Hotéis Hot Springs em Kyoto Prefecture, Japan

We stayed here for a family trip over Children's Day in May. Banyan Tree is such a renowned brand even in Korea, so I had high expectations when I booked our stay. However, we were hoping for a mountain view, but instead, we got a cemetery view – and on a dark, rainy night, it was quite enough to give us nightmares. If you're looking for a relaxing experience, like soaking in a Japanese cypress (hinoki) bathtub, you'll be satisfied, but I have to say the view was extremely disappointing. On the positive side, the Japanese tatami room vibe was very pleasing, and the aroma oil program at the spa was really interesting.

We had a wonderful stay at Ala Hotel Kyoto! Our room was spacious, especially compared with the hotels we stayed at in Tokyo. The service was exceptional—the staff went above and beyond to help us and make us feel welcome. Breakfast was excellent, with delicious food that we thoroughly enjoyed every morning. Of all the hotels we stayed at in Japan, this was our best experience, especially for the room, service, and breakfast. We were extremely happy with our stay. Highly recommended!

Our family's stay here was absolutely perfect! The hotel is conveniently located, the rooms were spotless, and all the facilities were well-maintained. The front desk staff were patient and friendly, and the overall atmosphere was elegant and quiet. Traveling with kids, it was so comfortable, and getting to all the sights was a breeze. We'll definitely choose this hotel again when we come back to Kyoto.

Decent location, not far from Kyoto station. The room was clean and cozy, no bath tub inside the room tho. The breakfast was the highlight of the stay but online queueing is needed. It was 54 queues at 7:30 am but it was only around 20 min wait. With the online waiting implemented, the breakfast restaurant was not as crowded as the last time I stayed (Apr 25), so that was a great improvement.

The buffet was quite crowded, offering a wide variety of food. The coin-operated laundry machines and smoking area were well-equipped. The room amenities included everything except a razor. You can wear yukata and slippers throughout the hotel, and there's a great drink bar available in the evening.

The room was small yet cozy, complete with an entryway and a well-designed partition. The biggest pleasant surprise was the vibe of the terrace bar! The hot springs were also wonderful. To be honest, I was quite worried about this trip since I'm not fluent in either Japanese or English, but thankfully, Suzuki Yusu at the front desk on the first floor was so patient! As a solo traveler, I really felt so warmed by his kindness. Heading straight to the hotel to drop off my luggage as my first stop in Kyoto made for a truly wonderful experience. When I checked in at the 9th-floor lobby in the evening, a very friendly ********* lady patiently answered all my questions. The hotel's location is fantastic, and so are the service and atmosphere. I will definitely stay here again next year! I hope the hotel management will recognize and commend the staff who provided such patient and polite service.

I had a very enjoyable stay at Hotel Kitanoya. The hotel is beautiful and well-maintained, with convenient parking available for guests. Its location is excellent, being close to the main attractions in Amanohashidate. The staff were polite, helpful, and provided useful information. The room was spacious, comfortable, and equipped with all the necessary amenities. Everything was clean and well organized. Breakfast was served as a set meal and tasted good. The public bath was also very nice, providing a relaxing experience after a day of sightseeing.

The room layout wasn't particularly efficient; there were many awkward corners that wasted space, which meant a 2-meter bed couldn't fit. It felt a bit small, and not very family-friendly when traveling with kids. However, during our stay, it was my wife's birthday, and the hotel thoughtfully prepared a birthday cake, which was a lovely touch. They also provided lavender oil as an amenity to aid sleep. The hot spring was absolutely fantastic; soaking in it was incredibly relaxing, and all the amenities were excellent. The staff's service was also very pleasant. What made this hotel truly special was the direct access from the seventh floor to the Kachoen Garden on the back hill – a beautiful courtyard. You can even hike up and enjoy panoramic views of Kyoto, and we even spotted two huge porcini mushrooms along the way! For transportation, there's a shuttle bus every half hour to Sanjo, Shijo, and the train station. They also offer luggage direct delivery service between the hotel and the train station, which is super convenient. For breakfast, my favorites were the onigiri and udon noodles. My little one could eat 5 onigiri in one sitting! Each topping for the udon noodles, though seemingly ordinary, was full of flavor and absolutely delicious – a definite thumbs up. The only downside is the daily queue for breakfast; the staff's efficiency is indeed quite low. A table would be empty for 5 minutes after guests left without being cleaned, then another 5 minutes after cleaning before new guests were led in. The staff also didn't proactively clear empty plates from guests' tables, so overall, service was very slow. I hope the hotel can improve this aspect.

The only minor issue was getting a room with a really bad view due to traveling with a baby, which was a bit disappointing. Other than that, everything was perfect! Every room has its own hot spring, and they even provided medicinal wine for the bath. Plus, there were daily snacks delivered to the room. The absolute highlight, though, was how incredibly delicious the hotel food was.

This Japanese-style guesthouse is very authentic. It has an open-air hot spring bath and the meals feature a delicious miso hot pot with plenty of vegetables. We visited during cherry blossom season, so it was crowded, but the customer service team was very helpful and actively assisted us in finding a better room type, which we really appreciated! It's surrounded by forest, and we heard that in autumn and winter, there are bear families around, but the owner seems quite used to it!