Genji Kyoto 源氏京都

The only downside to Genji Kyoto is that we didn’t stay longer. The hotel’s design is spectacular, you notice new details every day. The architecture is beautifully executed, and the natural gardens in the lobby and rooms add a unique touch. The food is excellent too: simple, but full of flavor, with quality clearly prioritized. The staff are exceptionally friendly and attentive. We used the complimentary laundry service, and they insisted on handling everything for us, returning our clothes neatly prepared each morning. This level of hospitality was among the very best we experienced in Japan. Next time we’re back in Kyoto, we already know where we’ll stay.

My family of 4 (including 2 boys ages 9 to 11) stayed here during our stay in Kyoto. We stayed at 5 different hotels during our 2 week trip and our room here was absolutely the nicest! It was so clean and had modern touches but also felt Japanese!||The rooftop garden was so pretty, we saw so many animals down at the river from just sitting there a little while and taking in the view! I wish we would have got a river view room in hindsight! ||The location was great. We walked from the train station (about 20 min). In the future, I'd probably just get a GoTaxi which is readily available in Kyoto and would have been a 5 min drive. We were able to walk to Kiyomizu-dera Temple/gion district. ||We also used Kiyomizu-gojo station when we wanted to take the train to and from Fushimi Inari and Nara. There was a 7/11 not too far from that station as well where we got easy food items.||Otherwise, we did use alot of Go Taxi in Kyoto - like to the Arashiyama area. We walked a little aways from Genji Kyoto to get our Go Taxi since its on these small streets.||The self service laundry at this hotel is a nice amenity but it takes FOREVER to wash and particularly dry a load of laundry. I fell asleep waiting for our laundry to dry - I called and let the front desk know our clothes were in there. When I got up in the AM; I had found that someone folded them for us.||Also, the front desk staff were easily able to forward our luggage for us to our next destination! ||We would definitely stay here again if we ever make it back to Kyoto!

I booked the City Studio room as a Titanium member. While this was my first stay at a Design property I was aware at booking that this hotel technically does not participate in Marriott Bonvoy and so I anticipated not receiving any benefits besides earning points.||The room was amazing considering the price paid! I was truly impressed by this. A proper tatami area, bed, and the bathroom with tub and shower facing towards Kyoto Tower. The room was also on the top floor so I could walk out to the pleasant rooftop garden at any time. The staff also provided my choice of drink and a snack on check in served in my room which was appreciated. While I always journey solo, I think this hotel would be a remarkable stay for a couple.||The hotel is located in a very residential area northeast of Kyoto station. The closest stations are Shichijo and Kiyomizu-Gojo on the Keihan Main Line. The road in front of the hotel is very small and quiet. I’m not sure of the viability of door service for a driver or taxi. The hotel is right next to a river and surrounded by wooden housing so you get a truly picturesque and genuinely Kyoto experience. I immediately got a boutique feel from the hotel.||I was really impressed by the quality of accommodations and price paid. The only note I would make is that the hotel is a short walk from any station or restaurant so I would book this hotel with the expectation of a getaway with the hotel as the destination.

We had a wonderful time staying at the Genji Kyoto hotel located along the river front. The view was perfect with the tops of the bamboo trees at the base of the large window looking over the river that was full of birds and other wildlife. We even saw two large fishes swimming next to several turtles. The staff were super helpful and attentive to every detail. While it is a small detail my wife enjoyed the Dyson hairdryer compared to the hair dryers in all the other hotels we have stayed at in the past. We will definitely stay at Genji Kyoto again and plan to tell our family and friends that travel to Kyoto!

I never write reviews, but as I look back on my trip to Japan, I can confidently say that this was the best service we experienced during our entire stay across all of Japan. What truly made it special was the incredible hospitality from staff member Shin Akiyama. His kindness and attentiveness went above and beyond—seeing him at the hotel always brightened our day. Thanks to Shin, this stay stood out among all others in Japan. Whenever we return to Kyoto, we will definitely want to stay here again!

I came across the Genji Kyoto through my member search of Marriott accommodations for Kyoto. What caught my attention was the "boutique", intimate sense of the Genji. We were not disappointed. We stayed in a river view balcony room that was meticulously appointed and spacious. Service was stellar, 24 hours a day. Whether it was a warm, welcoming check in (Thank you Ryoko), thorough tour and explanation of our room (Thank you Kou), and the outstanding service and engaging conversations during our morning meals (Thank you Katsuya), everything was top notch. We also received excellent concierge service ahead of our arrival and throughout our stay with recommendations and dinner reservations (Thank you Saya, Koko, Eri). The Genji is located in a less touristy residential neighborhood by the Kamo river. The Kiyomizu-dera Temple was viewable from our balcony, and the temple was easily reached by walking. There is also a scenic walking/biking river path that stretches for several miles to the north and south of the Genji. We borrowed the bikes available for guests and enjoyed early morning rides (before it got too hot) along the river. Access to the Keihan Rail Line is just across the river, an easy 5 minute walk, and provides convenient access to Osaka for a quick day trip. Kyoto Station is not far away and can be accessed by taxi, walking, or bus. I highly recommend the Genji's breakfast service. We chose to take our Japanese style breakfasts on the roof garden and were rewarded with a beautiful start to the morning and generous, thoughtful service from Katsuya. He was kind to answer our questions about Kyoto and made the experience very personal and "connected". We plant to return to Japan and will definitely stay at Genji Kyoto again!

Wow! I’ve probably stayed at 500 Marriott properties around the world (Ritz, St. Regis, JW, Westin, Luxury Collection, etc.). Where do I start? The complimentary sparkling wine and amuse bouche upon arrival. Followed by a personal tour of the rooftop gardens. Which preceded a 15 minute immersion into various historical aspects of the area, the design of the hotel, and the unique features of my riverview balcony room. This design hotel reminds me of a cross between the intimacy of a high-level/exclusive bed & breakfast (Santa Fe, Florence, etc.) and the modern design and amenities of a St. Regis/Ritz/Four Seasons (Aspen, Tokyo, etc.). In terms of customer service, the deputy general manager (Ryoko) is outstanding. Admittedly, I am|Titanium (and would be Ambassador if all my stays were with Marriott each year). However, I don’t think I’ve ever had someone take 30 minutes out of their day to check me in and give me an extended tour. The helpfulness/friendliness and attention to detail was simply extraordinary. Fun fact: Ryoko let me know that the designer of the hotel, Jeffrey, is currently on site as he is designing a second Marriott property in the area! The only negative is that I am enjoying the room, view, and hotel so much that I may not venture out and see as much of Kyoto as I otherwise would. Lol

We enjoyed a wonderful stay at the Genji Kyoto on our trip to Japan. The service was exceptional. The rooms were beautiful. The meals were very good and reasonably priced. Our children liked their room as much as we loved ours. This hotel was truly the respite we had wanted it to be during a longer trip to Japan.