disappointing. We arrived at the hotel late in the evening due to a late arrival, but the front desk staff were too busy with their paperwork and did not pay any attention to us at the counter wanting to check in. The front desk staff were cold and unfriendly, probably annoyed that we had disturbed their evening paperwork!
The room was small but adequate. Don't try to bring a big luggage as it will not fit into the closet! The good thing is that the hotel is relatively new, so the rooms are very clean.
The Italian restaurant was good, the price was reasonable. We also tried the spa, the treatments were very pricey. We tried the massage, which was not very good. They also charge for use of the sauna and steamroom which is ridiculous considering the price you are already paying for the room.
Overall, the hotel was OK but not great. Perhaps the bad experience at the time of check-in already ruined the experience.
beware non smokers!
by TripAdvisor Member Ophelia89
I was pleased to find a hotel room in Kyoto during the busy season here, as most of the other hotels were full. I booked on their website, requesting a nonsmoking room.
When I arrived in the early evening, the front desk clerk seemed to have trouble finding me a room. She made a couple of phone calls and eventually brought me up to the room. As we entered, a staff member was leaving with the ashtrays from the room; apparently this is their idea of a nonsmoking room.
There were no other rooms available, and the room didn't smell too much, so I stayed. I found out when I went to bed that most of the smoke smell was concentrated in the bedding.
It also appeared that they really hadn't cleaned the room since the last guest: the amenities were half used, and there were empty shopping parcels about the room.
I had an uneasy feeling that the bedding hadn't been changed either, but was way too jetlagged to protest at that point.
The staff speaks English rather poorly, so it was difficult to make them understand what my issues were or to get any resolution to the matter. The room itself is very pleasant and comfortable, although the walls are quite thin and you can hear your neighbors very easily.
Next time I'll reserve earlier and stay at the Westin - it's much nicer.
Beautiful hotel
by TripAdvisor Member MKPierce
We're just back from our first visit to Japan. I always check Tripadvisor before booking in an unfamiliar city, and I'm glad I came across reviews for this place because it's too new to be included in our edition of Fodor's. We loved it--from the inspired contemporary lobby design, to the selection of in-house bars and restaurants, the location, the quiet beautiful room, and the luxurious bath (perfect for a soak after sightseeing.) The Touzan bar on the first level is really an art installation, so we enjoyed our martinis while looking at the collections of old Japanese locks, keys, books, wood molds. Breakfast at the Grill means you can have the best French toast in the world overlooking a dry Zen garden. And should you feel like a sweet before bed, try the fresh in-house Italian pastries--quite as delicious as the ones we enjoyed in Italy. Most of all, though, I have to comment on the service--as we found it utterly exceptional. The staff was gracious, attentive, and always helpful. They dealt with guests from all over the world in the most professional, polite manner possible, setting a lovely quiet mood even for the busy front desk. We will definately stay here again!
Luxurious stay
by A TripAdvisor Member
This hotel was renovated this year from an older 25 year hotel because it was on the historical building register. The reception area very spacious. It tries to give a very elegant Japanese feeling from the gardens to the rooms. The bath is similar to a bath house as you scrub on a stool and then soak in the tub. The hotel is about a 7 min taxi ride from the train station. There is no subway system to speak of so you have to travel by bus or taxi. The city museum is right across the street for a rainey day. As usual the service was outstanding. Send your large bags ahead a day for your next stop as it is very inconvenient to take on a train as their is no space like Europe and having the crowds and goi9ng up and down stairs. I have beeen to Japan right after WW2 and several times since. Because of the weak dollar I was very apprehensive, travelling with my wife on our own, but to our relief it was no more expensive than visiting NYC. Be sure to visit Hiroshima and Miyajima on a day trip. A very moving and thought provoking experience. 9/11 pales in comparison.
Outstanding
by TripAdvisor Member Helen987
Just to echo some of the previous reviews this really is an outstanding hotel. Opened in March this year, the rooms are beautifully laid out and very quiet. There's a great gym downstairs and the food is very good. But best of all is the quality of the service - the staff are excellent and so polite. Small criticisms (but very small) would be the concierge didn't have very much info on restaurants in Kyoto and it is a little out of the way but nothing a short taxi (of which there seems to be an endless supply waiting outside) doesn't fix. One thing is that it's not worth paying up for a delux room as there is almost no difference - one extra chair and foot-stool is all. Overall, awesome hotel and highly recommended.
Nice Hotel, Great City
by TripAdvisor Member JeffGold
Coming from the Park Hyatt in Tokyo, one of the great hotels in the world, we were initially a bit dissapointed with this hotel--the rooms aren't large, the views aren't dramatic--but after a few hours were were glad we picked the Hyatt Regency. The rooms are beautiful, with extraordinary bathrooms (boy, do they know how to do this in Japan.) Everyone speaks English, but not with the fluency that we had experienced in the Park Hyatt. Still, it wasn't difficult to communicate and everybody was extremely nice and really made an effort. The public spaces are very very nice, the western breakfast buffet incredible (definitely get the room rate that includes this), and the location is wonderful, with an incredible 700 year old temple next door--don't miss it. The Italian restaurant isn't great--it's a Japanese read on Italian food, not true Italian food (which makes sense); the downstairs japanese restaurant and bar are breattakingly beautiful (and were surprisingly empty when we visited at the end of the year), and the service excellent. The staff is very warm and accomidating as well, and really went the extra mile to insure a great trip. Their restaurant recommendations were off the beaten path (non-touristy) and top notch as well. Overall, a very nice hotel, very fairly priced, in a stunning city that shouldn't be missed.
Superb stay
by TripAdvisor Member Jadalabada
Really superb hotel. Impeccable service all around, helpful staff, excellent restaurant serving great breakfast and in the evenings an a la carte menu with friendly prices. Very good gym as well, for those interested. Completely new facilities, and good location as well. The national museum is just across the street, and the main shrine-route is just a brisk walk away.
Great, serene getaway
by TripAdvisor Member stlterp
My wife and I stayed at the HR Kyoto in July 2006 during a 4 day visit to Kyoto. We had considered the Westin, but chose the Hyatt, even though most of our hotel points are with Starwood. What eventually led us to choose the Hyatt was the fact that it was newly remodeled, and the Westin has some old rooms that are pretty dingy. We don't regret our choice at all.
As others have mentioned, the HR is a great, peaceful hotel that is very much in keeping with the atmosphere of Kyoto. It is a low-rise building set just back from a main street, with a low-key decor. The room was not huge, but nicely done with a king sized bed, flat-screen tv, etc. Loved the bathroom with its separate shower room. We didn't spend a lot of time in the room, but just used it as a base.
Really liked the location of the hotel, right next door to the Sanjusanjendo Temple and across the street from the Kyoto Museum. It is a bit removed from any subway stop, but we found taking the bus to be convenient and a great way to get oriented to the city. It's a short bus ride from Gion and attractions like the Silver Pavillion and Path of Philosophy. It's a bit further (and requires changing bus lines) to get to the castle, Golden Pavilion and some other sights, but not really a problem. The hotel is a short taxi ride from Kyoto station, your gateway to Osaka, Nara, Kansai airport, etc.
Staff at the hotel was fine. It was fairly new at the time, so still some learning curve, but no big deal. Free wi-fi in the lobby, nominal charge in the rooms. We never ate in any of the restaurants, preferring to explore the many wonderful restaurants around Kyoto instead. The hotel was fairly empty while we were there, but got busier with the arrival of a wedding party towards the end of our stay.
We would definitely stay at the HR again if our travels take us back to Kyoto.
Stay Here!
by TripAdvisor Member wsperth
This place was a really wonderful surprise. The hotel lobby and exterior are very modern and pretty. The staff speak good English and are very helpful. The rooms are definitely spacious for Japanese hotel standards, and clean and comfortable. They're really pretty. The price is terrific for what you get, and the location is very convenient for many of the most essential Kyoto shrines and other tourist sites. Even the small gym was great. I loved staying here and would do so again in a heartbeat. The fact that it's quite new certainly helps, but hey -- that's why you should go soon! It was just kind of shocking to find such a cool, comfortable, luxurious feeling hotel with such a great location at such a reasonable price in Japan.
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